I believe as civilized humans, we have an obligation to not gratuitously give offense -- especially to people whose circumstances may have rubbed their feelings raw. So I ask this not in a confrontational way, but out of genuine curiosity and a desire to make communication better -- what words or terms should be substituted, when we are …
I believe as civilized humans, we have an obligation to not gratuitously give offense -- especially to people whose circumstances may have rubbed their feelings raw. So I ask this not in a confrontational way, but out of genuine curiosity and a desire to make communication better -- what words or terms should be substituted, when we are trying to label stupid behavior? "Retarded" was introduced into the clinical literature post WWII as a kinder, gentler replacement for terms like "idiot", "moron," "imbecile", and "cretin" -- which before 1950 were actual medical terms defined by specific IQ test ranges, but were viewed as demeaning and insulting. (And which still appeared in high school health textbooks in the 1970s, because I saw them with my own 9th grade eyes.) What should we use instead?
As I mentioned recently... eventually we will have our "little red book of allowable sayings". I understand TAM's concern of course, but something said without malice or ill will should always be allowed. We *choose* to be offended just as we choose to blow something off. Egg shell walking has become a mandatory skill in the world anymore, and is "expertly" taught... in our school systems.
Why not simply say stupid behavior? Or doesn't have the brains God gave a rock? The bigger question is, why do we even have to label people by intelligence? Why do we have to single out an entire group of people? If it's not ok to say of a shoddy job that it was N-rigged, then it should be equally not ok to use any of these terms.
I believe as civilized humans, we have an obligation to not gratuitously give offense -- especially to people whose circumstances may have rubbed their feelings raw. So I ask this not in a confrontational way, but out of genuine curiosity and a desire to make communication better -- what words or terms should be substituted, when we are trying to label stupid behavior? "Retarded" was introduced into the clinical literature post WWII as a kinder, gentler replacement for terms like "idiot", "moron," "imbecile", and "cretin" -- which before 1950 were actual medical terms defined by specific IQ test ranges, but were viewed as demeaning and insulting. (And which still appeared in high school health textbooks in the 1970s, because I saw them with my own 9th grade eyes.) What should we use instead?
As I mentioned recently... eventually we will have our "little red book of allowable sayings". I understand TAM's concern of course, but something said without malice or ill will should always be allowed. We *choose* to be offended just as we choose to blow something off. Egg shell walking has become a mandatory skill in the world anymore, and is "expertly" taught... in our school systems.
Why not simply say stupid behavior? Or doesn't have the brains God gave a rock? The bigger question is, why do we even have to label people by intelligence? Why do we have to single out an entire group of people? If it's not ok to say of a shoddy job that it was N-rigged, then it should be equally not ok to use any of these terms.