The **** I can't...
But anyway. I'm compiling a list of socially forbidden words beyond the obvious ones. I'd appreciate INGO's help. Below is a few I have so far. If you think of one or come across one sometime, post it here.
For some of the puzzling ones I'll post an explanation.
Retarded: Offense: disparages special needs people. Because some people can't imagine a usage that does not disparage special needs people, it's a socially banned word.
You people: Offense: stereotyping. Because some people can't imagine a usage in which it is not used to stereotype. When I say, Hey. Any of you people want to go for some pizza? If you think that's offensive. **** you, you're not getting any ***damn pizza.
Rule of Thumb: Offense: supports wife beating. The claim wrongly conflates this term with a rule that men could only beat their wives with a branch no bigger than the width of their thumb. However, the "rule" isn't a law or precept. It is a measuring device, like a ruler. Don't have a ruler? Use your thumb. I just measured my laptop to be about 20 thumbs wide. The earliest references to the word have nothing to do with wife beating. It means a rough estimate.
Gyp: Offense: racist. Disparages Gypsies.
Hysterical: Offense: Sexist. Greek-ish for uterus. So the literature says. Since some people have used it to describe emotional women, it feeds the "neurotic" stereotype. I find that hysterically funny. But, about stereotypes, many start because they're at least a little true. Some are just made up to put people in groups to disparage. Some are derived from common observations about a group.
But anyway. I'm compiling a list of socially forbidden words beyond the obvious ones. I'd appreciate INGO's help. Below is a few I have so far. If you think of one or come across one sometime, post it here.
For some of the puzzling ones I'll post an explanation.
Retarded: Offense: disparages special needs people. Because some people can't imagine a usage that does not disparage special needs people, it's a socially banned word.
You people: Offense: stereotyping. Because some people can't imagine a usage in which it is not used to stereotype. When I say, Hey. Any of you people want to go for some pizza? If you think that's offensive. **** you, you're not getting any ***damn pizza.
Rule of Thumb: Offense: supports wife beating. The claim wrongly conflates this term with a rule that men could only beat their wives with a branch no bigger than the width of their thumb. However, the "rule" isn't a law or precept. It is a measuring device, like a ruler. Don't have a ruler? Use your thumb. I just measured my laptop to be about 20 thumbs wide. The earliest references to the word have nothing to do with wife beating. It means a rough estimate.
Gyp: Offense: racist. Disparages Gypsies.
Hysterical: Offense: Sexist. Greek-ish for uterus. So the literature says. Since some people have used it to describe emotional women, it feeds the "neurotic" stereotype. I find that hysterically funny. But, about stereotypes, many start because they're at least a little true. Some are just made up to put people in groups to disparage. Some are derived from common observations about a group.