I’ve mostly been of the opinion that words are harmless, in and of themselves. It is the intent of the usage of any word that does the harm. Twain could use nigger over and over, but the intent was the opposite of being disparaging. Call me queer and I go, sure, I’ve always been a bit odd. But call me fag or faggot and I’ll get upset because I am NOT smokable. Well, depending on what you mean by ‘smokable’, so I guess that one’s ok too. 
