Back to General Discussion

Why we shouldn't use the R-word

deletedover 8 years

"Do not call something you don't like "Redacted". By calling something "Redacted", you are essentially saying an undesirable object or event is the same as someone with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. This invalidates feelings and the identities of people with disabilities and puts them in a position where they are used to describe something that is considered to be flawed, useless, or stupid. It also makes YOU look flawed, useless and stupid by using such an uncool term. There are a ton of great words you can use instead to describe things, people, and situations that anger or annoy you.

For example: If something is a bad idea, you can use words such as dense, useless, obtuse, pathetic, or vapid. Don't forget terms like jackass or bonehead. Or make up snappy new insults. Swearing may be okay, but might make you look less impressive.

If someone or something angers you, use words like contemptible, enraging, evil, infuriating, horrible, irrational, rage-inducing. If someone or something is disgusting, try using nasty, gross, foul, nauseating, skeevy, repellent, repulsive, vomitous or terrible instead."

"The historical context of the word is important to know. People with disabilities have been treated poorly, discriminated against, abused, and neglected in the past and even today. Just changing the way you speak and avoiding using the term can make a difference for people with disabilities today and in the future."

"…support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities."

Short video: https://youtu.be/T549VoLca_Q

225 other word substitutes: http://specialchildren.about.com/od/disabilityrights/ss/225-Subsitutes-For-The-R-Word.htm#step2

Reading material: http://www.r-word.org/r-word-effects-of-the-word.aspx

Please keep on-topic or your posts will be deleted.

Is the R-Word acceptable to use? (Please do not vote unless you have read the OP/reading material)
66
No
40
Yes
deletedover 8 years
shoutout to my homegirl laurie rose
deletedover 8 years
The word pe.nal is censored. Like the mod who wrote the list of censored words didn't know the difference between pe.nal and penile, which is not censored. Shouldn't that get fixed, eventually?
over 8 years

mist says

the point

Things that are kinda hateful, regardless of to what extend u think it matters:
-Using general words in order to insult a specific group or w/e u wanna call it
-Using words that refer to a specific group as a general insult

using [redacted] falls under the later. and like, the argument that "the definition of the word has changed" is a perfectly reasonable argument, the legitimacy of which is in the eye of the beholder


I agree completely. This thread is in the end about morality which is why I get hung up about the whole "hey take all these insults insted"-part which IMO kinda destroys the whole point of it all and is in itself quite counterproductive and immoral.
over 8 years
In seriousness though, this is a very well written and informative thread, and I'm glad we have it as a reference as a basis for why we moderate hateful comments the way we do. It's not just the individual you're insulting when you slur, but you could be offending everyone around you as well, and that's what I think a lot of people don't realize.
over 8 years

Calvin says

come on "bossman", ian was only banned due to poor moderation


I'll show you poor moderation pal, I'm banning that new account you have from games lobby so if you want to play stack it you have to do it on a name I like.
deletedover 8 years

pamda says

Hi Anthony you are an egg.


Confirmed.
deletedover 8 years
Hi Anthony you are an egg.
deletedover 8 years
come on "bossman", ian was only banned due to poor moderation
deletedover 8 years

Anthony says

The fact of the matter is you can find a bunch of creative ways to insult someone personally without insulting a group of people so there's no reason to use slurs anyway.

Not that I'm advocating insulting people.....


Look over here, a moderator that is advocating insulting people! Gather the pitchforks...
over 8 years
The fact of the matter is you can find a bunch of creative ways to insult someone personally without insulting a group of people so there's no reason to use slurs anyway.

Not that I'm advocating insulting people.....
over 8 years
i think you can explain why someone shouldn't use the r word a thousand times but if that person is an arrogant prick it's best just to punish them for it

as we've had this discussion multiple times. not sure why bae felt like they had to bring this up again
deletedover 8 years
Fair enough. It is just important to have these discussions because a lot of people don't realize why using the r-word is hurtful.
over 8 years
Woops Calvin I misclicked on that last one sorry buddy! <3
deletedover 8 years
And really, if you use the word you're a colossal douche, especially if you've read Bae's explanation of why using it makes you a colossal douche.
deletedover 8 years
the point

Things that are kinda hateful, regardless of to what extend u think it matters:
-Using general words in order to insult a specific group or w/e u wanna call it
-Using words that refer to a specific group as a general insult

using [redacted] falls under the later. and like, the argument that "the definition of the word has changed" is a perfectly reasonable argument, the legitimacy of which is in the eye of the beholder
deletedover 8 years
Bossman said to delete them.

[3:04:45 PM] Bossman: please remove such comments as this is why ian was banned in the first place

MOD LEAK MOD ABUSE MOD LEAK DEMOD ME
deletedover 8 years
There are so many things on this website way more ridiculous than not being allowed to use the r word, like na.zi and pe.nal are censored.
over 8 years

mist says


Devante says


mist says

sorry i was kind of under the assumption people here who say [redacted] don't actually harbor hatred for mentally handicapped people but ok


most people who say rtarded online don't either.


that's like, my point lol.


w/e i'm mentally unstable atm as i watch my team enter dark and dangerous territory
over 8 years

leo says

isnt it already against the HC rule


this isn't about RULES leo, it's about MORALS
over 8 years
tfw u fail to detect someones sarcasm
deletedover 8 years
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
over 8 years

Vancyon says

Who would vote no to this like really?


you, apparently
over 8 years

Ryuko says


Edark says

Daily reminder that language is fluid and changes with time, just as idiot changed meaning from being a derogatery term against mentally handicapped to just someone being stupid, so will these words(and somewhat have already). Trying to force stagnation in words and bringing up why you shouldnt use the cherrypicked x/y-word insted of not hating all together is pointless and doesnt change anything.


implying you and others haven't been using it as a derogatory term synonymously with autistic since 2011


I'd think I could make a strong case that the r-word has been used for quite some time as a more extreme version of "idiot" without actually harboring any hate towards mentally handicapped and has more or less lost its meaning as an deragotary term, just as the word idiot have done for quite some time ago. But thats just my unpopular opinion.
over 8 years

Vancyon says

Who would vote no to this like really?


you
deletedover 8 years
Who would vote no to this like really?