#nogoodway

[Titan]

Stumbled across this link. It is an educational campaign to raise awareness of the impact of, and stop the use of the word ######.

You can take a pledge to not use it and $1 will be donated to the Special Olympics. There is a graphic showing the number of times the word has been tweeted that is pretty scary.

Check it out: http://www.motionball.com/yellowcard/

[KTrain]

I completely support this campaign as I think many people don't understand how this word affects people with disabilities and their families.

That being said, the tweet counter isn't taking into consideration people who tweet in French.

[Sliver]

What is a good replacement for the word? I should stop using it, but I honestly have found it tough to come up with something that packs the same punch. I know that sounds really rude, but I think it's a truth that needs to be addressed before we can really let go of that word.

[fatso]

Originally Posted by Sliver

What is a good replacement for the word? I should stop using it, but I honestly have found it tough to come up with something that packs the same punch. I know that sounds really rude, but I think it's a truth that needs to be addressed before we can really let go of that word.

so your poor vocabulary trumps the negative impact the word has on many others?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by fatso

so your poor vocabulary trumps the negative impact the word has on many others?

Actually, no fatso, it's a practical question. The word is being used millions of times per day. An alternate word would go a long way to helping solve the problem.

[ken0042]

Sliver is right. Look at what happened recently when somebody referred to somebody else as a "goof." Who knew that word could have a much worse impact on a conversation.

[fatso]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Actually, no fatso, it's a practical question. The word is being used millions of times per day. An alternate word would go a long way to helping solve the problem.

Sorry, that is not at all a "practical" question.

In no way is your need to use a word that packs the right "punch" for you even close to being a competing interest with the need to get rid of the word "######" from general usage. If you can't find an appropriate synonym or saying for what it is the word "######" means to you - which I find very difficult to believe - then it is too bad for you. I guess your expressive freedom will have to suffer by the loss of one word.

Originally Posted by ken0042

Sliver is right. Look at what happened recently when somebody referred to somebody else as a "goof." Who knew that word could have a much worse impact on a conversation.

No he's not. He's talking about wanting to use a hurtful word because it communicates a specific meaning to him. If he can't use that precise word, well then, that's just impractical according to him.

I don't know about this "goof" debate, but your point is presumably that we may end up using another hurtful word in its stead. That wasn't Sliver's point at all, at least from what was written. Your point is an interesting one. But if I understand it correctly, it is not fair to say we need to identify or eliminate all potentially hurtful replacement words before we get rid of this word. That may be an impossible task. But, in any event, why wouldn't we get rid of the word first and then deal with problems as they may arise? Certainly no potential synonym for "######" is as offensive as that word itself is.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by fatso

Sorry, that is not at all a "practical" question.

It is the very definition of practical. I'm concerned with actually doing something about the word (retiring it in favour of something less offensive) versus just raising awareness on twitter with a cute hash tag. Offering people an alternate word that had the same impact would help eliminate the word. That seems really obvious and basic to me so I am having a hard time understanding why you are so offended at the notion.

Originally Posted by fatso

In no way is your need to use a word that packs the right "punch" for you even close to being a competing interest with the need to get rid of the word "######" from general usage. If you can't find an appropriate synonym or saying for what it is the word "######" means to you - which I find very difficult to believe - then it is too bad for you. I guess your expressive freedom will have to suffer by the loss of one word.

I think you're wrong, and again, for very basic and obvious reasons. Do you think if we stopped saying "######" people would just be nicer to each other? Of course not, that's naive.

People are always going to want an impactful negative word to use to belittle someone or something. In fact, it's also necessary to have such a word in the English language. When somebody comes up with the dumbest argument or idea you have ever heard, right now calling him a "######" or his idea "######ed" is an apt description and everybody instantly knows what you think of him/his idea. If we stop using that word, what word takes its place? I think we need one, but I don't know what it would be. I would replace "######" with something else, but I just don't know what word to use. That's why I asked what word would be a good replacement.

Originally Posted by fatso

No he's not. He's talking about wanting to use a hurtful word because it communicates a specific meaning to him. If he can't use that precise word, well then, that's just impractical according to him.

