Heather Hicks linked to this thread in the Sephora codes and discussion thread, so I was expecting this was going to be about Kat Von D's Celebutard controversy, but this is a very interesting discussion nonetheless.
I guess my own thoughts about this is that claiming no ill-intent when using derogatory words can really only fly up until you've been informed that they're derogatory. After that, calling someone, say, a "Kike" and then being like "Well, I'm just not a pc kind of person and I have no ill-intent when I use that word" should rightly not go over well.
Same with "Gypped" or "jipped." You having no ill-intent because you were ignorant that these are derogatory ethnic slurs is fine and understandable, but once you're no longer ignorant to the fact that these are derogatory ethic slurs, it can appear mean-spirited and malicious to carry on using them. Because now you're no longer ignorant, you have no excuse, your 'intent' is suspect. It seems to me there is no noble reason that an informed person should carry on with being as careless as an ignorant person.
I guess my own thoughts about this is that claiming no ill-intent when using derogatory words can really only fly up until you've been informed that they're derogatory. After that, calling someone, say, a "Kike" and then being like "Well, I'm just not a pc kind of person and I have no ill-intent when I use that word" should rightly not go over well.
Same with "Gypped" or "jipped." You having no ill-intent because you were ignorant that these are derogatory ethnic slurs is fine and understandable, but once you're no longer ignorant to the fact that these are derogatory ethic slurs, it can appear mean-spirited and malicious to carry on using them. Because now you're no longer ignorant, you have no excuse, your 'intent' is suspect. It seems to me there is no noble reason that an informed person should carry on with being as careless as an ignorant person.