Yeah I mean I’m not saying it’s the same level I’m just saying I’ve heard the same logic. “Just because I say [n-word] doesn’t mean I hate black people, I only hate the ones that act like [n-words].” You’ll hear the same justification for just about any slur whenever anyone challenges it. “Nothing against people with mental disabilities, I just hate people who act like r-----ds.” “Nothing against queer people, I just hate the ones who act like f----ts.” Anyone who recognizes that it doesn’t hold up in those cases should understand that it doesn’t hold up here.
But they have no answer to that, so all they can do is act like I’m equating the two, when in fact the whole point is to use a more extreme example to more clearly demonstrate the problem.
I totally agree, except the final paragraph. I think the source of the communication issue is a combination of perceived tone in your initial comment and the sensitivity of the subject. Not to fully blame either. So I don’t think people are being belligerent or willfully ignorant.
Conversations like these are a minefield, so don’t take it personally if you stumble. And remember why the minefield is there in the first place. Sometimes you just gotta back out, or set off more mines you meant to disarm.
Metaphor got a bit lost, but I think you get the point.
Yeah I mean I’m not saying it’s the same level I’m just saying I’ve heard the same logic. “Just because I say [n-word] doesn’t mean I hate black people, I only hate the ones that act like [n-words].” You’ll hear the same justification for just about any slur whenever anyone challenges it. “Nothing against people with mental disabilities, I just hate people who act like r-----ds.” “Nothing against queer people, I just hate the ones who act like f----ts.” Anyone who recognizes that it doesn’t hold up in those cases should understand that it doesn’t hold up here.
But they have no answer to that, so all they can do is act like I’m equating the two, when in fact the whole point is to use a more extreme example to more clearly demonstrate the problem.
I totally agree, except the final paragraph. I think the source of the communication issue is a combination of perceived tone in your initial comment and the sensitivity of the subject. Not to fully blame either. So I don’t think people are being belligerent or willfully ignorant.
Conversations like these are a minefield, so don’t take it personally if you stumble. And remember why the minefield is there in the first place. Sometimes you just gotta back out, or set off more mines you meant to disarm.
Metaphor got a bit lost, but I think you get the point.
Fair enough.