If someone says something cluelessly offensive, does that not do harm as well?
Yes, I am afraid it does: harm to the person or people who are offended, and perhaps wider harm in that it may mislead other people who hear it.
I think there are degrees of harm. Clueless remarks are not the same as hate speech, or supremacist ideas, or abuse, and I do believe the distinction is important. But I would never say it's acceptable to be clueless.
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Re: here via rydra_wong's linkspam
Date: March 25th, 2009 01:23 am (UTC)Yes, I am afraid it does: harm to the person or people who are offended, and perhaps wider harm in that it may mislead other people who hear it.
I think there are degrees of harm. Clueless remarks are not the same as hate speech, or supremacist ideas, or abuse, and I do believe the distinction is important. But I would never say it's acceptable to be clueless.