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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated

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To: LindyBill who wrote (91283)	12/18/2004 5:58:48 PM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (3) of 793794

I don't think there's anything polite about, having found oneself in the company of black people, dumbing down one's language. It's dubious enough be race conscious so as not to say anything legitimately hurtful. And to assume that black people must be ignorant... I'd call that prejudice. At best it's patronizing. I agree with CB that it's polite, as well as more effective, to adjust one's use of fifty-cent words to one's audience, but making that adjustment on the basis of race rather than education or native language is iffy. In these matters it's a risk whatever you do. On a related subject, I was reading Sullivan today. He had a piece about whether a heterosexual saying "what a waste!" when he or she discovers someone is gay is insulting or a compliment. It never occurred to me that it would be anything but a compliment. I understand the opposite reaction now that he explained it but I think it's one of those shoulder-chip reactions. And, for the record, I have never advocated the avoidance of offense when that offense is not legitimate. My issue is about the impoliteness of piggishness not that of giving offense. The offense hobby horse belongs to others.

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