Reply #32: why so defensive? [View All]

[imenja]

There's no need to be rude. I made a general point in a lounge post of all places and you asked if I was serious. I pointed you to sources for you to investigate the issue yourself if you choose. My own area of research doesn't relate to any of this, and I wrote the response in the middle of the night. Now you feel a need to criticize me as "ignorant"? I have never claimed to be an expert on linguistics or any of this. My knowledge is only passing.

The argument about gender and language has been around since the 1970s. There is also a huge body of literature on race and language. Whether or not you choose to blame me personally for ideas you find threatening, they nonetheless exist. Unfortunately, universities have allowed women and people of color into their ranks. As a result, these annoying analyses have emerged. How inconvenient for you. If it makes you happy to believe racism and sexism have never existed and are reflected in no aspect of our language, go right ahead.

Rather than relying on transparent insults, do some reading for yourself. Being hostile does nothing to lend credibility to what is clearly an absurdly defensive position.