In my mind, word choice is crucial. It may seem like just a speck of life, but to me that tiny speck makes all the difference. Forgetting to leave out something like "please" or "thank you" leaves off a vibe that many do not appreciate. Or, the word "good" versus "phenomenal" rises emotions to a much higher occasion. Many of you have probably come across those examples before and understand the repercussions of misusing common words like them. So, I want to call attention to something more intricate; word choice regarding identity.
Whenever the topic of identity comes up, I find it tricky to handle. Is it even possible to generalize such a diverse world? I don't believe so. Therefore, I think that this question is the root of improper word choice. Since it's so challenging to place words that deal with identity in a specific category, they are easily confused with other adjectives.
For example, walking through the halls of GBN, I can assure you that you'll come across some intriguing conversations. The inconvenient thing about this is that you'll most likely hear words like "gay" or "retarded" more than once. Even more upsettingly, those words often aren't used correctly. They are used to describe things like exams or clothing. People throw around these offensive words without thought. In doing so, we've created a world that has no regards for offensive language and instead substitutes them for common language.
It vexes me that a modern, 21st century world still cannot understand the implications of improper word choice. However, I think that if we educate our society, this issue will be less of a problem. People are confused on how to address identity and therefore communicate inappropriately. I believe that this inconvenient truth can easily be turned around with awareness.
Sydney, I completely agree with your ideas on improper word choice. So often I have to remind my friends and even my parents on how statements can come across to people. Some things are better left unsaid. My sister is doing her d'var torah (speech for her Bat Mitzvah) on knowing your audience. I think this also applies to your topic because you have to be careful about what you say around certain people. It is so easy for something to be taken the wrong way and get totally out of hand. In a culture where words are our life, it is important to choose wisely when we communicate with others. Even though it doesn't seem like a big deal, a slip of the tongue can have major consequences for all parties involved.
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