[DGannon]

Really, this place is not politically correct enough for you already? Don't get me wrong, I'm just as concerned as you are about people killing themselves because of what happens on a Minecraft server, but I don't think censoring this word will help to solve that growing problem.

[dlgn]

I'm just really frustrated because people are talking about how "it's not so hard". It's not so hard for you because you've never had to go through what these people have to endure! It's beyond what we can easily comprehend, and it's worth using a few synonyms to prevent causing this level of pain and supporting the system of oppression that causes it.

Why did you just recently start going on about "Muh oppreshunz"? I'm curious. You used to be pretty level headed albeit a bit silly, but you've been going on a Social Justice spree lately. (Legitimately curious)

Side note: You've never had to go through what those people endure either, so why are you getting offended for them?

I've been learning about the subject, and, after a great deal of thinking, I decided that social justice is important. And I'm doing because, well, someone has to, and there isn't anyone else doing it here. Plus, being a member of a bunch of different privileged groups makes it a lot more likely that people will be willing to listen to me, at least initially. For instance, female feminists are a lot more likely to be dismissed as "crazy" or "overreacting" than male feminists (although it happens to them too, of course), because of the stereotype about female "hysteria".

Really, this place is not politically correct enough for you already? Don't get me wrong, I'm just as concerned as you are about people killing themselves because of what happens on a Minecraft server, but I don't think censoring this word will help to solve that growing problem.

Using racist slurs promotes acceptance of racism. Using homophobic slurs promotes acceptance of homophobia (or at least heterosexism, which is sort of homophobia without direct malice). And using ableist slurs promotes acceptance of ableism, simply because people get used to it. By using part of a culture (in this case, ableist slurs from a culture of ableism), we get used to the culture, and stop thinking that it's a big deal, because we don't have to deal with the negative consequences of it.

I'm just really frustrated because people are talking about how "it's not so hard". It's not so hard for you because you've never had to go through what these people have to endure! It's beyond what we can easily comprehend, and it's worth using a few synonyms to prevent causing this level of pain and supporting the system of oppression that causes it.

It seems like this could and should be handled by reporting harassment or vitriol rather than banning the word itself. If we're going to simply ban all words that somebody could find offensive, our chats are going to start looking like passwords.

1. There are uses of the word 'retarded' that are not offensive.
2. There are ways to verbally harass, demean or offend somebody without using any 'offensive' words.

The problem is not the word, it's the context.

It is the word, actually, for reasons I described above: it's not just because of direct bullying, it's because using the word "retard" gets us used to thinking of ableism as harmless.

And, once again, you brought up "we'll censor everything!" Since no one seems to have noticed what I said previously, I'll explain again, in big, bold, letters.

That is a slippery slope fallacy. We already censor words, and chat is fine. "Retard" is a word that is almost never used in an inoffensive way, which is the reason it is considered inappropriate. The only non-ableist usage of "retard" or its derivatives that have even been mentioned on this thread is "flame retardant" and "retarding my build". The first can easily be replaced with "flame resistant" within the context of Minecraft, and the second can be replaced with "griefing", "slowing", or any other word, and be easier to understand than previously.

The word "retard" is not needed, but it creates a tremendously harmful mindset toward ableism and the intellectually disabled community, even when not deliberately used maliciously.

And that is why I created this suggestion.

p.s. If you aren't convinced, here is an article explaining why not using the word "retard" isn't about "political correctness".

[TechnoProdigy]

BOLD WORDS MEAN I AM CORRECT.

Yeah, you've definitely been taking lessons from Tumblr.

[dlgn]

BOLD WORDS MEAN I AM CORRECT.

Yeah, you've definitely been taking lessons from Tumblr.

Please stay on-topic.

[Vulnerability]

Dlgn, please snap back to reality.

This thread is getting pretty retarded.

Nobody cares about your 'look at how intelligent and morally correct I am' threads. Rather than making yourself look like a well educated and informed person you're just making yourself look like blubbering drama queen.

[SkullRose]

But Deel, there are also extremists and you seem to be going down that path.... it's good to be passionate about stuff but it seems like you're taking it too far.

I'm passionate about animals so I became an animal advocate and I volunteer and I foster but I'm not an extremist. I don't go around bashing people who don't neuter/spay their pets or people who buy instead of adopt and so on. I can but I won't.

Who am I to force something onto others?

I know my example is not the same as calling someone retarded but I hope you get what I and some others are trying to say about your behavior on here about these things as of late. Someone says something and you call them sexist or offensive even if no one else saw it that way.

But I know none of this will change your opinion because that's what it is. Your. Opinion.

[diamond_boss]

Except that retard means to impede, so something like "Mentally Retarded" is a legitimate phrase whether you like it or not.

I don't see how it follows that it should be used. There are plenty of "legitimate phrases" that most of us would never think of using because they're offensive. For instance, n***** is based off a word that is the Spanish word for "black", but this doesn't mean that it's okay to say, does it? Context is important. The word "retard" has been used for decades to hurt the intellectually disabled community, and is just as bad as any other offensive word that is technically "correct".

I'm sorry, but if you say the 'n word', at least where I'm from, you'll have your head punched in before you can finish the sentence. This is the difference between retarded and that word, and although I wouldn't say either to offend anybody seriously, lets face it, one is a lot milder than the other. Society has developed to a place where some words (like the N word) have become intolerable and shamed because of the history behind them. Retarded is also a word that is inappropriate and venomous when used to offend somebody, but today it still has a legitimate use. The n word does not.
*Edit: Not trying to be mean by pointing out errethang I disagree with, but lets be honest. The government stopped using everything in the book because in one way or another, anything you say can't offend someone and will offend someone. I like that you are looking out for people who may be offended and have disadvantages dl, but to be honest taking this word out of the swear filter won't change anything. The hormonal distressed and arrogant good for nothings will still find a way to offend people no matter how many words you make restricted. Its a sad fact of life, but respect and kindness will never come out of everyone in this world.

[Intelli]

I vote we censor all english words.

Maybe it'd encourage the community to learn a secondary language.

[faldette]

Je suis en retard...

[dlgn]

Does anyone even read my posts? I mean, the point of a forum is to have a conversation with people, not completely ignore what they actually say in favor of accusing them of being too "extreme" and make jokes about things that cause people to commit suicide.

I guess I should probably leave this thread now. Either you'll come to your senses, or circlejerk into oblivion. Either way, I won't have to deal with it anymore.

Jeez, I thought you guys would be better than Reddit.