Originally Posted by
The One Who
Language is dynamic, and I'm all for that.
Ditto Claire.
To put it in more culturally relevant terms, it would be like someone on here calling calling someone else a 'f*cking psycho' or equal
What about 'absolutely mental'? I've seen that thrown about a bit.
I think one of the biggest things I've noticed is - and this is a comment, not a criticism or anything else - the lack of awareness of the differentiation between what's meant in jest and what's meant seriously. I understand it's hard to draw the line, especially if you're unsure - I guess I normally just give people the benefit of the doubt by nature. But, for example - to open a recently-closed can of worms, the RYL soap thread. I don't think anybody involved actually believes that all 'emos' are fulfilling the stereotype they put out in that thread - it's intended for comedic purposes, and I think that can be agreed on whether or not you personally found it funny. But that's far too recent to be good to bring up.
Aside from that, words like 'gay', 'retard' and 'rape' can be used in a range of contexts; the frape thread being a recent example of this. The word rape is technically correct in it's usage, but a few people commented on how disgusted they were that the word was being used. Where do you draw the line there - definition or attitude?
But, like Claire, I think that words are pretty fluid in their definitions, and I like that. Also I had something else to say but I've forgotten it. sorry. Please excuse this awful sentence structure by the way; late and tired and long day.