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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
over 8 years
i'm disappointed. there was no good argument for either side. YET AGAIN. i must wander the internet for truth once more
over 8 years

Arcbell says

In all seriousness Connor/Togepi/Kerry/Pjm/others, while there's some merit to thinking it does more harm than good to have that word floating around there (i'm not actually ignorant)..... I just don't think it's a very important issue. I especially don't think it's important enough for me to change how I talk.

Similar to how I know it's bad for the environment for me to view epicmafia forums with a white background, but I do it anyways, because I don't really give a frick that I'm not optimized for social cooperation.


That's rad. Live your life.
deletedover 8 years
Connor, I agree with you, I really do. I work with kids with special needs and see how much casual ableism hurts them and their families. The resilience I see in those kids inspires me.

However, you've got to pick your battles, and I just don't think this is one worth fighting. This thread served its purpose, now it has just turned into circular arguing.
deletedover 8 years

Ryuko says


rutab says

I have a completely reasonable argument to what I am saying yet you continue to call me ignorant and insult me by my personal beliefs.


all you said was "i don't believe casual ableism is as bad as you think" as someone who has literally never experienced the effects of it and didn't have anything to back the claim up other than your opinion


While correctly implying that I directly have not had any experiences regarding ableism, you are incorrectly implying that I have had the experience to work with/be around the mentally disabled.

A lot of my family on my mom's side deals with this stuff, dude.
over 8 years

rutab says

Connor, I really think you should hiatus for a while if Harry becoming admin started ruining your life. I say this not to be snarky and I am super serious about this.


nah, everything else is great, but getting p1ssed off whenever you go on EM, somewhere that was more fun than a lot of other things, can be a bit of a downer
deletedover 8 years

Togepi says


Retti says


Togepi says


Retti says


Togepi says

Actually, do let it bother you. People that sit idly by are the ones that don't invoke change and are complacent was mediocrity. You just have to find a way to talk to them without being condescending; that's the key.


but is it worth it for your own quality of life go down because you're trying to change things you can't?


My quality of life doesn't go down by doing that? What the hell kind of correlation is that?


this was mostly put for connor, i think you have a good grasp of your life but i cant say that connor seems like a happy person right now, and that being all stressed about this isn't something he should be worrying about, especially if it's going to have him lash out at people like this


I don't think you are in the position to tell Connor what things he should be focusing on in because he doesn't seem happy. That seems overwhelmingly condescending to pretend that you care about his mental well-being and his happiness. o.O


but i do? connor's a friend whether he thinks he isn't or not, im not trying to be condescending especially because this is a touchy subject for me due to my own unhappiness being displayed on the forums before. i can't help but care about that even if it might be wrong to assume, sorry
over 8 years
In all seriousness Connor/Togepi/Kerry/Pjm/others, while there's some merit to thinking it does more harm than good to have that word floating around there (i'm not actually ignorant)..... I just don't think it's a very important issue. I especially don't think it's important enough for me to change how I talk.

Similar to how I know it's bad for the environment for me to view epicmafia forums with a white background, but I do it anyways, because I don't really give a frick that I'm not optimized for social cooperation.
over 8 years

rutab says

I have a completely reasonable argument to what I am saying yet you continue to call me ignorant and insult me by my personal beliefs.


all you said was "i don't believe casual ableism is as bad as you think" as someone who has literally never experienced the effects of it and didn't have anything to back the claim up other than your opinion
over 8 years

pereking says

i'd like it if the r word went the same way the word idiot did, where people kept using it but it was dissociated with the mentally challenged


seconded

what people don't realize is that words have power because of sh*t like this. you know why sh*t looks like such a big word as well? because it's censored. surprising nobody

riddle me this: if it's politically incorrect to refer to a mentally disabled person as r*tarded, then what does the word exist for? well, clearly you're saying it's an insult, so you can't use it "properly." but you can't use it "improperly" either. that'll follow the same course all profanity has followed throughout the history of language: it becomes a powerful word people use to be particularly expressive, and it becomes more negative than if you had just gotten over it.

