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Kate Welch on Leaving WotC
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<blockquote data-quote="R_Chance" data-source="post: 8078093" data-attributes="member: 55149"><p>That dark rabbit hole is not what I'm talking about.</p><p></p><p>At the core of it is a matter of definitions. When two people are arguing about a term with different personal definitions they are talking past each other about different things. My objection to the use of terms like "patriarch" has nothing to do with male dominated society. Personally I think that's a bad thing. But when you use a term like this to mean that and the other person doesn't... what's the point of the argument? If a term has a meaning for you (and others), explain it. Then maybe you'll have fewer arguments, or at least fewer meaningless ones. That's what my rant is about. </p><p></p><p>If you explain your objection by defining a term and explaining what it means to you (and many other people) you present a good reason for the non-use of that term. Maybe then you (both of you) decide to use another term, like say ecclesiarch, which is hopefully inoffensive and meaningful. That's the problem with the reclamation of offensive terms, it's confusing. If you have a specific definition for a term, explain it. Do not assume the other person shares your definition or even knows of it. When you read a textbook on, say economics, they mangle the English language pretty well. If you just read it your left wondering what they are talking about. Fortunately they define the terms in these books so you can understand it. Then it makes sense. Then you can have a conversation or argument.</p><p></p><p>The worst for this are academics. Until the word achieves widespread general usage it's pretty useless in arguing with people outside of your field.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="R_Chance, post: 8078093, member: 55149"] That dark rabbit hole is not what I'm talking about. At the core of it is a matter of definitions. When two people are arguing about a term with different personal definitions they are talking past each other about different things. My objection to the use of terms like "patriarch" has nothing to do with male dominated society. Personally I think that's a bad thing. But when you use a term like this to mean that and the other person doesn't... what's the point of the argument? If a term has a meaning for you (and others), explain it. Then maybe you'll have fewer arguments, or at least fewer meaningless ones. That's what my rant is about. If you explain your objection by defining a term and explaining what it means to you (and many other people) you present a good reason for the non-use of that term. Maybe then you (both of you) decide to use another term, like say ecclesiarch, which is hopefully inoffensive and meaningful. That's the problem with the reclamation of offensive terms, it's confusing. If you have a specific definition for a term, explain it. Do not assume the other person shares your definition or even knows of it. When you read a textbook on, say economics, they mangle the English language pretty well. If you just read it your left wondering what they are talking about. Fortunately they define the terms in these books so you can understand it. Then it makes sense. Then you can have a conversation or argument. The worst for this are academics. Until the word achieves widespread general usage it's pretty useless in arguing with people outside of your field. [/QUOTE]
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