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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
deletedover 8 years
jocelyn is correct by the way but people love being right or at least perceiving that they are
over 8 years

Retti says


Ryuko says


Retti says

nobody is trying invalidate the existence of actual r words


thats what you do, when you say it, regardless of your intent. that's the point, you god damn idiot


so you decide what person i am now?


you invalidate the existence, even if you're not trying. that's what i'm saying

roadman says


Ryuko says


Retti says

nobody is trying invalidate the existence of actual r words


thats what you do, when you say it, regardless of your intent. that's the point, you god damn idiot


Why do you think you're any better for calling him an idiot?


if you're trying to argue that calling someone an idiot and r-word are the same thing then.... lol
deletedover 8 years

roadman says


Ryuko says


Retti says

nobody is trying invalidate the existence of actual r words


thats what you do, when you say it, regardless of your intent. that's the point, you god damn idiot


Why do you think you're any better for calling him an idiot?


I've also said this 100 times:

Being insulting or offensive while using slurs is no better than being insulting or offensive without slurs.

In the end, you're still being that way. Your words are just aimed a different way.
over 8 years

Togepi says

But who cares because really you're just using the site as a medium to spew whatever self-righteousness despite what side you are arguing to buff your ego... o.o


I am guilty
over 8 years
So who the eff cares lol
over 8 years
But who cares because really you're just using the site as a medium to spew whatever self-righteousness despite what side you are arguing to buff your ego... o.o
deletedover 8 years

harodihg says

Retti just referred to a group of people as "r words" like they're Lord Voldemort or some sh*t lmao


its because i cant say it it's annoying lol
over 8 years

Ryuko says


Retti says

nobody is trying invalidate the existence of actual r words


thats what you do, when you say it, regardless of your intent. that's the point, you god damn idiot


Why do you think you're any better for calling him an idiot?
over 8 years
Arc I think that's a really immature way to view the subject tbh
deletedover 8 years

Ryuko says


Retti says

nobody is trying invalidate the existence of actual r words


thats what you do, when you say it, regardless of your intent. that's the point, you god damn idiot


so you decide what person i am now?
deletedover 8 years
Retti just referred to a group of people as "r words" like they're Lord Voldemort or some sh*t lmao
deletedover 8 years
I think the r-word is basically going through the exact same thing the n-word did. Right now the n-word (a very slight variation, but still the same thing) is now (more) acceptable to use than it was in the past.

The r-word is still the same way.

Although people find it getting better now than it has before, I believe the opposite.

It's just being normalized.
over 8 years

Retti says

nobody is trying invalidate the existence of actual r words


thats what you do, when you say it, regardless of your intent. that's the point, you god damn idiot
over 8 years

Bae says


Arcbell says


It's like this one time a cousin of mine and I were kids, and he got really, really mad when I was looking at him (he wasn't doing anything private, just in the same room as me), and would shout very forcefully "stop looking at me!" .. it was funny as heck and, you can guess what I did.



._.
that's messed up


lol...
over 8 years

roadman says


Ryuko says

is "thinking someone a jerk" being intolerant of them?

should i feel guilty for thinking people are jerks?


When you go out of your way to make people try to feel guilty, or any less of a person than you, for having a difference in opinion, it is you who is being the jerk.


"being a jerk is ok" isnt really that respectable of an opinion IMO
over 8 years
The argument is that using the slur within itself is hateful although I would argue that the person is ignorant as f*ck.
deletedover 8 years
me and my friends call each other r words but we're just joking, and sometimes when im angry i call someone the r word because i want them to feel stupid and using such a word puts my point across, which is likely the most common scenario for epicmafia

nobody is trying invalidate the existence of actual r words
over 8 years

Ryuko says

thats actually true except no one uses the word gay by itself derogatorily any more. i personally would disallow it if i got the choice


Gay post.
deletedover 8 years
its just slang that can be used in many different forms, and while the intention can be hateful i don't think that anyone who has actually used it has shown to be

unless you somehow think otherwise
deletedover 8 years

Arcbell says


It's like this one time a cousin of mine and I were kids, and he got really, really mad when I was looking at him (he wasn't doing anything private, just in the same room as me), and would shout very forcefully "stop looking at me!" .. it was funny as heck and, you can guess what I did.



._.
that's messed up
over 8 years

roadman says


Ryuko says

is "thinking someone a jerk" being intolerant of them?

should i feel guilty for thinking people are jerks?


When you go out of your way to make people try to feel guilty, or any less of a person than you, for having a difference in opinion, it is you who is being the jerk.


let's be real hair bear some opinions are bad and make people jerks. not the one in question necessarily, but still.
deletedover 8 years

Ryuko says

is "thinking someone a jerk" being intolerant of them?


if it's because of the way they see an issue then yeah probably
over 8 years

projectmatt says

i mean you could argue for years about whether or not it's appropriate to use (in most contexts, i don't think it is) but i just don't really understand the amount of anger that comes from people asking others not to use the word. is the word seriously so essential to your vocabulary?


I don't speak for all my R-word touting comrades but personally, there's no anger here at all.

It's like this one time a cousin of mine and I were kids, and he got really, really mad when I was looking at him (he wasn't doing anything private, just in the same room as me), and would shout very forcefully "stop looking at me!" .. it was funny as heck and, you can guess what I did.

That's sort of what this R-word business is like to me lol.
over 8 years

roadman says

I like to watch people stream on Twitch, and pretty much any time I watch people play games, the word is still thrown around as loosely as it has been for years.


those environments are actually super toxic lol.
deletedover 8 years
i understand the argument, believe me i do

but i also believe in the ideals of Jean Jacque Rousseau, in which that humans are inherently good

i do not think the majority of the population finds joy in putting down actual r words, therefore i do not truly believe that anyone who uses it is purely trying to be hateful towards such people