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I checked back to the first page just to make sure I didn't break any rules and this is what I found:

We all know that we have something to vent about. We know that we always want to tell someone about it. So, here's your chance. If you want to say that you lost your favorite pen and you're devastated, don't feel afraid to post it here. This thread is to vent anything and everything that you'd like.


Still a bit confused and very much offended but I am sorry if I did offend people because that's the last thing I want to do. If you'd feel more comfortable with me ranting about my favourite pencil being broken, then I will be happy to do so.

Personally, I think it's our culture that make the word have the power that it does. It's simply a connection of sounds to form a word, and in the long run doesn't mean anything except what people put behind it.

A perfect example of this is what is happening over a Sony PSP ad that is running in Holland. They came up with a billboard (Linked here) that is causing an uproar in America, dispite the Ad never airing here.

Yes, at first glance your thought is 'HOLY s**t BALLS! That's really racist!', but you have to understand that it's not racist over there. We have a -history- of racism and such over here, so we're a whole lot more sensative to that kind of thing. It's not ment to be about race at all, simply the differing colors of the Handhelds.

The CTRL+ALT+DEL site (http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/) has a great take on this.

"Stop making race a big deal, and race stops being a big deal."

Maybe it wasn't "chewing me out" but I was a bit taken aback by it because I really didn't expect that kind of response. The reason I did say the word was because I didn't want to beat around it; if I'm going to talk about the issue then there's no point in being shy. I really am genuiely(sp) sorry.

As far as I knew I wasn't pushing my ideas on people. If I was doing that then I'd be insulting and threatening people about not agreeing because I was right, I was just stating my opinion. I am also not quite sure what is tactful if that wasn't... What's wrong about being upfront? Would tactful just be saying "the n word" instead of saying "******?" (sorry, but that wouldn't have proved my statement if I said 'the n word instead of saying the n word') In my opinion that's just shying around the issue that I was trying to bring up. The whole point of that post was the fact that I DIDN'T like the word and wanted to know if other people agreed that it shouldn't be used.

Look at what Tirion says about it, he makes a lot of sense on saying "the n word"

I don't want to be starting some weird argument with you because it would be stupid and that was not my purpose. I felt insulted and hurt that you were making me out to be some tasteless person saying ****** this and ****** that. If that was what you were really thinking then you obviously weren't getting the message I was saying.

I will pay heed to what you have said and promise to warn others about what I will say before I say it.

If the entire point of your post was to say that you didn't like the word, then why were you throwing it around? That kinda contradicts your whole point, doesn't it? And why do you continue to use, especially after you were asked to stop? Like I said, you have the right to say whatever you want to say, but you need to be respectful to the other people here, and the people who might not like the word, and that clearly wasn't respectful, and you're not being respectful now.

I was not making you out to be some tasteless person. I asked you to stop using the word, and pointed out that if people weren't jumping on board with your conversation, than it was because they were over it and clearly didn't want to talk about it anymore. You may interpret it as you like, but there was no hidden message in there, and I wasn't trying to degrade you... That's not my style.

You really need to work on your communication skills.

Disclaimer: it's late, I've been out of town, and I want to go to bed. Hence, I haven't fully read all of the posts thus far about this race issue. If I make an a** out of myself by misquoting someone, I apologize.

To Pingo's credit, this is a blog/rant/vent thread. Anything can be said here, though most people choose to express what happened in their daily lives. Hell, even Butters would post links to his rants in here. The topic of racism is touchy at best, though I think we all agree that it's "bad." However, the linguistic side of racism, e.g. the use of derogatory words, is an interesting subject that I feel is open for discussion. The word ****** is just that: a word. The meaning behind it carries several connotations, including (but not limited to) inferring that certain people are inferior to others, directing attention to a friend or member of the same racial group, or as Tirion pointed out, the definition of someone with low educational experience. I believe the original post's intention was not to "throw the word around" but to bring it to attention. Personally, I think it's a shame when people ignore certain things because of it's meaning instead of dealing with it head on. Sure, you could use the "n-word" or whatever, but again, you're only giving the original word more power by doing so.

While my opinion is strictly non-binding, I do suggest that people let this topic go. No harm, no fouls.

Replying to AraTeran:
Quote "The next time I see someone who says that being bipolar means you can't control your actions, I will personally bitchslap them and say, "SEE!!! I'M BIPOLAR AND I WAS IN CONTROL OF THAT ACTION!!!!"

See, in real life if I hurt someone, I get called on it. If I attack someone, guess what? It was my own damn fault. And I am well aware that I am responsible for my actions. Real friends are supportive, but they also don't let me get away with s**t.

Anyway, there is this delicious place called Ciocolat in Davis that serves the best chocolate desserts ever. I highly recommend it, although it is a bit expensive. Chocolate is love. icon_cool.gif

I also wish it would cool down a bit. This house is too big to turn on the air constantly, unless I want to be smacked by the electric bill." Unquote


I personally think it's a shame that people assume just because you've done something that seemed rash that it was because of bipolar. It may be so, but there are many people with no diagnosis of anything whatsoever that do that exact same thing. What would they call it then? I'm bipolar, so I know where you're coming from. I was never called on it, at least not to my face, mostly because I was barely at school to begin with and I would lock myself in my teacher's room during lunch. I absolutely hated all of my friends and snapped and cursed at them all the time. I guess the cliche and apparently emo phrase "They just didn't understand." I still am considered bipolar although I am medicated so when it does slip out it's only for a short amount of time.

Who is calling it on you anyhow? They aren't friends that are calling you on being bipolar when you "can't control your actions" are they? How many people know this? I don't know the situation but it kind of sounds to me like everyone seems to know of your "condition." And as for bitchslapping them to prove that you are in control of your actions, I think that would contradict the very thing you're trying to show. At least in their eyes. I'm not sure if it is part of the bipolar that is making you so edgy about it but you don't need to give them the power. You are showing them that you're emotions ARE out of control and that they have power over you because you get so easily offended.

I hope I'm not reading this wrong, I'm just trying to help.

If and when people are calling you on it you just need to walk away and distance yourself from these people. You don't need to waste your energy on useless people who are there just to get you riled up. They feed on your anger and see it as a sign of weakness. What might help with your aggression is taking up some kind of sport or excercise to let out all of the energy you're using as anger.

I hope that helped at least a little bit. Take care!

Gotta love the stigma that comes with being diagnosed with a mental disorder.

Heh, reminds me of a kid I knew who punched another kid on the playground for no reason. She didn't get into trouble or anything because she "couldn't help it." Not to discredit special education, but this girl sure as hell knew what she was doing (she had some social problems but she was a lot smarter than she claimed). A normal kid would have been suspended (this was elementary school).

I hear she got expelled a few years later though, for a similar situation. The middle school doesn't take fighting.