If you are judging the harm of the action, intent couldn't matter less.
Sure, but we're not judging the harm of the action, we're the discussing how to evaluate the usage of one's words, and in the theory of communication, intent is always something that's important to take into account. I don't think you're going to have a realistic picture of the situation if you're only taking one side into account. I understand that some people are offended sometimes, but it's difficult in advance to take everything single thing into account. Sometimes the world would be a nicer place if people were just a bit more chill and accepting, instead of being self-righteous and confrontational.
By your loaded gun analogy, akiko's problematic usage of the word "dickhead" is similar to my proposal of the usage of "lame" and "retarded." I find it a terrible double-standard that slandering one group is horrific and not okay, and then turning that around to some other group is completely acceptable.
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chiming
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Date: 2011-02-02 11:19 pm (UTC)From:Sure, but we're not judging the harm of the action, we're the discussing how to evaluate the usage of one's words, and in the theory of communication, intent is always something that's important to take into account. I don't think you're going to have a realistic picture of the situation if you're only taking one side into account. I understand that some people are offended sometimes, but it's difficult in advance to take everything single thing into account. Sometimes the world would be a nicer place if people were just a bit more chill and accepting, instead of being self-righteous and confrontational.
By your loaded gun analogy,