More things I am shocked shocked that others don't know- words are defined in the context of society. Words are like money, they are symbols- we agree that green paper is a very valuable thing, we give the paper meaning. Words are not defined only by what is in the dictionary, they are also defined by the feeling that has built up around the word by much usage, and the symbolism that the word invokes in the mind. Society usually has a consensus on what words mean and connote, but it can be hard to change the meaning of words- there have been attempts to give bitch the connotation of a strong, in control woman, but the main meaning remains derogatory. The point of this was to say that words are vessels that we fill with social meaning, and that words have meaning only in a social context- we use them to communicate with others. That is why if your words are hurtful to another, that's a problem- you know what words are considered hurtful and you choose to communicate those sentiments to others. Remember- noone makes you be a jerk.

A mystery to me is language blindness- the lack of ability to understand that words have connotations(I don't know the real word). It's like being able to hear rhythm but not melody in music- you can never hear the whole of it.