Bigotry, a buzzword PSA

Ian · March 18, 2016, 10:54:50 PM

Quote

big·ot
ˈbiɡət/
noun
a person who is intolerant toward those holding different opinions.

Please refrain from using this term outside of the definition given above. I've seen this word five times today, two of them on here. Once again, the word should only be used if you can apply the situation to fit this definition. Especially not if you end up looking like one yourself in so doing.

Correct: "Sally refused to acknowledge people who support Nvidia over AMD. She's such a bigot when it comes to computer hardware."

Incorrect: "Joe sees that most people prefer Blu-ray over HDDVD, yet he chooses HDDVD simply as a personal preference, he's a bigot to high quality video play back."

Please think twice before using this in your daily vocabulary. Thank you.

Ingy · March 18, 2016, 11:04:27 PM

Whoa look
Gaara put his post under the quote
What is happening??!

Verbatim · March 18, 2016, 11:08:07 PM

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFallacies/27/Appeal_to_Definition

Dictionaries are not gospel truth, and treating them as though they are is very silly. Language is malleable. Words can mean literally whatever we want, as long as our message is clear.

Jono · March 18, 2016, 11:09:00 PM

Quote from: Precious Tritium on March 18, 2016, 11:04:27 PM

Whoa look
Gaara put his post under the quote
What is happening??!

The end times are truly upon us

Verbatim · March 18, 2016, 11:15:56 PM

Quote from: LC on March 18, 2016, 08:52:09 PM

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFallacies/27/Appeal_to_Definition

You would do well to read this, too, because I know you're one of these "dictionary definitions are law" type folk as well. I remember you trying to argue with me about the definition of "irony" by using its dictionary definition before, and it was really dumb, because that's not what dictionaries are for.

"Tip: Don’t be afraid to argue with authority if you believe you are right -- even when that authority is the dictionary."

Solonoid · March 18, 2016, 11:20:44 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:15:56 PM

"Tip: Don’t be afraid to argue with authority if you believe you are right

The irony levels are off the charts.

big sponge · March 18, 2016, 11:22:39 PM

I really don't care about what you have to say on this Verb.

Your dictionaries don't define the real definitions of words thing really only holds water with you around here so please leave me out of this.

Ian · March 18, 2016, 11:24:50 PM

Quote

Using a dictionary’s limited definition of a term as evidence that term cannot have another meaning, expanded meaning

There never has been any other meaning to the word "Bigot". This logical fallacy is irrelevant as there is only one truth to the word.

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:08:07 PM

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFallacies/27/Appeal_to_Definition

Dictionaries are not gospel truth, and treating them as though they are is very silly. Language is malleable. Words can mean literally whatever we want, as long as our message is clear.

Verbatim · March 18, 2016, 11:27:24 PM

Quote from: Solonoid on March 18, 2016, 11:20:44 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:15:56 PM
"Tip: Don’t be afraid to argue with authority if you believe you are right
The irony levels are off the charts.

Where is the irony? What have you changed the definition of irony to here? I'm not sure.

I don't view myself as an authority on anything, but even if I did, I'd still accept anyone's challenge.

I'm flattered that you apparently consider me an authority on something, though.

Verbatim · March 18, 2016, 11:30:25 PM

Quote from: Gaara444 on March 18, 2016, 11:24:50 PM

There never has been any other meaning to the word "Bigot".

Says who? Do you have proof of this?

You could use the word in a metaphorical sense, and metaphor is one of the best ways to defy the dictionary.

The point is that the word has the potential to be used for a variety of meanings, as all words do. There is NO law stating that the word "bigot" cannot be used for anything else. No law at all.

maverick · March 18, 2016, 11:31:19 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:08:07 PM

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFallacies/27/Appeal_to_Definition

Dictionaries are not gospel truth, and treating them as though they are is very silly. Language is malleable. Words can mean literally whatever we want, as long as our message is clear.

Unless the word is feminism, right?

Verbatim · March 18, 2016, 11:31:50 PM

Quote from: Memerick on March 18, 2016, 11:31:19 PM

Unless the word is feminism, right?

