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Its really not rocket science. If you say hurtful things when you don't mean to, that's one thing. Denying the other party's feelings are valid and continuing to say hurtful things for really no reason other than to be stubborn makes you a jerk.

Redemption is to just try not to be a jerk.

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> "If you say hurtful things when you don't mean to, that's one thing. Denying the other party's feelings are valid and continuing to say hurtful things for really no reason other than to be stubborn makes you a jerk."

I note that this says nothing about the original speaker's feelings and opinions. If the other party denies the validity of the speaker's feelings and opinions, are they not also jerks?

It applies universally, yes.

> Redemption is to just try not to be a jerk.

Motte and Bailey.

Telling people you aren't a racist and didn't mean the thing they consider to be racist in a racist way is in no way denying the other party's feelings are valid.

It is because that is not relevant. If you step on a foot, you apologize. You do not start talking about how you aren't a foot-stepper.

It's more like I stepped on your foot's shadow and you call me a foot-stepper.

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