And yes you know who you are.

I think we should aspire to something better than just being the mirror image of the "other" guys. Star Trek taught us that doesn't end well.

I'm gonna reiterate what I said elsewhere:

It's easy to say words are just words.

It's harder to address the cultural weight of the words. The fact that their use either feeds or fights against oppression. There is rarely any middle ground.

People keep pointing out art as a defense: 'Well this character said it' or whatever. In each such instance, we are learning something about the character who is using bigoted language.

When Ed Norton did so in American History X, we were not sympathizing with his sentiments as a character. We were being shown how fucked up that character was.

and troll for words they think should be expunged from all memory.

If you belong to any group they want to protect from even the mildest, joking pejoratives, you know what I mean. We didn't appoint these trolls and their outrage on our behalf is beyond merely unwelcome, it's infuriating because it ASSumes we are incapable of standing up for ourselves. It's patronizing at its worst.

I suggest the modern day censors read up on their history. First, their patron saint, Thomas Bowdler http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bowdler

Note that he was trying to sanitize Shakespeare and Gibbon to protect women and children, of which he was neither.

Then they can read up on how he's been received over the years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expurgation

I'm not black, gay, Jewish or many other things but I find it upsetting when others are attacked for who they are. It is not to imply those attacked are unable to defend themselves, it is the sense of common humanity that is the corollary to my OP. These are my neighbors.

I also feel sad for the attacker, in a way. Hate, bitterness and anger are not pleasant emotions. To be perpetually held captive to such feelings is, I think, a foretaste of Hell itself.

However, I'd rather wince at an occasional word or answer a silly prejudice in a thread rather than try to silence a poster or expunge every slightly negative word from the board. It's especially vexing when some self appointed guardian of tender feelings tries to do these things on my behalf.

but I would not seek to silence. That too is nothing more than another form of control. The only person I should govern is myself and my efforts in even that simple task are lacking; all the more reason I am not fit to control another.

People are simply saying they don't consider homophobic and misogynistic jokes / insults appropriate for use at DU.

Not even "mild" homophobic and misogynistic jokes / insults.

What I find annoying are the ones who are outraged on someone else's behalf
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5123153

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Calling DUers who object to homophobic insults "trolls", is way way way over the top. Its one thing to disagree. This is much worse.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Jun 19, 2014, 05:37 PM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Just because it is largely unintelligible does not mean it is "disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate."
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: These alerts are getting ridiculous. I don't like RP, I think he's over the top, and so I don't read him. People need to start learning how to use the hide feature on all but the most egregious stuff. This post by Warpy is pedestrian. I read worse stuff on the sides of cereal boxes every morning. Grow up, alerter.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Geez.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Wat?
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: What? Nowhere in that comment did he/she call DUers trolls.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

Because it is the right thing to do

Including this, too:

The worst excuse is, "They started it!" The oppressed never have an excuse to become the oppressor. They, of all people, should know better.

There's always an excuse but the excuses always result in dehumanizing a human being.

what I said in Post #10 --