you don't see people really stressing how people are idiots because it's such a watered down word, they have to come up with more elaborate and detailed ways to describe people they think are idiots or use words that are held up as this powerful weapon perfectly suited for such a situation and used as such
over 8 years

Retti says


Togepi says


Retti says


Togepi says

Actually, do let it bother you. People that sit idly by are the ones that don't invoke change and are complacent was mediocrity. You just have to find a way to talk to them without being condescending; that's the key.


but is it worth it for your own quality of life go down because you're trying to change things you can't?


My quality of life doesn't go down by doing that? What the hell kind of correlation is that?


this was mostly put for connor, i think you have a good grasp of your life but i cant say that connor seems like a happy person right now, and that being all stressed about this isn't something he should be worrying about, especially if it's going to have him lash out at people like this


I don't think you are in the position to tell Connor what things he should be focusing on in because he doesn't seem happy. That seems overwhelmingly condescending to pretend that you care about his mental well-being and his happiness. o.O
deletedover 8 years

Ryuko says

maybe some of us aren't okay with "well if my life's ok then i don't care about the less fortunate"


you're making crazy unrealistic extrapolations from whether people use a common word
deletedover 8 years
Connor, I really think you should hiatus for a while if Harry becoming admin started ruining your life. I say this not to be snarky and I am super serious about this.
deletedover 8 years

Ryuko says

maybe some of us aren't okay with "well if my life's ok then i don't care about the less fortunate"


you can't judge empathy on the internet accurately, i promise you
over 8 years
i was actually legit super happy before roadman got adminned lol. everything in life was working out and i was enjoying everything including EM
deletedover 8 years

Ryuko says


roadman says

He was just nice to you and you attacked him. I mean... This might be why you have such a hard time getting people on your side.


it was an ignorant statement


This is what I mean when you automatically dismiss people you don't agree with.

I have a completely reasonable argument to what I am saying yet you continue to call me ignorant and insult me by my personal beliefs.

That makes you the most intolerant one here, in my opinion.
deletedover 8 years
people didn't keep using idiot, it disappeared from their vocabulary and then came back later, iirc
deletedover 8 years

Togepi says


Retti says


Togepi says

Actually, do let it bother you. People that sit idly by are the ones that don't invoke change and are complacent was mediocrity. You just have to find a way to talk to them without being condescending; that's the key.


but is it worth it for your own quality of life go down because you're trying to change things you can't?


My quality of life doesn't go down by doing that? What the hell kind of correlation is that?


this was mostly put for connor, i think you have a good grasp of your life but i cant say that connor seems like a happy person right now, and that being all stressed about this isn't something he should be worrying about, especially if it's going to have him lash out at people like this
over 8 years
maybe some of us aren't okay with "well if my life's ok then i don't care about the less fortunate"
over 8 years

pereking says

i'd like it if the r word went the same way the word idiot did, where people kept using it but it was dissociated with the mentally challenged


it already is.
deletedover 8 years
hitler
over 8 years

Retti says


Togepi says

Actually, do let it bother you. People that sit idly by are the ones that don't invoke change and are complacent was mediocrity. You just have to find a way to talk to them without being condescending; that's the key.


but is it worth it for your own quality of life go down because you're trying to change things you can't?


My quality of life doesn't go down by doing that? What the hell kind of correlation is that?
over 8 years

roadman says

He was just nice to you and you attacked him. I mean... This might be why you have such a hard time getting people on your side.


it was an ignorant statement
over 8 years
teh world is shocked
deletedover 8 years

Retti says


rutab says


Retti says

im pretty sure rutab is someone who would vote for bernie, actually


I am definitely not.


ted cruz?


Whoever is not on the Democrat side at this point.
deletedover 8 years

rutab says


Retti says

im pretty sure rutab is someone who would vote for bernie, actually


I am definitely not.


ted cruz?