No, I wouldn't use the word. Yes, the world would be a nicer place if we were all nice to each other. On the other hand, he said it in private, to a person who hasn't publically objected. Frankly, what is the issue?
A word has no inherent value in its own right, it's just a sound. All words are context specific. "You bitch!" said to a woman is very different when the proceeding line is:
1. "Who was that man you were talking to? Were you chatting him up? I saw you flirting with him"
or
2. " OMG, I love your new shoes. I can't believe you managed to get a pair of Jimmy Choos for less than £50".
Yes, some words are more likely to be offensive, on average, than not but ultimately all are situation specific and it is that which must be looked at, not the word itself.
Unsurprisingly, Spiked takes a similar view point but articulates it far better than I can.
Post correction and retraction
1 hour ago
1 comment:
Agreed. And summed up in quite a concise fashion, too
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