Quote:
Originally Posted by OccultHawk
jftr some of the most maligned people are those with lower IQ’s or less education
others are socially awkward
perhaps you fall outside typical standards of beauty
maybe you can’t write very well
maybe you’re fat
maybe you’re cruel even
what ever the insult is there’s going to be a large group of people who live more difficult lives because of a shortcoming that inevitably comes from factors almost completely (I believe completely) but at least almost completely beyond one’s control
your intelligence your appearance your disposition all of it is combination of genetics and environmental factors
we have these forbidden terms but they’re culturally established based on trends and social clout
it’s not based on the disenfranchisement that comes with the trait
perhaps you’ll call someone a moron or an idiot and think that’s better than n igger or f aggot but (you’re awfully polite so I don’t really know just making an example)
but you wouldn’t be a physicist if your IQ was 85. And what kind of hardship would be inflicted on you if your IQ was 85? the fact that you’re smart is just luck of the draw
and if you worked hard the fact that you’re industrious is good fortune as well
if we’re going to be serious about this we really need to rethink how we use language altogether not just with how it aligns with our current ideas of what group is portrayed as marginalized
|
I think none of the examples you mention are sensitive on a level of sexuality or race, except for intellectual disability (not being ordinary dumb). I do object to using slurs about disabilities, even though I have used the word retard, which is mostly because I'm not aware enough that such words are in fact that kind of slur. And do the words moron and idiot really specifically apply to intellectually disabled people? I doubt that, but maybe that's my English lacking.
But actually I think I mostly use insults which also apply to myself, I think I do that subconsciously in order to make things less offensive. If I have been lucky about something I normally would't rub it in people's faces.
ps. I think you view me as way more polite and industrious than I am