What are you even talking about? I agree we should get rid of the word. The most practical way to do that is to replace it with something else.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

It's a legitimate word with legitimate uses. So, no. Are they going to ask me to stop using the word tardy next?

[jammies]

I'm a big fan of "moron" myself. Or "clownshoes", "idiot", "dumbass", "düffelheimer", or "cretin". The synonym problem is one that is easily solved.

[dammage79]

Skid Pickle.

[ResAlien]

Mouth breather works, idjit, donkey or even the aforementioned clownshoes and dumbass are all good choices. There's a veritable cornucopia of insults available to use in lieu of ###### and insisting on using it goes only to show ignorance and a stunted vocabulary, IMHO of course.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Mouth breather works, idjit, donkey or even the aforementioned clownshoes and dumbass are all good choices. There's a veritable cornucopia of insults available to use in lieu of ###### and insisting on using it goes only to show ignorance and a stunted vocabulary, IMHO of course.

As someone that has had his nose broken multiple times this offends me.

[Titan]

asshat?

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

It's a legitimate word with legitimate uses. So, no. Are they going to ask me to stop using the word tardy next?

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.


Edit: They're even calling it the "R-word" now. Oy vey.

[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.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by jammies

I'm a big fan of "moron" myself. Or "clownshoes", "idiot", "dumbass", "düffelheimer", or "cretin". The synonym problem is one that is easily solved.

How are half of those technically any different?

From Merriam-Webster:

Full Definition of IDIOT

1
usually offensive : a person affected with extreme mental ######ation

How is a synonym for ###### less offensive than ######?

Just get rid of all the words. Maybe a series of grunts and clicks will be less offensive.

[J epworth]

It's a tough subject to broach, I feel like it's a word that has a place in English language, but only if it's used in a proper context (i.e. not to describe someone as having an intellectual disability).

Since the term mental ######ation is no longer a term that describes anything, one should be able to in the right context use the word ###### without meaning it to be someone with an actual intellectual disability.

If you look at the word ######, it really is a similar word to one that has no offensive meaning, which is tardy. To be tardy is to be late, and to ###### is to slow down or hinder.

Using the word in it's proper context is what needs to be taught, not that it is a word that should be banned. It's a perfect descriptor for explaining that you are slowing down the group, or impeding the conversation by your actions. It should not be used to call someone dumb, or without capacity of knowledge. That isn't its original meaning. I know words evolve over time, but with the term mental ######ation taken out of the English language, there is no reason to attach the word ###### with it anymore.

To tell someone they are being ######ed in a conversation, during an action etc. is a descriptive way of telling someone they are hindering the conversation or result with their specific actions at that time; not that they are mentally incapable of comprehending the conversation or completing the action. Banning the use of the word just continues to convey the fact that someone with an intellectual disability is someone that hurts society or slows down progress. Banning the word just keeps the stigma that is attached to people with intellectual disability.

EDIT: an Example for Sliver, explaining what I mean by how you can still use the word, just change how you mean it:
Instead of saying "You are being ######ed" or "You are a fricken ######, you know that right?"
You can say "You're being a ###### to this conversation" or "You are being a fricken ###### to us finishing this BBQ, you know that right?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by jammies

I'm a big fan of "moron" myself. Or "clownshoes", "idiot", "dumbass", "düffelheimer", or "cretin". The synonym problem is one that is easily solved.

Originally Posted by dammage79

Skid Pickle.

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Mouth breather works, idjit, donkey or even the aforementioned clownshoes and dumbass are all good choices. There's a veritable cornucopia of insults available to use in lieu of ###### and insisting on using it goes only to show ignorance and a stunted vocabulary, IMHO of course.

And that's where I run into trouble. I prefer ######(ed) to all of the above. Maybe I'm just entering the politically incorrect old-man phase of my life and my kids and grand kids will be appalled whenever I use the word. I try to use it sparingly, mind you, but I haven't been convinced to give it up quite yet.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

How are half of those technically any different?

Is there a technical difference between "make love" and "f***"? And yet, one is much less offensive than another. Different words for the same things carry different emotional freight, this is not any kind of revelation for anyone other than the literal-minded.