[ale] OT: Security code on Credit/Debit cards revisited

[Scott Castaline]

On 03/24/2010 10:50 AM, John G. Heim wrote:
> It seems to me that linguists are moving away from the idea that some words
> are right and others wrong. The oldays when Sister Madalyn wrapped your
> knuckles for using 'bring' when you should have used 'take' are gone,
> replaced by a judgment  based on the words effect. Ie. You shouldn't use
> niggardly  because it gives offense and your meaning will be lost.
>
> So the real question would be whether the use of the word "racist"
> effectively transmitted the intended  meaning. I would say it did and
> therefore it was correct.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Kinney"<jim.kinney at gmail.com>
> To: "Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts - Yes! We run Linux!"<ale at ale.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 9:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [ale] OT: Security code on Credit/Debit cards revisited
>
>
> This _way_ better than global warming. :-)   !
> The language discussions have been interesting and all appear valid. The
> "moving target" argument make specific word usage more ambiguous since much
> "in flux" usage currently lean away from a more formal specificity. .
> Yet to use race pejoratively when the original context was specifically
> non-racial but national origin directed was a serious tactical blunder. -2
> points for poor word choice in the initial condemnory rebuttal. Yet since
> many national origin arguments have some racial connotation, not all but a
> significant fraction, it is often an implied pejorative factor. So +1 for
> intent.
>
> While I would appreciate the restaurant name so I may also avoid them, at
> this point that may be a poor association to make given the tenor of this
> discussion.
>
> On Mar 23, 2010 9:24 PM, "Michael B. Trausch"<mike at trausch.us>  wrote:
>
> On 03/23/2010 07:31 PM, Geoffrey wrote:
>> Not to pick nits, but the comment didn't really indicate r...
> This is completely self-contradicting.
>
> The statements, "... racism is the belief that one race is superior to
> another.", and "... a belief that a particular race might be more
> dishonest than others." can only be *non*-contradictory if honesty is
> not a measure of the quality of an individual's character.  Furthermore,
> physical attributes of race have very little to do with a person's
> honesty, or charisma, or any such other behavioral attribute.  Such
> attributes come from individual people's experiences, upbringing,
> economical standings throughout life, and other factors, but certainly
> not their country of origin in this or any previous generation.
>
> Is that the sort of thing that this group tolerates?  If so, that is
> rather infuriating and saddening.
>
>
> --- Mike
>
Well I hope y'all feel vindicated as this "RACIST" is removing themself 
from this maillist. Also I may even consider embracing the M$ tax. Thank 
you and have a GREAT 
DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!