When does one become strong?

acd said:
Being offended by racist or sexist or whathaveyou jokes or remarks doesn't make one weak or indicate a lower self esteem.

Why should anyone have to suffer someone else's inability to be respectful?
The offense has little to do with self-esteem.

In fact, if I respect myself, I won't put up with listening to that garbage.

It's how one deals with the offense that indicates the strength of their character.
Click to expand...

I agree with you... but I also think the meaning or weight behind words is very much open to interpretation. a racist remark may be intended as a racist remark but won't necessarily be received as one.
 
When your power level is OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAND!!
 
April said:
I agree with you... but I also think the meaning or weight behind words is very much open to interpretation. a racist remark may be intended as a racist remark but won't necessarily be received as one.
Click to expand...
What?
 
acd said:
What?
Click to expand...

insults are subjective. there's nothing inherently right or wrong about particular statements, we define them as such depending on the context. a person could say something that you interpret to be racist, but that doesn't mean it actually is, or that they intended it to be that way. on the other hand, someone could say something definitely intended to be racist, and you could laugh it off, thereby rendering the remark psychologically harmless. point is, it's really up to you how much significance you accord to other person's words, they don't inherently have any power to hurt you (or help you, for that matter).
hope that makes some sorta sense xD
 
April said:
insults are subjective. there's nothing inherently right or wrong about particular statements, we define them as such depending on the context. a person could say something that you interpret to be racist, but that doesn't mean it actually is, or that they intended it to be that way. on the other hand, someone could say something definitely intended to be racist, and you could laugh it off, thereby rendering the remark psychologically harmless. point is, it's really up to you how much significance you accord to other person's words, they don't inherently have any power to hurt you (or help you, for that matter).
hope that makes some sorta sense xD
Click to expand...

I agree. :)

We become strong when we don't think or look at thing as losing it. In other words, when we think we don't have to lose anything then we will do everything to get.
 
April said:
insults are subjective. there's nothing inherently right or wrong about particular statements, we define them as such depending on the context. a person could say something that you interpret to be racist, but that doesn't mean it actually is, or that they intended it to be that way. on the other hand, someone could say something definitely intended to be racist, and you could laugh it off, thereby rendering the remark psychologically harmless. point is, it's really up to you how much significance you accord to other person's words, they don't inherently have any power to hurt you (or help you, for that matter).
hope that makes some sorta sense xD
Click to expand...


It makes sense, but my intentions were not to debate what constitutes an epithet.

And I think that people do have the power to hurt each other, no matter how self aware one is.. words can be as powerful as actions. Words are designed to be effective otherwise, what's the point?

People aren't islands from one another. We all have vulnerabilities regardless of strengths. We're social intelligent beings and with that means that we derrive some understanding of ourselves through interacting with others. With communication, comes the responsibility of the communicator to be clear in their meaning and also to not alienate if they don't wish to.

The onus is not entirely on the listener to get it right. If words don't hold any power over people's emotions or mental states then why all the psychological trauma that occurs after things like brain washing and verbal abuse?

I'll say that tolerance is a good thing, but it only goes so far before it comes full circle back to ignorance. Which is why I personally don't revel in racist and sexist jokes at the expense of others--and then justify it as: "You took it the wrong way."



I already stated that however the person deals with the offense indicates the strength of their character. It's not realistic to deny that we're capable of being hurt or offended or upset--or that different people are going to be offended by different things.. It's not the feeling of being offended that indicates strength or weakness-- it's how you deal with the feeling of being offended.

For example, losing your temper and flipping out suggests weakness. Seeking revenge would suggest weakness of character.

Saying something neutral yet diffusing of the remark or a total withdrawl of interaction so as not to reinforce the abusive attitude constitutes strength.
 
Last edited:
Inquisitive said:
When you acknowledge your weakness.
Click to expand...

"In your weakness possess ye your strength." To acknowledge is a step in the right direction. If it needs to be conquered, conquer it. If it needs to be bridled, bridle it. If it needs to be stopped, stop it. I speak of weaknesses we normally do not share with others; those things we keep inside.

There is strength in the knowing. There is strength in the fight. There is strength in the finality. There is strength in the final freedom. We become more complete in all things.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top