Originally Posted by Sly

Another thread got me thinking about this... why is it okay to refer to others of the "same kind" by using derogatory names... but others cannot use those same names?

Example: I can call myself a cripple all day long and I get a few weird looks but nobody really says anything. A friend of mine yells "hey you crippled bitch? across Hooters and everyone gasps.

Why is that? Why do we care so much what some stranger calls us? Are we that insecure?