[fatso]

Let me try to bang this out in a few ways:

To be fair, no one is saying the word '######' shouldn't exist or that it's off-limits. The ad is trying to stop it being used as an insult (4X4).

When it's used as to describe someone who is not challenged in my experience it's used to denigrate them, even if in jest. Therefore it's a word that is meant to denigrate an able individual by comparing them a disabled individual (Firefly). The bitch, white thing doesn't work because those are actual descriptors of you.

Fotze you and I usually do agree but I'm not sure I follow your point. Either ######s have been disadvantaged historically - including the use of insulting names of which '######' has been one - or they haven't.

Not surprisingly this has become a thread about political correctness... and it looks like we're either going to play logic games to explain why ###### isn't insulting or rely on context and communication theory to argue that it is. So, let's try a different tactic and put the thread back on track.

The Special Olympics, a reputable group that puts the needs of challenged individuals first and foremost, has created a campaign asking people to reconsider their use of the word '######'. As Joe Citizen, I see the ad. My personal take on it, is "OK... I'm not challenged, if they want me to stop using the word '######' I guess I'll try it out... no skin off my back". It seems to me the response of other people is "No... '######' isn't offensive, and I have a right to continue to use it". My questions is, simply, why it's important for people who want to use the word '######' to fight this battle? Why is it important to you to preserve the right to use that word in the context put forward by the ad? Why not just try and help them out?