From: pax@osmium.mv.net   
      
   Brian M. Scott  wrote:   
   >On Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:08:47 +1200, Zeborah   
   > wrote in   
   > in   
   >rec.arts.sf.misc:   
      
   >> Brian M. Scott  wrote:   
      
   >>> On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:58:05 +1200, Zeborah   
   >>>  wrote in   
   >>>  in   
   >>> rec.arts.sf.misc:   
      
      
      
   >> I'm objecting to the words themselves:   
      
   >>  * irrespective of his intent, yes;   
      
   >> * irrespective of their context, no -- but that context   
   >> includes the fact that they would be read in New Zealand   
   >> and in the UK.   
      
   >Then I suspect that we have a fundamental disagreement of   
   >principle, ...   
      
   >[...]   
      
   >> So.  Right from the start I knew very well that he did not   
   >> intend to offend; indeed I thought that this was so   
   >> obvious that I didn't realise it was necessary to say   
   >> that I knew it.  But regardless of his intent, the words,   
   >> read in NZ, are offensive.   
      
   >... and here's where it lies.  I can't bring myself to care   
   >very much if someone is offended by the mere appearance of a   
   >word on the page/screen, irrespective of the context in and   
   >likely intent with which they're used.   
      
   	Me neither.   
      
   >That's a level of   
   >sensitivity that I just can't make myself see as reasonable,   
   >and I don't expect anyone to cater for it.   
      
   	Aye.  In fact, I'd really prefer people not   
   	cater for it, but that's because it pokes at   
   	my intense dislike for censorship, or any   
   	attempt at controlling people's exercise of   
   	their right to free speech. However, I know   
   	I am frankly overly sensitive about that   
   	sort of thing, so I'm honestly not sure how   
   	rational my feelings are here.   
      
   ~P.   
      
   	   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)