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la la la la la la
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The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 6:17:43 AM
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I just wanted to share some random knowledge with some people. Some might be aware but many are not concerning this issue.
Have you ever said yourself, "Man you just got gypped." Many people think nothing of such a term but think again folks.
When I hear this, it makes me cringe b/c people really don't understand how powerful words can be and where we pick up certain things.
For most people, if they witnessed a person saying, "Man, you got jewwed!" They'd become upset. This reference to Jewish people being stingy with their money, and the connection going back to Biblical times and the bias that people had towards Jewish money lenders, well most people hearing this would become shocked and outraged. It's a very bigoted thing to say.
Yet, I hear around me all the time, people saying, "Man you got gypped." That's the same thing. It is akin to saying "You got gypsied."
The reason this is such a big deal to me is that some of my close friends have Gypsy heritage and it's very insulting to say such things and not realize where they come from.
So if you've ever said such a thing, you should know where it's coming from and try your best to avoid saying such things.
I know that years ago I said something like that and my friend corrected me and told me of where that comes from, I now know better than to say such things. Cheers.
white snails
"like Kurosawa I make mad films, ok I don't make films, but if I did they'd have a samurai"
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Magically Delicious
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1/23/2003
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 6:23:52 AM
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Haven't you brought up this topic in the past?
Anyway, I have a friend that just went to Germany for a week and she has a certain phrase that she had to suppress while there. When ever somebody becomes too adamant about something she likes to refer to them as a *fill in the blank* Nazi. For example, if we go on a trip somewhere and there is one person in the group that is getting overly bossy and pushy about the tour schedule she will refer to them as a Trip Nazi or a Schedule Nazi.
This also reminds me of one of these phrases that was coined with in the last decade. That phrase would be "receiving a Lewinsky". 
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Magically Delicious
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 6:27:42 AM
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"Man you just got gypped."
I also want to add that if somebody said "Man you just got crackered" or "Man you just got Whited" I wouldn't be offended in the least. I feel it's a waste of time to get upset over such pettiness.
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la la la la la la
Joined:
6/18/2003
Total Posts:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 6:30:52 AM
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It's not so much about pettiness, it's more about people having the knowledge and forethought to avoid such things or at least know what they're doing.
Maybe I have brought this up in the past. Ah well.
white snails
"like Kurosawa I make mad films, ok I don't make films, but if I did they'd have a samurai"
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4/28/2007
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 6:38:01 AM
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I think anyone who can get offended by a word of any kind - even the dreaded "n" word - really needs to get a better hobby. Some people treat simple words as if they can't possibly be ignored, as if we're dealing with the Dark Lord Voldemort - "The One Who Cannot Be Named".
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I want you to say "I love Crepes"
Joined:
3/10/2004
Total Posts:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 6:38:20 AM
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Well, quite often people don't think about what they're saying. Someone I know keeps calling people "Bloody Arseholes".
It hit him last week what he was actually saying.
"Is that a catchphrase or epilepsy??"
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Old Man of the Silver River (and Snuggly Lightning Bolt!) But you can call me Zippy! Not to mention "Wexy Old Tom".
Joined:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 7:32:15 AM
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*fill in the blank* Nazi
Like *Soup* Nazi? 
You know, this is one of those contradictory issues that can be really troubling. I thought it was sorta stupid to call for Washington to not use "Redskin" as I just thought at the worst it was a reference to skin color, which is bad enough, but... A friend of mine with strong Native American ties, her husband, set me right by explaining that it also refers to when in the good ol' days a bounty was placed on the NA and it was collected by presenting a scalp, or a "red skin" by skinning the NA. Made me think twice it did. (Maybe they could just change the logo to a peanut) But to also break bad on William and Mary 'cause they call themselves The Tribe and use two eagle feathers as a symbol seems a bit overboard. Also the Florida Seminoles. Both institutions have strong positive ties with the indigenous tribes in their respective areas, but the PC police see no difference.
