Downgrading and Upgrading Speech

Published
by
Dan
on 1/23/2008
in Short Quotes and Urbia
. Tags: , , , , .

I think more and more if you call someone by the most respectable title you can think of for them it will be easier to serve them. listen<<This came out of a conversation I had where at the beginning of the conversation I referred to someone as “A big black guy” and by the end of the conversation I referred to him as “The nice African-American man”He deserved to be treated with respect from the beginning, and I’m not sure why I downgraded him as I spoke of him, but I was glad that I saw what I was saying and upgraded him as I continued to speak.>> 

3 Responses to “Downgrading and Upgrading Speech”

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  1. 1 Greg
    1/23/2008 at 9:27 pm

    You have me contemplating what those titles would be — since I often do not respect the titles of this age. For tonight, I settle on “Beloved.” I am going to meditate on that. peace

  2. 2 andy
    1/24/2008 at 10:20 am

    the jott sounds like you’re teaching english again…to the computer

  3. 3 Greg
    1/24/2008 at 5:41 pm

    This makes an interesting commentary on the way we interpret language as well! There is nothing inherently negative about the words “big,” “black,” or “man.” And yet the mind assigns a negative connotation to the first set of simple words. I wonder if “African American” is any more positive or just more formal and less given to common meanings and unspoken baggage? I look forward to the day when it is just, “my friend Bob” or “my colleague Debbie.” peace

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