Child Safety Article Says Insults Do Hurt

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me! How many times has this mantra been recited in schoolyards and on playgrounds all over the country? But do you believe it?

A child safety article says a new book by Jerome Neu, a humanities professor at the University of California at Santa Cruz has studied the impact of insults and slurs. Neu's book, Sticks and Stones: The Philosophy of Insults takes that classic old saying that is taught to most schoolchildren and examines it's truth.

His conclusions are that yes, insults do harm people and that hurtful words do have significant effects on children in particular. Insults and slurs define acceptable social behavior, character traits, free speech and laws. He cites examples from writings ranging from the philosopher Aristotle to the rapper Eminem.