Does context matter when provocative language is used to raise awareness about important issues?

Depends on your reading level.

A lot of people, mainly the guys, wear these at my school. This actually even came up at my school also. We high schoolers are allowed to wear them, middle schoolers have to wear them inside out while, just like us, elementary schoolers came where them as they want. When I first saw the bracelets and noticed that it was mainly the guys at school wearing them I didn't know what they were about and was kinda annoyed by them. When I found out what the bracelets were I wasnt as annoyed by them but the fact that the guys are pretty much the only ones wearing them still get on my nerves because they on wear them for what they say not what theyre supposed to really represent.

The emphasis on breast cancer awareness ought to be on the lives of women - not their breasts.

It's an "awareness raising campaign" and we would not even be aware of it if it were not for the "provocative" language.

So, not only would I say it's appropriate, in this day and age it's f*cking necessary.

i actually think the use of provovative language is completely appropriate because as well as adults adolescents between the ages of 11-17 use epithets and slurs as part of normal vernacular...so why not reconstruct those words into supporting something positive

Yes, but not in this case. Context is important. Here the provocative nature is concurent with the message because your talking about boobs in the first place. In other words its not deceitful, and it's hard to blame the foundation for capitalizing on the fact that everyone really does love boobies. Seriously, save the tits!

Contacts matter if the language is text.

I love boobies. Love em. Save the boobies

Sometimes provocative language is necessary to bring attention to very serious issues that otherwise would be ignored. With all the provocative messages out there in our media today, to refuse to do so means being left in obscurity and forgotten in the constant 15 minute media cycle.

I understand the school administration not being comfortable with young people having provocative phrases written on their wrist, as school is supposed to be a place for learning rather than being a place to think boobs. That being said boobs are a fact of life: about 55% of the US population has them, and odds are every boy above age 13 is thinking about them. The school administration is being immature for not accepting this and banning the bracelets.

The inappropriateness is what makes the use of provocative educational aids so appropriate. The fact that there are schools banning the wearing of these bracelets only helps the campaign.

Whenever you can win by loosing you are never left wanting for your goals.

Men don't have "boobies" but they can get breast cancer so shouldn't the question be why are breast cancer "awareness" campaigns often solely focused on women?

"Fuck Cancer"

Why not?

its just another case of the pussification of our once great nation. sad day

This is just another case of people being to sensitive. But who am i to judge i am just another person right.

Well, we have a teacher just today suspended in Spokane for handing out Rap lyrics that used offensive language as part of a class assignment. I realize it's not the same thing as the story but, really? these are HS students. If one doesn't think the same words are being used all over campus every few seconds...well, you've been out of HS longer than me. Young people always want to be provocative. It's in their nature and if you know the purpose of the language I see no harm.

I think that if high schools think that the word "boobies" is inappropriate, we have larger issues to worry about. "Tits"? That's a little more provocative. "Funbags", "Hooters", or "Milk Jugs", yeah, I wouldn't be comfortable with that as a school official or principal. But "Boobies"? For a cancer awareness cause? That seems way, way too serious to me.

Provocative language should not matter... for anything, really. It's part of our nomenclature and our vocabulary; I think that, if anything, mid-to-late-teens should not be harped upon for using it nearly as much as they are now. It sort of backfires and "feels cool" or "rebellious" to use more cussing or provocative language regularly which will eventually hurt their vocabulary more than just accepting it as a normal sentence enhancer. Context should make a difference, sure; I wouldn't want kindergardeners running around screaming "FUCK FUCK FUCK" at the top of their lungs, but boobies? In HIGH SCHOOL? This is ridiculous.

The cause probably wouldnt be so popular to high school and middle school kids if it werent for the "i love boobies" and some may think thats pushing the line but the truth is, that its not about the words its about supporting a good cause and rasing money and awareness on an issue such as this is much more important than being worried about your kid finding out what the word boobies mean which they will most definitely find out eventually anyway so to those with virgin ears... f@ckin get over it and if you disagree dont f@ckin buy it and find another way to help breast cancer patients...

Context always matters - language, words, do not occur in a vacuum.

One of the challenges of on-line communication is that so much context is lost.

Much of communication is non-verbal and/or extra verbal.

no it doesn't as long as it gets people's attention towards a good cause they can say what ever they want :D