I see a lot of words like idiot, moron, imbecile on this site, which essentially has the same meaning as the R word, and it always bugs me when people use them. I do agree it often comes from it being used in the home at one time or another, and reflects poorly on the person who uses them.
The hang-up over the word "c---" is a distinctly North American one. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand handle it just fine.
I got in so much trouble coming back from the UK for a summer working in a pub. The C word was as common as beer, and I didn't even realize I was saying it when I came home.
Any word that is chosen to describe a specific group of people that has attributes with negative connotations will eventually enter the vernacular as an insult toward that group as well as others. This has always occurred in history and will continue to happen so we'll need to keep coming up with special and sensitive words if we care so much about being PC. There are many examples I could post but they also wouldn't be PC.
Any word that is chosen to describe a specific group of people that has attributes with negative connotations will eventually enter the vernacular as an insult toward that group as well as others. This has always occurred in history and will continue to happen so we'll need to keep coming up with special and sensitive words (that will meet the same fate a short while later) if we care so much about being PC. There are many examples I could post but they also wouldn't be PC.
I say we just call out the crap behavior in the moment and stop it with this tortured language business.
On the PC words discussion, I've been wondering recently why "sex worker" replaced prostitute, hooker, whore, streetwalker etc? Apart from maybe whore (as it gets used as an insult in ways the other words don't), what is particularly offensive about those words?
__________________ "We are no longer living. We are empty of substance, and our head devours us. Our ancestors were more alive. Nothing separated them from themselves."
On the PC words discussion, I've been wondering recently why "sex worker" replaced prostitute, hooker, whore, streetwalker etc? Apart from maybe whore (as it gets used as an insult in ways the other words don't), what is particularly offensive about those words?
"Sex worker" is a more broad and all-encompassing term.
Sex work is to prostitute as Information Technology is to IT consultant.
"Sex work can take the form of prostitution, stripping or lap dancing, performance in pornography, phone or internet sex, or any other exchange of sexual services for financial or material gain." It isn't strictly intercourse for money.
On the PC words discussion, I've been wondering recently why "sex worker" replaced prostitute, hooker, whore, streetwalker etc? Apart from maybe whore (as it gets used as an insult in ways the other words don't), what is particularly offensive about those words?
what I hate is the word "unalived". In the past year I've read it a lot, and think it's stupid.
what I hate is the word "unalived". In the past year I've read it a lot, and think it's stupid.
This one is the fault of YouTube/TikTok, I think. There are certain words you just can't say on those platforms without risking getting your video flagged, demonetized or removed, and the creators just don't want to take the risk.
Maybe we should look at the historical context for the words and realize that it wasn’t long ago that we as a province committed some pretty horrific injustices against people with developmental disabilities. The term itself is just a word but it was a word used to dehumanize a segment of the population and in doing so made people more likely to feel worse about themselves. As with any word it is only a word without any real power but the history and the attitudes behind the word and how the impacted group feels about it makes me think that I don’t need to use it.
I would rather my kid not make another kid feel bad on the playground so perhaps I should apply the same philosophy to my own life.
Also we should still treat people with disabilities better regardless of what words you decide to use.
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The draft and Honzek threads are exhibits a and b as to why this word needs to be brought back.
Ironically, “should we be allowed to say the r-word in certain contexts” perfectly encapsulates why “are you ####ing ######ed?” Can be such an effective response.
__________________ ”All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.”
Rowan Roy W-M - February 15, 2024
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