tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post4483309507133607758..comments2023-09-09T10:29:29.789-05:00Comments on The Green Room: Sticks and StonesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17709842445396738547noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-79163652892076572572010-03-13T10:40:30.880-06:002010-03-13T10:40:30.880-06:00CML--Context clues, baby. Context clues. From the ...CML--Context clues, baby. Context clues. From the context, I'm guessing that J means something that you squint your eyes at because it's just not right. <br /><br />And J--I am all in favor of "more vulgar insults" as well. And I appreciate your thoughtful comment.<br /><br />I disagree that that "it is obvious that ... people with mental disabilities are viewed as backward, laughable...", etc. I don't know anyone who thinks this way, except, as I mentioned, adolescent bullies.<br /><br />And no, we don't want to use words that perpetuate negative stereotypes, which is why if I use it, I will choose my audience carefully.<br /><br />And about the word gypped: This is another example of the dynamic nature of language. The word may have started out as a slur against Gypsies, but I'm betting 99% of native English speakers have no idea that that's how it was born. I didn't, until I used it in a blog post, and a reader pointed it out to me.<br /><br />So I guess I think words like "jew" (as a verb) and nigger are still off-limits because they are still very closely associated with their slur origins; but other slur-originating words have transcended their origins and have attained generic slur status.<br /><br />Or maybe I'm just really good at rationalizing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709842445396738547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-7649427393487687262010-03-11T00:06:08.992-06:002010-03-11T00:06:08.992-06:00what is squicky.what is squicky.CMLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02782521277067860236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247899948019262860.post-33903550353578618022010-03-10T10:05:58.776-06:002010-03-10T10:05:58.776-06:00i think this is a fairly balanced assessment, on t...i think this is a fairly balanced assessment, on the whole, but here's the part that still feels squicky to me:<br /><br />'The word "retard," on the other hand, has been in common use to mean a person, thing, or behavior that is backward, laughable, stupid, nonsensical or indefensible.'<br /><br />i agree that that is how the word is commonly used, but i also think it is obvious that using that word as an insult is reflective of the fact that people with mental disabilities are viewed as backward, laughable, stupid, and nonsensical. we wouldn't think of "retard" as an insult if we didn't think that people with mental disabilities were backward and laughable. <br /><br />and do we want to use words that perpetuate the social acceptability of thinking about any group of people as collectively stupid and laughable?<br /><br />i agree that we should choose our words, especially our insults, wisely. i also think that to some degree at least, the words we use and the way we use them shape and reinforce our world view. they also influence other people's world views. personally, i'd rather use a slightly more vulgar insult than one that is in any way related to any group of people, even if the latter feels like 'le mot just' at the time... <br /><br />i stopped using "jipped" in college for the same reason (gypped, gypt, referring to gypsies...).jkwwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00478865596261132960noreply@blogger.com