Kinda like hearing about a guy who got fired by referring to a "chink" in someone's armor and having it taken as a racist reference to the Chinese.
Or, the guy who also got fired for using the word "niggardly".
It seems that common sense is lost, and some people won't listen to reason, whilst others go about callously and casually using hurtful words without knowing the diff. What to do? I dunno!
"Now there are no games to only pass the time,
No more electric trains, no more trees to climb.
But thinking young & growin' older is no sin,
And I can play the game of life to win."
~"Goin' Back", Carole King~
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Your One-and-Only Chat Room Papa MG
Joined:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 7:40:18 AM
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Yet, I hear around me all the time, people saying, "Man you got gypped." That's the same thing. It is akin to saying "You got gypsied."
Even though I am a morphed version of a Gypsy, I am still insulted by this expression! 
So if you've ever said such a thing, you should know where it's coming from and try your best to avoid saying such things.
In all seriousness, though, I think you're right. "Gypped" is one of many expressions (like "retarded", etc) that I've programmed out of my speech. The way I see it is this: for each and every one of these expressions, there is an alternative expression which says the exact same thing, but in a way that is much less likely to offend someone. So why not just use the alternative expression instead?
"Cran't we just get along?"
Where is it? Where is the PEKAS, precious? The filthy hobbitses stole it from us! We should wring their little neckses! It's ours, and we wants it!
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Astro
Joined:
12/17/2003
Total Posts:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 2:08:43 PM
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People who get annoyed at other people for saying something like "you got gypped" annoy me SO MUCH.
It is SO dreadfully annoying when people need to stick to EVERY LITTLE GODDAMN word. Jeeze, this is WHY words matter so much. Because people like this give these words power.
I think people should say nigger more often. (Yes I will say it) Why give a negative connotation to something? I think if that was changed around and if nigger was used ALL the time NOBODY would care. Same thing with all those other words (don't know how to spell them). It is us who give those words their power and frankly I am sick of it and will not give them power anymore so I say them away ALL the time. I do not mean them in a bad way, however. I think it is important HOW you say it. If you purposely say it to be degrading then you deserve a swallow of a bar of soap otherwise fight the word's power!!!!
Fight the power!
"I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance." -E. E. Cummings
"Take care of your planet, it wasn't given to you by your parents but is loaned to you by your children."
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Joined:
4/6/2003
Total Posts:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 8:11:23 PM
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"Man you just got gypped."
"Man, you got jewwed!"
Thank you Fiz, if not for you, I'd still been happily ignorant...
~Cara~
Toasted toad's truth!
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Magically Delicious
Joined:
1/23/2003
Total Posts:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 10:27:55 PM
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Elenwen's post reminded me of the one part in Clerks 2. I placed all the "Power Words" under spoilers so that you don't have to read it if you don't want to.
[LIST]Randal Graves: Since when did SPOILER"porch monkey" suddenly become a racial slur?
Dante Hicks: When ignorant racists started saying it a hundred years ago.
Randal Graves: Oh b**ls**t. My grandmother used to call me a SPOILER'porch monkey' all the time when I was a kid, because I'd sit on the porch and stare at my neighbors.
Dante Hicks: Despite the fact that your grandmother might've used it as a term of endearment for you, it's still a racial slur. It'd be like your grandmother calling you a little SPOILERkike.
Randal Graves: No it is not. Plus my grandmother had nothing but the utmost respect for the Jewish community. When I was a kid, she'd always tell me to treat the Jewish kids well or they'd put the SPOILERsheeny curse on me.
Dante Hicks: WHAT THE F**K, MAN?
Randal Graves: What?
Dante Hicks: SPOILERSheeny is a racial slur, too!
Randal Graves: No it is not.
Dante Hicks: Yes, it is!
Randal Graves: Well, she never called any Jews SPOILER"sheeny," she just used to say SPOILER"sheeny curse" a lot. It was cute.
