Slurs you weren't aware were slurs

[Dodola]

At a time when simply being called her or him, or sir or  miss is often perceived as a derogatory attack, nearly anything that's said about anyone can be construed as a slur.
Hopefully, the hypersensitive outrage that society is in right now will fade, and we can all get back to sticks and stones may break my bones...

 

[cw5523729]

Right, but a thing these days is how the left and mainstream media make fun of the right. Foxworthy is making fun of people who some think are stereotypical right targets of this humor.

Maybe - but in fairness, if he's not referencing political leanings at all but yet you look at him as poking fun at the right wingers because you associate rednecks as being right wing, is that saying something about his humor or about your own preconceptions?

 

[cw5523729]

At a time when simply being called her or him, or sir or  miss is often perceived as a derogatory attack, nearly anything that's said about anyone can be construed as a slur.

Ain't that the truth

 

[Writer61]

Suggesting someone "Foxtrot Oscar" is another way.

Less explicit, but still not polite.

 

[Dodola]

Maybe - but in fairness, if he's not referencing political leanings at all but yet you look at him as poking fun at the right wingers because you associate rednecks as being right wing, is that saying something about his humor or about your own preconceptions?

Right wingers are mostly portrayed as rednecks by Hollywood and the left leaning media and politicians. I don't think it's individually telling, that people make that association.

I'm educated, but I've been called redneck because I'm southern and country, and have an accent. I still laugh at myself and redneck jokes, though.
Part of what makes stereotypes both hurtful and funny is that they're usually at least partially true.

YeeHaw

 

[Actingup]

'Spastic' - once a commonly used medical term for people with cerebral palsy - is now considered highly offensive in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, but I didn't realize that it isn't considered as offensive in America.

For example in the movie 'Hairspray' from 2007 one of the girls Penny refers to another girl Amber as a 'plastic little spastic'. I thought given the movie is set in 1962 that the term was included to show that it was fairly commonly used back then when there used to be 'schools for spastic children' and road signs warning drivers that there were 'spastic pedestrians' in the area, but apparently not.

You can get away with it in Australia/NZ if there's enough love in the room - below is a rendition of an (Australian) Paul Kelly song sung by (Kiwi) Neil Finn with these lines:

Trip the light
And who of us can tell what’s real and what’s fantastic
You do it right
No one else could have such grace and be so spastic
Let heaven fall
You can put your shoes under my bed

But I would never use it in polite conversation!

 

[PennyThompson]

Interesting, "spastic" is very rarely used either as an insult/slur or as a disability identity in the US, or in Canada to my knowledge.

I used to occasionally hear people call someone "a spaz," but as far as I ever knew it just meant someone who was hyper or chaotically energetic, and wasn't particularly insulting.

That might have just been ignorance on my part, though, and regardless I don't know if I've even heard that version of the word in quite a few years!

 

[PennyThompson]

At a time when simply being called her or him, or sir or  miss is often perceived as a derogatory attack

There are only two situations I can think of where any of this might cause offense...

If someone calls a woman "miss," as an intentional diminutive, to imply that she's not competent or professional or an adult to be respected.

Or when the speaker is intentionally misgendering someone for purposes of transphobia, homophobia, or just general gender-based disrespect.

In both cases the intention is to disrespect someone, so I think perceiving it as derogatory is probably the appropriate, even desired, response?

 

[old_prof]

I used to occasionally hear people call someone "a spaz," but as far as I ever knew it just meant someone who was hyper or chaotically energetic, and wasn't particularly insulting.

This was one of the leading playground insults in my youth (in the US more than a half century ago).

I was a common target of that because I am clumsy as all get out, especially as a kid.

 

[PennyThompson]

This was one of the leading playground insults in my youth (in the US more than a half century ago).

I was a common target of that because I am clumsy as all get out, especially as a kid.

Definitely my childhood ignorance then, and I'm glad I don't hear it much anymore

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Spazzed out sort of morphed into freaked out.

