[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Exactly. There is a significant difference, for example, between using a racial slur which literally has no other meaning than to disparage an entire race, and the word "######" which we have many uses for. Hell, one of the many signs you'll see coming into the city of the highway: "Engine ######er brakes prohibited". The sign isn't saying your vehicle's brakes are making the engine mentally handicapped. Or "timing ######" which refers to the condition where the engine management unit pulls timing to prevent detonation.

Do I think we should discourage people being dickbags to mentally handicapped people? Absolutely.

Do I think it means jettisoning a word with different meanings/contexts from the language? Not even slightly. It'll be replaced with a new word, and then fast forward and soon we'll be under pressure to get rid of that word. It won't end. Stop making words taboo, and start making people accountable specifically for their actions toward others. Banning words makes everyone feel like they're helping, and changes nothing.

I think the point is to stop using it in a way that is derogatory.