Censoring myself...

As an advertising major, I went through the journalism school at TCU, so I had to take many a course involving freedom of the press/speech, etc, and I’ve always been a staunch supporter of it. Yet, there are also rules for safety, like the fact that a person cannot call out the word “fire” in the middle of a crowded theatre because of the potential to cause injury with the stampede to get out.

But, what if might cause a personal offense to another party? For instance, I swear. Especially when driving, and have been known to just make up new ones on the spot. I’ll admit that I don’t scream it out in public and don’t do it in front of children, my parents’ friends, etc. But, what about when speaking or chatting with a friend and I get all riled up and call someone a “bitch,” and the other party doesn’t like the word? Hmmm… stand still. Where is the line drawn between saying what I want to versus the recipient’s reaction on what might be offensive?

Another take on it may not just be words but also subject matters. In a casual conversation, if the topic of say…gun control comes up and all but one person is in consensus, should the majority stop talking about it – out of respect and politeness – so that the dissenter feels more comfortable?

I have to admit that I probably censor myself more when I’m in public or in a public domain (like the blog or comments), just to make things less awkward. Everyone seems so sensitive nowadays, so you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

However, in one-on-one or a small group of friends, I think I should be able to say what is on my mind without concern for judgment or censorship. I guess my thought is that a friend should be more concerned with why I said something rather than the use of the word itself, especially since I don’t think differently of him/her for their particular style?