Stop Calling It Sexism/Racism

The art of the open discussion is apparently over. Deigning to disagree with a woman or women does not make one a sexist or male chauvinist. Suggesting a woman or women are idiots based upon their actions or comments or beliefs is not sexism or male chauvinism. Suggesting a woman or women are idiots based upon their being a woman or women would be an actual example of sexism. The same principle applies to racism. Deigning to disagree with a person or persons of a different race than ones' own is not racism. Nor is it racism to refer to them as an idiot based upon their actions or words or beliefs --- or as Martin Luther King, Jr. suggested people ought to be judged, upon the content of their character. Suggesting a person or persons of a different race than ones' own is an idiot based upon their race would be actual example of racism.

The problem with inaccurately mislabeling somebody a sexist or racist is that it shuts down any dialogue and poisons the well of public discourse. True sexism and racism should be called out and condemned. However, it is dangerous to misuse and abuse words like sexism and racism as doing so threatens to change their meaning and diminish their cultural and social potency and bring into doubt valid claims of sexism and racism. It also allows the accuser to acquire an artificial and unearned sense of moral superiority. It lets them off the hook having to actually confront and understand ideas and perspectives very different than their own.