Words That Make Us Ugly

[Devlyn]

I'm close to the subject. Mentally challenged is the preferred term. Hugs, Devlyn

[Sara Thomas]

"and profanity edits on the site will continue"

Durn tootin' they will!

Yeah - this really cramps my style: darn's dark brother is just part of the local vernacular... and countless westerns aside, you just can't say "darn" with the same drawl. 

[Jamie D]

wait, but the "R-word" (wow I feel like a child censoring myself from that) is simply the correct medical term to describe an aberration of the physical or mental state. like my toes for instance are slightly malformed in a more simian than normal fashion. It is proper term to describe them. or if your fire proof something you can refer to it as such. Isn't it better to reclaim these words rather than reduce our vocabulary? Just like the term queer was reclaimed?

"Retard" is no longer part of the medical jargon.  When used as a noun to describe someone, it is disparaging.  That is the point of the article.

Of course, you have freedom of speech.  It think this is more about taking personal responsibility for what we say.

[tomthom]

eh, I know plenty of people that still use it medically in my area. I am technically mentally and physically deficient in some aspects, but I've never been offended by the word. Who knows, maybe I'm a special case and this just doesn't have the capacity to bother me.

[Devlyn]

eh, I know plenty of people that still use it medically in my area. I am technically mentally and physically deficient in some aspects, but I've never been offended by the word. Who knows, maybe I'm a special case and this just doesn't have the capacity to bother me.

You will, no doubt, provide links to some of these medical works?

[tomthom]

medical works? I said people... as in they say it in person.

anyway, I'm just gonna scoot on out of this topic. I'm just going to be bothered by it eventually.

[Shantel]

Good comments from KKut I concur. I think this thread is well intended but kind of stupid.

[tomthom]

that was pretty much my sentiment, but lately it feels like I'm walking on eggshells in this community.

[Jamie D]

I'm not offended by any word if it's used in proper context. I'm sure there are some that feel certain words no longer have proper context, that's fine, I personally don't. But there has to be proper context if you're going to define the banned words yes?

Any word that takes the place of a banned word, will be turned into a pejorative at some point and it too will require banning. I think this becomes unworkable.

I want people to speak their mind to me. I want to know who people are. For example, I believe Germany made it illegal to deny the occurance of the Holocaust. Well, I want to know if someone thinks it didn't occur. I'd kind of like to keep those people out of my life.

A lot of young kids have fought and died for our right to free speech. I'll gravitate towards people and ideas that respect that right even in extreme cases.

I get the point of the pledge, do I pledge not to use these words to hurt others? Not possible, it's too late, did that years ago.

kkut, I more often than not agree with your posts, and I am at heart a civil libertarian.

But this is not about enforcing speech codes, or infringing on fundamental rights.

It is about being polite versus crude and vulgar.  That's all.

[Sara Thomas]

"a form of speech code via shaming and ostracism"

Hmmmm... sort of like that which exists by usage of the words?

People are, of course, free to run their mouths as they see fit - I would never want to see that right (in the constitutional sense) diminished. But I have no problem if folks experience negative consequences as the result of exercising that right in an uncivil manner.

[tomthom]

when we use the words we aren't telling you to use them. while conversely you're trying to "take an honorable pledge" which insinuates we are somewhat lesser for using them.

In my opinion it's the reciever's responsibility to properly tell if the word is being used properly, as an insult, or as something else. These are basic social cues that should be learned in pubescence.