Dear Allies: Use WHATEVER WORKS.

[Caliman73]

173. Yes I've seen it used a few times now.

I like having discussions but I think that in order to do that, you have to be on somewhat of the same page as to what terms mean, which I why I ask questions and ask people to explain what they mean.

I understand the passion and sense of urgency that people have. There is a sense that things are spinning out of control and some people see these issues about language as distraction, but language is shaped by and shapes thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. I said in another thread, which is the thread that sparked this thread, that when I was young, I used to use words like, "gay" and "retarded" as insults, then I started to figure out that the insult is actually supposed to be the comparison of the individual you are insulting with the condition of being gay or having an intellectual disability. Having friends who are gay and having worked with people who have intellectual disabilities, I see now that using their human condition, their being, as an insult is damaging and that it can certainly lead us to become like these Republican and conservative leaders and many followers who do not even see gay people, black people, disabled people, other minorities, or women as full human beings. So, it is a big issue.