Making Light:  Open thread 145 ::: August 20, 2010, 02:33 PM

Tom @ 147,150 -- You are distinguishing between the use of an
offensive word "in the sense of using its meaning" and the mention
of an offensive word for the purpose of discussion.  I believe this
case is a third way of using an offensive word, without regard to
its traditional meaning, but with the intention of giving offense
by the use of the word.

I'm having a hard time expressing how I believe the third usage is
offensive in a way that the second is not.  Perhaps it's the general
feeling that it's right to take offense when someone tries to be
offensive, because otherwise they will try harder.