Stuff Sick People Have to Put Up With: Words that I don't think should be banned or censored:
Really interested in this, because I do think that considering language and its evolution is important. At the same time, I think it’s important to distinguish between language that is being reclaimed by a group for their own use (“crip”) and language that serves to erase and devalue people’s experiences, and is primarily used by non-group members (“retarded” - which is not on this list, likely for this reason). Context does matter.
It matters at an individual level, as well - I’m currently working on reducing my use of “crazy,” focusing particularly on any contexts in which it describes a person or is used to mean “bad.” I’m not sure yet what I think about it used as an intensifier (“that party was crazy awesome!”) - I don’t think it communicates deficiency, it’s being used to mean “very.” Still thinking about this.
stuffsickpeoplehavetoputupwith:
- deaf (including figurative use)
- Deaf
- the deaf (including figurative use)
- the Deaf
- cripple (including figurative use)
- crippled (including figurative use)
- insane (including figurative use)
- disabled (including figurative use)
- disability
- lame (including figurative use)
- blind (including…
