I'm not trying to be overly politically correct. The word ######, in the context of calling anyone a ######, is offensive to me. I worked at a non-profit for almost 6 years where a significant portion of the clientele had developmental disabilities (mental and/or physical). I've seen how hurtful that word is to those people and their friends and family.
Before I worked there I was probably in the same boat as many of you. I even dropped it a couple times while at that job (that didn't go over very well).
All I'm saying, is the word is derogatory now. It hasn't reached the level of n****r or f****T but it will. The meaning behind some words change overtime. It's a fact. Just because we don't want to stop using the words, doesn't mean we shouldn't.
That is laughable. The only people making this word mean that are people like you. I've honestly never had a friend or aquaintance, since I was 5, that made remarks towards MC people and used "######" as being offensive.
People get killed all the time in NA based upon the colour of their skin or their sexual orientation. There aren't a lot of hate crimes against MC people. When was the last time someone mentioned that MC people were going to hell or there was a rally of people with swastikas that wanted them gassed? NEVER!
That is laughable. The only people making this word mean that are people like you. I've honestly never had a friend or aquaintance, since I was 5, that made remarks towards MC people and used "######" as being offensive.
People get killed all the time in NA based upon the colour of their skin or their sexual orientation. There aren't a lot of hate crimes against MC people. When was the last time someone mentioned that MC people were going to hell or there was a rally of people with swastikas that wanted them gassed? NEVER!
Hate crimes against disabled people happen all the time. They may not be classified as hate crimes though. Stories about the crimes usually include something along the lines of "have been taken advantage of".
Hate crimes against people with disabilities may not be as common as crimes against race or sexual orientation. That's one of the reasons the word ###### hasn't reached the same level as the other two I mentioned. However, people with disabilities are discriminated against because of their disability.
People like me aren't "making this word mean". Just because you haven't witnessed discrimination against people with disabilities doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are obviously enough people that don't feel the use of the word is appropriate anymore if they are hiring advertising agencies to create ads to raise awareness.
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Uh-oh. Does this mean I'm not allowed to use my engine ######er brakes going down big hills any more?
The message in the ad bugs me. Words have power, yes. But only because of the meaning we ascribe to them. A rose by any other name and all that.
Personally, I find the term "special" when used to describe a person of different abilities, states, or degree of conformity to generally accepted norms offensive.
So oddly enough, I find the term "Special" more offensive than "######ed" in this regard. Just goes to show ya - different strokes for different folks.
We're all special. We need adverbs to describe ourselves so that we're able to say what makes us special, unique, or otherwise "not like everyone else". In other words, different.
So I'm fat, you're black, he's a Jew, she's gay, and Billy's ######ed. Can't we all just get along?
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
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Originally Posted by annasuave
Uh-oh. Does this mean I'm not allowed to use my engine ######er brakes going down big hills any more?
The message in the ad bugs me. Words have power, yes. But only because of the meaning we ascribe to them. A rose by any other name and all that.
Personally, I find the term "special" when used to describe a person of different abilities, states, or degree of conformity to generally accepted norms offensive.
So oddly enough, I find the term "Special" more offensive than "######ed" in this regard. Just goes to show ya - different strokes for different folks.
We're all special. We need adverbs to describe ourselves so that we're able to say what makes us special, unique, or otherwise "not like everyone else". In other words, different.
So I'm fat, you're black, he's a Jew, she's gay, and Billy's ######ed. Can't we all just get along?
We can get along by respecting a groups request to not use a certain word.
We can get along by respecting a groups request to not use a certain word.
now whos lumping people together
didnt you see the guy in the video a couple of posts up, I have his permission to continue using the R-word. Just like I can say the N-word cuz Chris Rock does.
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
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Originally Posted by Swarly
now whos lumping people together
didnt you see the guy in the video a couple of posts up, I have his permission to continue using the R-word. Just like I can say the N-word cuz Chris Rock does.
The message in the ad bugs me. Words have power, yes. But only because of the meaning we ascribe to them. A rose by any other name and all that.
That's one thing that's always entertained me, for most of the words we consider offensive most people can't explain why, except for the fact they are(not necessairily all of them). A word is only offensive if you decide to be offended by it, I think evidence of this is how certain words have evolved over time and despite the meaning not changing a bit are no longer considered offensive. For all we know people in the future will be dropping f-bombs in regular social situations without a second thought.
Hate crimes against disabled people happen all the time. They may not be classified as hate crimes though. Stories about the crimes usually include something along the lines of "have been taken advantage of".
They say "have been taken advantage of" because it's usually accurate. People don't commit crimes against disabled people because they hate them, they do it because they're easy targets, who can't always fight back. It's equivalent to a hate crime in terms of how cowardly and disgusting it is, but it isn't the same.
And just as an aside, I think that the terms "######" and "mentally ######ed" are almost entirely different. The former has always seemed pejorative, and I don't use it. The latter seems descriptive, and I see no problem using it instead of "mentally challenged," which really describes nothing. Who challenged this person's mind, and why...?
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