After interviewing many people on campus for a VOX Pop style video about words, I received many different answers from many people expressing how they feel about Derogatory Words and which words they would use or would never use. (click the link to see the video!).
Many of the people I interviewed agreed that the use of derogatory words are inappropriate when used between strangers or people of a professional status. But on the other hand many of the people I interviewed also agreed to saying that they believe that is it okay to use certain derogatory words between friends as long as they are not offended by the words that are used.
Certain words should never be used just for that simple reason that they are very offensive. Certain words have been a major topic of the discussion of derogatory words that has influenced many people even celebrities to make PSA's (Personal Service Announcements) to raise awareness about specific words that are offensive and should never be used because they can be very insulting. For example, one specific campaign called Spread the Word to End the Word is a campaign to spread awareness about he word "retarded" being used negatively and being offensive to people with disabilities. Many celebrities have made PSA's to support the movement to Spread the Word to End the Word that has helped a lot to help stop the use of the word "retarded" and other words as well.
We should all be more cautious of the things that we say and understand what words are offensive and learn which words are not offensive. To see what the people around campus at my school, Winthrop University said about the use of derogatory words just click the link below.
