Words Are Outlawed At Duke

HUMAN ADVISORY: THIS POST CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT IN THE EYES OF SOME PEOPLE.

"Gay." "Fag." "No Homo." "Tranny." "Man Up." "Don't Be A Pussy."

These are all words Duke Student Government's "You Don't Say" campaign advises you not to say or else they will judge you.

As they make clear on their Facebook page, they can't decide on a slogan. It's either "You Don't Say." Or "You Don't Say?" I think they're going for the former, which implies authority, which entire swathes of "open-minded and tolerant" people love.

In a very general sense, human languages are often very similar in terms of grammar and syntax. But, when the individual interacts with language (via a community), language becomes deliciously dense and versatile... when it is free, that is. In our society, since so few minds are free, our language is not free. Our language is managed and standardized, so-much-so that some people feel entitled to make small corrections in another's use of language.  These folks are called "the grammar police." These types generally don't acknowledge that the primary purpose of language is understanding. The grammar police say they just want people "to respect their language." But by letting language be free, you're allowing language to breathe and be free like it was when it first appeared on the tips of our ancestor's tongues.

Now that's R-E-S-P-E-C-T. See what I did there? Language is bitchin', huh? (oops, sorry Duke Student Government, I just offended you by using the word "bitch.")

So, what about those hateful words above? Beauty and ugliness is in the eye of the beholder, they say. For some people, a lot of those phrases aren't so ugly. Not to mention, it's their language, too...

I had a friend who brought this campaign to my attention. She was in favor. I mentioned that the campaign seemed to go against free speech in a way, and basically that I didn't feel I had any authority over anothers' use of their language..our language. (and I don't mean free in the constitutional sense. I mean free.) I understand why people would be offended by the the words, I told her, but that I believed people should be free to use them and using them alone is no reason to judge in most cases when these words are used. Not to mention many people associate the words with things different than the people who organized the campaign, which is a sign of diversity.

She mistook me for being a bigot, unaccepting and intolerant. The funny thing is, I was actually just taking her tolerance to the next logical step. In essence, I was the one being the most tolerant by understanding that some people would be offended by certain words AND that some people see those words as simply having completely different meanings altogether. Can't we all just get along? I remember I once read a story about a gay high school student who called his grade on a paper "gay" and was reprimanded. What does Duke Student Government have to say about collateral damage?

Because no gay person ever has said, "I'm not straight."

She said that if I didn't understand why people would be offended by those words, she would explain it to  me, as if I were a child. She had missed the point. She thinks I am conservative by the way which is really laughable to me. I feel like for an anarchist to be mistaken as a modern day liberal they need to partake in ectasy fueled late night activities dressed in drag.  My "friend" then told me that I should shut my mouth about things I don't understand, which was particularly sensitive and tolerant of her, I thought.

But she was half-right there. I should shut my mouth, in general, in most social situations. Most people are stuck inside the Matrix, even if it is all lovey-dovey. It would be quite egotistical to think that I am somehow going to break them out of their hypnosis, just as it is egotistical to think you should tell people how to use their language.

I saved my breath and didn't tell her this, but the irony is that I do know something of these words, and how offensive they are. All throughout elementary school I was called "gay," "fag," "pussy,", "gaylord", "bitch", so on and so forth. I didn't fit into my new school. From 2nd grade-6th grade school was traumatizing. My dog was my only friend, basically. (and my headphones) Did I ever tell the other kids not to say those words because they were offensive? No. Because campaigns to get people to stop using words have been historically failures. All they serve to do is divide people. That's why government uses them. And uses them a lot. Remember the anti-"bossy" campaign?

I decided to do an experiment on my friend. I asked her what she thought about "White Pride." She said it was disgusting and she couldn't wait for those people to die off. I then asked her what she thought about "Gay Pride." And she said that was fine.

And that's everything you need to know about mind control...

Anyway, let's be honest here - why did I truly write this piece? Do you really want to know? Well, one simple reason. I am SUPER offended that "Dick" does not appear on the Duke Student Government's word blacklist.

I won't sleep until they make a "You Don't Say 'dick."' campaign.

Just kidding.

On that note, one last thing: Does anyone want to bet that Berwick stops smoking fags next?

Best,

Justin O'Connell

Head Researcher, TDV