Dante Hicks: It wasn't cute! It was racist!
Randal Graves: I disagree, man, she was just an oldtimer. That's the way people talked back then. Didn't mean they were racist... But my grandmother did refer to a broken bottle once as a SPOILER"nigger knife."
[Dante stares in horror]
Randal Graves: You know, come to think of it, my grandmother *was* kind of a racist.
Dante Hicks: YOU THINK?
Randal Graves: [indignant] Well, I still don't think SPOILER"porch monkey" should be considered a racial term. I mean, I've always used it to describe lazy people, not lazy black people! I think if we really tried, we could reclaim SPOILER"porch monkey" and save it.
Dante Hicks: It can't be saved, Randal! The sole purpose for its creation - the only reason it exists in the first place - is to disparage an entire race. And even if it could be saved, *you* can't save it, because you're not black!
Randal Graves: [smug] Well, listen to you, telling me I can't do something because of the color of my skin. You're the racist!
[Dante storms off in a huff]
Randal Graves: I'm taking it back, you watch! [/LIST]
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Beautiful Disaster
Joined:
9/1/2004
Total Posts:
17,009
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 10:31:13 PM
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LOL @ that movie. That is the first thing I thought of after reading her post too.
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AAAPPLE!!!
Joined:
1/29/2003
Total Posts:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 10:35:02 PM
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Well, damn. I was going to GIS when I got home for a picture of that scene.
Instead here comes Cad and posting the transcript. LOL
Edit:
So we'll just go with the "Thats Racist" kid. 
-J-
-Self Proclaimed Constitutional Monarch of Utah-
-Card carrying Ambassador of Bad People Territories-
-Bad End Wordsmith-
LP Status: Taris: 10% Post: 0%
Vote Baltar: Because you're perfect, just as you are.
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Magically Delicious
Joined:
1/23/2003
Total Posts:
23,125
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/7/2007 10:48:11 PM
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Jarod, I can do one even better and provide the video clip from Youtube.
Here's the Clerks 2 scene. Warning Profanity.
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Noble savage
Joined:
5/15/2007
Total Posts:
861
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/8/2007 12:41:58 PM
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i agree with you Fiz. i wasn't really going to add anything new, just tallying up the votes.
Reductio ad absurdum...
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Joined:
1/22/2003
Total Posts:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/8/2007 1:23:39 PM
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The term "Gypsie" originated as s duragtory term for those people because Europeans came from Egypt. If I understand the etymology right.
*sighs* I never saw the point of getting riled up over this stuff. My grandfather's nickname was Cracker. I am 1/8th Polish, so my father is a fan of "Polock" jokes since my mother is the 1/4th. My grandmother makes all sorts of Native American jokes that would make anyone living on a reservation cry once they learned she is 1/2th Native American. Don't get me started on my real last name being corrupted from its Scottish spelling to an Irish spelling, and being born with red hair. Although I do have Irish ancestry. Heck, I just found out one of my ancestors was a commander under Napoleon who fled battle and came to America, my great grandmother never liked talking about that it seems. These are just the "easiest" things people could use to mock me.
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Cookie Lady
Joined:
9/14/2005
Total Posts:
12,002
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/8/2007 2:28:24 PM
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As for "gypsy" I believe they refer to themselves as Romany.
Of my varied ancestory, I'm more Irish than anything of which my freckles will attest, as well as my "Irish temper." My mother's maiden name was Anglicized from Gaelic, who knows how long ago. I'm 1/16 Native American, a small percentage, yes. Get me out in the sun and it's not hard to tell with either. I get a freckled, dark tan and my dark hair takes on various shades of reds and gold. I have little idea about my father's side of the family. But English and Scottish come to mind. My mother and I always joke about wars in our blood.
