How come people can't speak their mind without being called a derogatory name?
349778
People are passionate in what they believe in.  Some keep their responses inside of them and some become defensive and call names.  Some even go as far as killing others, for example 9/11.  \n\nPeople that call you names are obviously not your friends, no matter how much good you see in them.  Although they are passionate about their ideas, they do not realize that everyone else is passionate as well.  So they fight back by calling names since they know that would hurt you a bit. \n\nContinue speaking your mind.  There are millions of people out there.  Some will agree with you and some will disagree.  Be passionate about what you think and don't let others wear you down.\n\nGood luck.  ;)
1127133
I've found that when someone speaks up, you can learn more about that person themselves, over-and-above the people they're bad mouthing.\n\nI don't know about others, but we do know more about who and what you are.\n\nBTW, for every question you know the answer to, the 'asker' is an 'idiot'. For every question you don't know, 'wow' that's a good question. It's all about 'you'  isn't it? (Superman111... says alot)
812788
i think it's because black people grew up sayin' it & it became kind of a cultural thing cuz black people have always been called that throughout history. so it's kind of ironic that we can call each other nigga, but if a white person says it, we get offensive. it's kind of like when see a girl call her friend b*tch, but if you call her a b*tch, they'll get mad. it's the same overall principle.
189542
Absolutly not, just like its not right to call someone retarded or racist names. \nIts mean and hurtful to everyone involved.\nThen again you cant cure all of the idiots in the world that will still practice this behavior.
983418
It's called projecting, it's a psychological defense mechanism.\n\nThey see something they don't like about themselfs in others (rather justified or not) and lash out at it.
395920
In the United States a citizen has a right to voice their opinion. This is called Freedom of Speech and unfortunately you cannot do much about it.  If that person were to infringe on your rights, or commit an act of violence because of your nationality/creed it would be a hate crime.  The best thing to do is to keep on going and ignore their hateful comments.  If you let an idiot affect you, what have you become?  an idiot.  So don't let these people get beneath your skin because thats what they want.  If you take steps to silence this person, well that would be infringing on their rights, so its best to just ignore them and move on.
783849
well its sometimes difficult to keep our mouth shut when we have certain angers. We just pick on who we think is an easy target while the target should be the one who caused that anger. So no its not right. There's a lot of "social cowardness" going on and the easyest people are usually the victims. Granted its not always easy to address why we do it, but usually a feeling of not having something or a situation under control is the source.
943427
because some people can just be harrassing.  I have allowed people to contact me but sometimes I regret it.  Most of the time, people just want to discuss and answer or question and though they disagree- the discussions are reasonable and respectful, but I have had some that just want to send an insulting and hate filled message regarding something I said.  I generally don't answer them back but I really don't appreciate getting them- I don't treat people like that.  Some people don't want to deal with this at all and I don't blame them, it is their right to privacy and to not be harrassed.
137165
People allow themselves to become offended or have feelings hurt. If we had to worry about offending someone all the time we would just have to be silent. As a small child I learned the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." People should realize that this is true and move on.
1007329
There are innumerous people in this site that pass judgement, why they come no one really knows. So while it may seem a little silly sometimes you need to put in a disclaimer i.e. note that you're not asking to challenge but for information or to have an intellectual discussion hopefully that should minimise the backlash, but then again everyone likes to have a bitch.\n\nLuck!
796922
Some people really do mean it, but I believe the majority of people say it just to be polite. At least their mind is in the right place in trying to be considerate to a person. I'd say 50% of our daily speech is occupied saying to others what we think they want to hear, but I'm just guessing on the percentage.
654173
You let people get to you because you have very little self-esteem, in other words, you have no faith in your OWN ideas and abilities. You have NO confidence in YOURSELF.\n\nTRY believeing in yourself and be CONFIDENT that you ARE right at least  about SOME things, so you CAN ignore comments from people that are nasty or provoking.
495887
it is rude to label anything in a derogatory manner.  I am gay, and i do occasionally say it when something is just over the top "gay"... and I especially use it when I see my straight friends (who have made fun of me in the past) do something effiminate.  However that still doesn't make it right.  I can't even discuss here the things that could be labeled in politically offensive manners, but think about religious affiliations and race issues....
1020606
Many people are instantly offended when this question is asked, even in the most respectful way from a curious mind.  So now instead of getting information on your question people are attacking you for asking the question.  This is why this question and the word in fact remains a taboo, because most people will not talk about it openly with another race and automatically take offense to the inquiry.  \n\nI don't know why any race would refer to themselves with an offensive word or term.  But in the same sense a word only has the power to offend you when you allow it.  And in reference to this word it carries so much meaning historically, and not in a good sense, that Americans as a culture should make the decision to omit the word from our vocabularies.
812893
Some people can't get past the stereotypes. Gives you more reason to prove them wrong. Free speech rings true, say whatever you want, as long as you don't make death threats. Usually the people in black suits have tracked you down and are holding you at gunpoint if you even utter one word about 'killing' someone.
688139
The world is increasingly being divided into 'us' and 'them' armed camps.  People deal with the world by dividing complex issues into simplistic dichotomies.  Its easier than thinking.  Its easier to identify your enemies.  \n\nLack of self-esteem is a major illness in modern society.  People don't have the confidence in order to loosen their worried grasp on their particular viewpoint and so even if a better alternative is available they cling to whatever they have with a death grip.  Confident people are more likely to use reasonable debate and might even change their minds.\n\nPeople's fragile egos won't allow any space for discussion and if one loses an argument its a wound that hurts too much to concede so people just carry on pretending they are right even though its clear they are not.  \n\nHyperbole, mindless disagreement, and endless conflict ensue.
1006378
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "SOME".  Some of any group will just talk trash, liberal or conservative.  It's what people do.  You probably just notice liberals more because you know that crazy, irrational conservatives aren't representative, because you're a conservative and you don't think you're irrational.  It's pretty classic prejudice.\nI really think civil discourse is as possible as it ever was.  You just have to wade through lots of jibberish to find it.  I like to remind myself that people have reasons for thinking the way they do.  It helps me differentiate what's a good argument from what's a bad.  When someone acts like one side is completely unreasonable, then that person generally has a bad argument.  But when someone thoughtfully discusses opinions in a respectful manner, that person is usually using good arguments.  Because they don't have to defend with emotion.