No. Even if the word is "feminist."

Ian · March 18, 2016, 11:33:16 PM

Well of course not, you can't make laws on words. But changing the definition of a word freely would make conversing with others impossible which is why we don't.

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:30:25 PM

There is NO law stating that the word "bigot" cannot be used for anything else. No law at all.

Solonoid · March 18, 2016, 11:35:40 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:27:24 PM

Quote from: Solonoid on March 18, 2016, 11:20:44 PM
Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:15:56 PM
"Tip: Don’t be afraid to argue with authority if you believe you are right
The irony levels are off the charts.
Where is the irony? What have you changed the definition of irony to here? I'm not sure.

I don't view myself as an authority on anything, but even if I did, I'd still accept anyone's challenge.

I'm flattered that you apparently consider me an authority on something, though.

No, dumbass, you're an advocate of following law blindly.

You're the physical bane of civil disobedience, and its ironic that you would say its alright to challenge authority if you believe in something.

How on earth did I imply that you had even an inkling of authority?

Verbatim · March 18, 2016, 11:36:35 PM

Quote from: Gaara444 on March 18, 2016, 11:33:16 PM

Well of course not, you can't make laws on words. But changing the definition of a word freely would make conversing with others impossible which is why we don't.

That's why I mentioned that it's important to have clarity, and to be coherent. If you're not getting your point across, you're not using your words well enough.

If you're using a word when you meant to use another word, then that would be an improper use of that word.

Calling someone a "bigot" as a shorthand synonym for "an intolerant individual" seems acceptable to me, even if it doesn't line up exactly with your given dictionary definition.

I'd also like to point out that not all dictionaries have the same definitions. I'm not sure where you got yours from--Merriam Webster, perhaps, but there are many others, as I'm sure you know. And they will conflict at times. That doesn't mean one is wrong and one is right--there are just many ways of interpreting word meanings.

Verbatim · March 18, 2016, 11:38:04 PM

Quote from: Solonoid on March 18, 2016, 11:35:40 PM

No, dumbass, you're an advocate of following law blindly.

Dictionaries aren't law, though.

Quote

How on earth did I imply that you had even an inkling of authority?

With your vague, shittily worded post that I could only guess the meaning of.

Thank you for thinking I have an inkling of authority, though. I'm flattered.

Solonoid · March 18, 2016, 11:39:16 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:38:04 PM

Quote from: Solonoid on March 18, 2016, 11:35:40 PM
No, dumbass, you're an advocate of following law blindly.
Dictionaries aren't law, though.

Quote
How on earth did I imply that you had even an inkling of authority?
With your vague, shittily worded post that I could only guess what it meant.

Thank you for thinking I have an inkling of authority, though. I'm flattered.

I really don't think even you could be this stupid.

I'm clearly being trolled.

Verbatim · March 18, 2016, 11:40:28 PM

Quote from: Solonoid on March 18, 2016, 11:39:16 PM

I really don't think even you could be this stupid.

I'm clearly being trolled.

I'm absolutely elated to discover that you've finally recognized my intellectual capabilities.

Solonoid · March 18, 2016, 11:41:49 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:40:28 PM

Quote from: Solonoid on March 18, 2016, 11:39:16 PM
I really don't think even you could be this stupid.

I'm clearly being trolled.
I'm absolutely elated to discover that you've finally recognized my intellectual capabilities.

Or maybe you're just high or something, I don't even know anymore.

Ian · March 18, 2016, 11:41:50 PM

Well that's the only given definition for bigot so of course it's going to be correct.

Quote from: Verbatim on March 18, 2016, 11:36:35 PM

Calling someone a "bigot" as a shorthand synonym for "an intolerant individual" seems acceptable to me, even if it doesn't line up exactly with your given dictionary definition.

The differences in definitions tend to be negligible in terms of being able to apply them in sentences.

Quote

I'd also like to point out that not all dictionaries have the same definitions. I'm not sure where you got yours from--Merriam Webster, perhaps, but there are many others, as I'm sure you know. And they will conflict at times. That doesn't mean one is wrong and one is right--there are just many ways of interpreting word meanings.