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

[Geoffrey]

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.

I will submit that the original definition of racist was the belief that 
one race was superior to another.  The fact that the definition of the 
word has been diluted by the media and the world is sad.  Prejudice and 
racist do not mean the same thing.  As it stands, some people think they do.

As for a previous reference of returning back in time when the word did 
not exist, that's not a valid argument for changing the meaning of a 
word to start with.  The word was created because of a need, it's 
meaning had been diluted by politics.

If I say I'm smarter then you because you're mexican, that's racist.

If I say I don't trust you because you're mexican, that's prejudice.

If I say I don't trust you because you're mexican, and I've been ripped 
off by every mexican I've ever done business with, that's neither racist 
or prejudice.

These are examples folks, I've not been ripped off by anyone of mexican 
descent.

-- 
Until later, Geoffrey

"I predict future happiness for America if they can prevent
the government from wasting the labors of the people under
the pretense of taking care of them."
- Thomas Jefferson