by Robert Robertson

Created on: January 16, 2009

To consider if something is disrespectful, there are two critical items we need to know. The first one is the intent of the person who said it. The second one is how the person who heard it understood the message. It can be difficult, if not impossible to know someone's intent or how someone understood something. By considering the content of the dialogue and the situation we can determine the intent of a speaker or the way a hearer understood it. Sometimes they tell us the intent and the way it was received.

We will make the assumption that a speaker uses the word "fundie" to describe a Fundamental Christian with the intent to be disrespectful. The Fundamental Christian that heard the statement does not receive it as disrespectful. Is it? I say it is, because the intent is to be disrespectful. The speaker is using a derogatory term to refer to the person.

Now we will assume that a speaker uses the word "fundie" without any ill intent. The Fundamental Christian receives it as disrespectful. Is it? Again, the answer is yes. The Fundamental Christian received it as derogatory, disparaging or disrespectful, and it doesn't really matter how it was intended.

Another way to represent this is the speaker uses the work "fundie" with ill intent. The Fundamental Christian receives it as disrespectful. Is it? Yes it is, because it was intended and received as disrespectful.

Now for the example that is the most controversial. Our speaker uses the word "fundie" without any ill intent whatsoever. The Fundamental Christian that hears the word receives it a non-derogatory. Is the use of the word "fundie" disrespectful? Was your first response no? In actuality, the use of the term in our politically correct culture it is. Even though the speaker had no ill intent and the hearer does not receive it as disrespectful, it is.

Do you disagree with me? Let me give you another example.

We have two people in a conversation. Person One and Person Two are close friends. Person one is Caucasian and Person Two, is African American. Person One uses the "N" word in conversation. Person One has no ill intent in the use of the "N" word and this is the first time that Person One has used the "N" word. Person One is not racist and makes every attempt not to offend others. Person Two hears the "N" word and considers it to be racist, disrespectful and derogatory. Is the use of the "N" word in this case disrespectful?

Another example.

Person 2, who is African American, uses the "N" word in a conversation with Person One, who is Caucasian. Is this disrespectful?

If we replace "fundie" with another word (the "N" word, gay or other derogatory term for members of the homosexual community, etc.) it would be considered disrespectful.

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