Desensitization of Language

"F**k (you/off/my life/that/this)!", is America's favorite curse. Nevertheless, the use of the words "perpetrator", "delinquent", and other titles given to the "client" and "victim" seemed even more disrespectful in the way they were used. While we were discussing the use of language in our agencies in class, I realized that there are so many phrases and titles that are probably more disrespectful than the F-word. Intensity and tones also play into how disrespectful a word can be, but generally we seem to take more offense to labels that others put on us than curse words. On the other hand, even some titles that we use can seem overused and in some cases turned into words that don't seem to hold any disrespect anymore when used by specific people (e.g., N-word, ho, queer). In class, the word c*nt came up as another bad word, but as Americans, we may be more desensitized to the word. If you ever hear a British person call somebody else a c*nt, they definitely mean to disrespect more than if an American were to say it. The modern parent shouldn't discipline their children about which curse words count as "no-no" words but also some bad labels that shouldn't be used.

On the subject of labels that our agency workers use to distinguish others behind their backs and in their faces, it seems like there is a conscious effort to get away from what we have been desensitized to. Instead of giving somebody the label of victim, we use survivor. Instead of perpetrator or delinquent, we use client. When we are in public, we make an effort to get away from what we have learned to call others our whole life, but it's so easy to fall back into the same mindset when we're not in proximity of those who might take offense. Does that mean we should always be thinking about how to change ourselves to only speak in a respectful tone? No, we should often try to speak in a respectful manner, but the slangs and slurs of everyday language is also useful to know. It's easier on the brain to release the constricting rules of respect and just let loose when you need to relieve stress. Maybe that's what the people in the group sessions were doing at Timothy's agency, so it's okay for them to use the N-word. However, once the other employees are in the office, it's time for them to go back to work, so they should be thinking about how to speak without offending anybody. Then again, this way of thinking is only my own opinion.

Aside from desensitizing ourselves to bad words and labels, it seems like people are becoming more accustomed to bad language in the manner that Mr. George Orwell does not want society to fall into. We keep using phrases and language that sound good, but the meaning itself doesn't matter as long as it sounds similar to what we want to express. I notice that the words we use in everyday language are fads. As new phrases and words become popular, they become overused until the meaning is lost and changed in some cases. I am sorry Mr. Orwell, but I will be ending this post with a word that I believe is an example of my last statement and also breaks your fifth rule (never use a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent), swag!