Re: RE : Profane
- Posted by Ralf Nieuwenhuijsen <nieuwen at XS4ALL.NL> Jun 05, 1998
- 810 views
David thought I ment: >So let's see if I have this right. You're a well meaning Dutch teenager. > >1. You never meant to insult anyone; >2. You never did insult anyone; >3. If someone claims they were insulted, > a. they're wrong; > b. they're old; and > c. it's not your fault. >4. You have every right to insult anyone you want; and >5. Anyone who thinks otherwise in a facist pig. >Is this correct? 1 -- Yes, I never meant to insult any1 3 -- No! Greame claimed I insulted somebody else.. nobody is claiming they were insulted. But even if some did feel insulted, would I still need to be pointed at my fingers after I clarify I didn't mean to insult any1 ? (like happened) 3a -- Yes! There are wrong I did not want to insult them, therefor they are actually not. They've only interpreterd my message in a way it was not meant. The blame of that is not theirs, no. But the conclusing that it was meant insulting was a wrong one. It wasn't! 3b -- No! I said, this kind of problems occur more often with older people than with younger people. This was something I noticed. I didn't say those who feel insulted are older. In this case no one did feel insulted, or at least didn't express himself that way. Plus, I mentioned the age difference, because grown-ups at least have more expierence and practise with more formal/commercial/political ways of speaking, while (at least here) young people are much more direct. 3c -- Yes! I didn't mean it insulting. I pay attention to the English I use. Could I do more? Could you seriously resent me for this? 'Fault' is the wrong choice of words. The cause is off course *me*. But it might be the otherway around if one of you were speaking alone to a group of young Dutch boys. 2 -- Yes, At least, I would not feel insulted if I would have received such a message. If I would have I would have never sent it. 4 -- And yes, indeed we do have the right to insult anyone. But that's besides the matter. As people have rights, they also have responsibilities. That would be a conflict between the two. However, the freedom of speech was referring to the swearing-critism. 5 -- No! Any1 thinking they should decide for others what kind of influence is healthy and what is not healthy for somebody else. (deciding what is a good or bad example, therefor peope are not getting confronted with all options and have less chance making that choice for themselves nor will they be able to develop themselves individually and completely). And this *too* was referring to swearing! Terry Constant pointed out: >As a point of clarification. You refer to America and the states in your >response to Graeme's message. Graeme is in Australia. Why are you taking >issue with the United States for his comments? In a previous series of >messages, I, an American, took a strong stance on supporting freedom of >expression. But when a person exercises freedom of expression, he >inherently accepts the responsibility of being accurate. If an >Australian, and I have nothing but fond regards for Australia and its >people, says something to you, perhaps it is best not to attribute it to >an American. That was a bad assumption. True. But I just pointed out the beep-thing, to show the cultural difference between swearing here and America, as I was thinking Greame was from America. I do not know how the social rules in Australia are for this matter, but I do notice Greame is against and still want to point out, that here swearing is not censored nor is considered to be bad example, simply because you should try to be a clone anyway, and I support that. Ralf Nieuwenhuijsen nieuwen at xs4all.nl