 

[bbcbarry9033]

If you think ustacould is a word, you might be a redneck.

Ustacould be able to say stuff more easily.

"More easily"?
You obviously ain't redneck enough.

 

[AG31]

Maybe - but in fairness, if he's not referencing political leanings at all but yet you look at him as poking fun at the right wingers because you associate rednecks as being right wing, is that saying something about his humor or about your own preconceptions?

This is getting a little hard to follow. I don't think Foxworthy is being political. I didn't look at him as "poking fun at right wingers." I viewed him as poking fun at a group that outsiders should not poke fun at, as you pointed out. So I was just wondering if it was OK for an outsider like me to laugh at his jokes. I never equated "red necks" with "right wingers."

 

[AG31]

Right wingers are mostly portrayed as rednecks by Hollywood and the left leaning media and politicians. I don't think it's individually telling, that people make that association.

Somebody is going to kick us off into the politics forum... but maybe I can squeeze this in. Back in the days of Johnny Carson, this might have been true, but can you point me to one instance of "left leaning media" equating right wingers with rednecks? That they do is its own kind of stereotyping, I think.

 

[AG31]

it's a similar reason in management meetings you can't "brain storm" because that is a mental illness.

Oh, wow! Now I can't brain storm????

Interesting, "spastic" is very rarely used either as an insult/slur or as a disability identity in the US, or in Canada to my knowledge.

It's not used as a slur or a disability ID because people have been taught not to say it.

 

[OralAllOver]

Technically, "chink in the armor" is not a slur, but I worked with asian guy who was deeply offended

I recommend against its use

 

[ElectricBlue]

I'm educated, but I've been called redneck because I'm southern and country, and have an accent. I still laugh at myself and redneck jokes, though.
Part of what makes stereotypes both hurtful and funny is that they're usually at least partially true.

YeeHaw

Why do cowboys have the sides of their Stetsons turned up?

So they can sit three abreast on the front seat of the pick-up.

 

[AG31]

Why do cowboys have the sides of their Stetsons turned up?

So they can sit three abreast on the front seat of the pick-up.

I don't get it.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I don't get it.

Coz the rims of the hats are turned up - they can sit next to each other, side by side.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Technically, "chink in the armor" is not a slur, but I worked with asian guy who was deeply offended

I recommend against its use

People have lost their jobs for using the word niggardly, the etymology is Scandinavian and it means being cheap.

https://time.com/archive/6914556/aide-resigns-over-racial-slur-that-wasnt/

 

[Dodola]

There are only two situations I can think of where any of this might cause offense...

If someone calls a woman "miss," as an intentional diminutive, to imply that she's not competent or professional or an adult to be respected.

Or when the speaker is intentionally misgendering someone for purposes of transphobia, homophobia, or just general gender-based disrespect.

In both cases the intention is to disrespect someone, so I think perceiving it as derogatory is probably the appropriate, even desired, response?

I think this disregards the hyper sensitivity that most people who use pronouns or specific labels have about them being recognized and  used. Otherwise, what's the point.?
There's so much focus on trying to find bigotry and trans/homophobias in every comment or statement, that perceptions are often predisposed and wrong.
Even simple apathy is often perceived as rejection.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I think this disregards the hyper sensitivity that most people who use pronouns or specific labels have about them being recognized and  used. Otherwise, what's the point.?
There's so much focus on trying to find bigotry and trans/homophobias in every comment or statement, that perceptions are often predisposed and wrong.
Even simple apathy is often perceived as rejection.

It also ignores how does one divine intent?

 

[PennyThompson]

It also ignores how does one divine intent?

I suppose it depends on if the person says "Sorry, my bad, I didn't mean to offend," or if they double down and start complaining about cancel culture

 

[old_prof]

Can we move away from politicizing this conversation please?

 

[PennyThompson]

Can we move away from politicizing this conversation please?

Sorry, my bad, I didn't mean to offend