For the sake of argument I'm going to pick on phrase used in another thread (nothing personal with the person who used it, it just caught my eye and brought some history to mind). "Beyond the pale"... Around the 15th, The pale, refered to a 20 mile radius or so around the city of Dublin that the British settlers fortified against the native Irish. Most everything beyond the Pale was consider uncivilized and, well, outside the realm of law. Those who lived "beyond the pale" were considered lawless ruffians. There are also other "pales" besides this example.
*sigh*
"You cannot harm me for I am short and all powerful in the ways of being cute and cuddly to all who see me."
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Old Man of the Silver River (and Snuggly Lightning Bolt!) But you can call me Zippy! Not to mention "Wexy Old Tom".
Joined:
7/16/2005
Total Posts:
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/9/2007 2:13:57 AM
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I get a freckled, dark tan and my dark hair takes on various shades of reds and gold. Sounds lovely! Give us a pic!
"Now there are no games to only pass the time,
No more electric trains, no more trees to climb.
But thinking young & growin' older is no sin,
And I can play the game of life to win."
~"Goin' Back", Carole King~
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Cookie Lady
Joined:
9/14/2005
Total Posts:
12,002
11
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/10/2007 1:43:51 PM
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Sounds lovely! Give us a pic!
That means I would have to actually go outside long enough to get some sun. More than once.
*sigh*
"You cannot harm me for I am short and all powerful in the ways of being cute and cuddly to all who see me."
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Astro
Joined:
12/17/2003
Total Posts:
6,329
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/11/2007 2:34:02 PM
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LOL @ that movie. That is the first thing I thought of after reading her post too.
I completely agree with him in that movie. About the racial slurs and the handicapped guy.
"I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance." -E. E. Cummings
"Take care of your planet, it wasn't given to you by your parents but is loaned to you by your children."
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Aégis
Joined:
1/29/2003
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2,217
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/11/2007 11:23:29 PM
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Speaking of hilarious videos, this one is another good one. Daily Show on the N-word
Warum liegt hier überhaupt Stroh rum?
Und wieso hast du 'ne Maske auf?
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Protector of Truth and Justice
Joined:
2/3/2003
Total Posts:
2,018
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/12/2007 2:02:13 AM
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Personally, I dont see why so many people get upset about words /shrug. I mean, I guess if they are using it in a truly malicious, ignorant way it can be annoying, but it is still just words. I am a jew and have been "jewwed", I guess I am a pretty tolerant person, but most of the time it is not worth getting upset over. You are only hurting yourself...the other person wont care if you react in most cases. Just my opinion, I do understand the other side of it, but life is too short to fret the little stuff.
On a side note, when House used "gypped" on his show, that was funny . I looked for a quote, but couldnt find it...it makes sense if you saw the episode.
Scorpionb Smiter
Protector of Truth and Justice for all Eternity
FaerieMagik is all mine 
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Noble savage
Joined:
5/15/2007
Total Posts:
861
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/12/2007 3:41:46 AM
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should we start using derogatory statements on this forum? it wouldn't be a problem, right?
...and if someone became upset (which i wager would happen), it would just be easy to say that they are the ones creating the issue, not me, right?
i find it funny, those who argue against learning decency, don't seem to have a problem for people to learn to accept offensive language. therefore, it's not the learning that we are against...is it?
Reductio ad absurdum...
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Protector of Truth and Justice
Joined:
2/3/2003
Total Posts:
2,018
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/12/2007 4:06:56 AM
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You misread my post altogether. I said nothing against learning decency...I just mentioned that there needs to be a certain amount of tolerance or else you are going to live your life angry. Obviously there needs to be a limit, and you have to know the people you are around to an extent....so using it on a forum would be horrible as there is very little context to go off of.
Scorpionb Smiter
Protector of Truth and Justice for all Eternity
FaerieMagik is all mine
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Magically Delicious
Joined:
1/23/2003
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Re: The power of words....
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Posted:
6/12/2007 4:14:08 AM
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I just mentioned that there needs to be a certain amount of tolerance or else you are going to live your life angry.
This reminded me of an article I read yesterday. Link
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