A while back there was a thread about eliminating intelligence-based insults from our vocab. Words like "Dumb", "stupid", etc.

https://hexbear.net/post/15636

My gut instinct to this was to get angry, and berate the OP u/QuillQuote for his ideas. I insulted him, I called him dumb, and when he pm'd me, I dismissed all his arguments and called him dumb again. Then he told me to go fuck myself and I told him I would masturbate later

Since then I actually thought a little about the issue and I began to see their point. An intelligence-based insult is fundamentally wrong, because it concerns something that cannot be controlled.

Insults about race, gender, and sexuality are all de facto verboten here because they target traits that can't be controlled--and I agree.

Intelligence can't be controlled either. And intelligence is actually one of the most disadvantaging traits to be handicapped by. Ditto for appearance.

Likewise, AGE cannot be controlled either, you only age in one direction and that's it. If I was 55, there's nothing I can do to be more like a 30 year old. MOREOVER, some people actually have inborn disabilities that make them age faster, with some 10 year old children having the biological age of a 40 year old adult.

So I'm making the proposition that we should attempt to eliminate these words from our arsenal of insults. Words like "dumb", "stupid", "boomer", "ugly", "short", are all words that target people on traits that they cannot control, and worse, they insult other bystanders in the process who may have committed no offense.

In fact, I called someone a boomer jokingly just a few minutes ago. That was the trigger that made me think about this. I apologize if my words hurt anyone.

  • Awoo [she/her]
    ·
    4 years ago

    I will prioritise my and every person's struggle for survival under capitalism because, until the revolution actually happens, that's what we have.

    Throwing groups under the bus for the goal isn't ok. Anti-idpol is the act of throwing oppressed groups under the bus for the mistaken belief that it will accelerate the revolution. Not only will it NOT accelerate the revolution (as has been demonstrated by our opportunist friends in Europe) but it actively harms the struggle of these groups for the improvements of their rights and respect and ability to live equally with others within society.

    No, you haven’t. Does “stupid” cause these people physical pain? Does it distress them to the point of self harm, or make them physically sick? If so, I’d be in favor of our future publicly-owned mental health system giving them therapy to help them deal with that pain. I would not be in favor of everyone else on the planet having to give up an incredibly useful word that accurately describes aspects of our world to ensure they never feel any psychic hurt. That’s not how people become strong, productive members of society.

    Replace "stupid" with nword, removed, f-slur, etc etc etc.

    This argument honestly makes me feel sick. It's pretty awful.

    The idea that “stupid” is a slur on the same level as the slurs you mention is ridiculous.

    You don't get to say what is and is not a slur to a respective minority group. That group collectively gets to decide that. I've heard this argument as a trans person dozens of times though and I think we should stop this conversation because I will not be able to keep emotional separation from the conversation much longer while you continue to repeat the exact same arguments transphobic people use against me on a near daily basis. I say good luck to you, but you will lose this battle, it's already established and normalised within genz, it's just a matter of the years plodding onwards and the new normal replacing the old normal.

    • HarryLime [any]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I am not throwing anyone under the bus. Idpol is the ideology of the bourgeoisie, because it serves to distract from class, the primary axis of oppression, and hurts attempts at actual action. I already outlined to you the ways in which I feel a socialist society should assist disabled people, and what I advocate for under capitalism.

      Replace “stupid” with nword, removed, f-slur, etc etc etc.

      Okay, the paragraph no longer makes sense, because the history and context surrounding those words is completely different.

      I think we should stop this conversation because I will not be able to keep emotional separation from the conversation much longer while you continue to repeat the exact same arguments transphobic people use against me on a near daily basis.

      Well, I'm sorry if I hurt you as that wasn't my intention. Thank you for wishing me well, I hope you feel better, and have a good day.