# Words vs. Intent **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 7, 2019, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-vs-intent/844502 "2019-12-07T04:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-vs-intent/844502/21 "2019-12-07T20:18:21Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > The possible “gotcha” attempt I see is if the mods say, “intention matters,” the OP could argue that intent, that slippery, evanescent concept, should stop other posters from objecting to racist, sexist, homophobic language because after all, the poster just has to say, "I didn’t mean it that way; if mods say, “words matter,” then there’s a demand for a bright line list of words, and any other words that mean the same thing would be allowed. > > I hope I’m wrong. You’re not wrong. And Moderators shouldn’t have to put up with that shit. They make judgment calls will will, hopefully only occasionally, be bad calls. ---
**Author:** ![atimnie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atimnie/32/11_2.png) [@atimnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atimnie)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-vs-intent/844502/22 "2019-12-07T21:03:16Z")
Of course, some words should never be used, unless talking about how the words shouldn’t be used. And even then, you don’t have to spell out the N word. Retard is a word that should not be used. Yes, I know what I said ten posts back, but there are exceptions. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-vs-intent/844502/23 "2019-12-08T15:13:21Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-vs-intent/844502/24 "2019-12-09T04:53:14Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Here we have, again, a fine example of where context is king and fuzzy lines are very very important for moderating things. Completely understandable. > [@](#): > > Perhaps it would be best to avoid being close to offensive at all. How was my post offensive? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-vs-intent/844502/25 "2019-12-09T05:11:32Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > How was my post offensive? First we should discuss what offensive means in that context. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-vs-intent/844502/26 "2019-12-09T05:11:35Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > How was my post offensive? Another non sequitur. No one said your post was offensive. You’ve had repeated requests to explain what the moderation issue is here. Please do so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-vs-intent/844502.md?page=1)