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>>I'm glad you said it. I believe words are very powerful (maybe not
against
>>flying bullets, but ...). As people in the word composing business, we
>>should be aware of our power, even if it's just to enlighten (I mean
>>instruct or inform). Our words can certainly also hurt and belittle, or
>>motivate and empower.
Very true, but I hasten to add that a writer who is honest, should never
NEVER be forced into writing just to make others feel good. Sometimes,
language must be strong to make a point. And I do not mean vulgarity or
nastiness. In this PC world, we have to contend with too many changes to
the language, just to avoid hurting others who have no right to be
offended.
For example, I recently trained a group who took offense when I mentioned
several connectors as having male and female parts. I was asked why gender
was used to describe electrical components, and all I could say is that's
the way it has always been and that's the way industry refers to them. You
can tell by the shape of the parts. That offended a few as well.
