What would be the most offensive word in the English language now?

Irish Guitarist · 26-02-2019 04:23PM

I remember an early episode of Eastenders where Dot Cotton went to a market stall and asked if they had any nigger brown wool. The woman running the market said "you can't say that nowadays".

That wouldn't even be allowed in Eastenders nowadays. Nor would you hear one of the characters say they're going to the paki shop. You wouldn't hear a white woman repeatedly calling her Turkish husband a 'stupid turk' either.

AndrewJRenko · 26-02-2019 11:09PM

Wibbs wrote: »

According to you Boards.ie policy is literally as I described above - that it's OK to take a swipe at people with intellectual disabilities, but not other minority groups. We'll gloss over the literally bit... However your statement is inaccurate and I pointed out where. Take any average day on this forum and you'll find plenty of "minority groups" being swiped at, but it depends on one's own often solipsistic viewpoint as to what should be taken as offensive.

I'm not sure why you seem determined to ignore the facts. I'll give it one more try in case you missed out the last times.

Boards.ie blocks certain words to protect insults targeted at minority groups. It chooses not to block 'retard', enabling people to take a swipe at people with intellectual disabilities. Them's the facts - it's fairly simple really.

Wibbs wrote: »

BTW is "idiot" OK? "Imbecile"? "Feebleminded"? "Moron"? All words that are both old medical terms and used to "enable swipes". "Dumb"? That could be aimed at the intellectually disabled and hearing impaired. How about "thick"? How much of the language do you want to remove or clutch your pearls over?

A tad dramatic, no? No-one is 'removing language'. The word retard remains, and may well be appropriate in some technical situations. All you have to do is to not use it in a way that insults people. Is that really beyond you?

OMM 0000 wrote: »

This is too painful, so it's going to be my last comment.

No one is denying the disabled have faced issues.

No one is denying calling a disabled person "retard" to their face is offensive and terrible.

Let's do a comparison with black people.

From the mid 1700s to the mid 1800s, black folk in the US had almost no rights. You could buy and sell them. You could kill them. You could call them n*igger and look down on them.

The disabled did not face the same issues. Obviously it was terrible to be disabled back then, but you were at least, relatively free, and weren't bought and sold.

The word retard was used until very recently (roughly 10 years ago) to describe people who are mentally disabled. It has only very recently become a slang insult word.

Many people in society regularly use the word retard, as they do not consider it particularly offensive. This include on boards.ie.

Almost no one says n*gger. This is because it is universally accepted to be highly offensive due to it's long history of being a horrible word.

So we have a few hundred years of n*gger being a horrible word, and roughly 10 years of retard being a somewhat horrible word.

If you try to think this through for a second, and drop the emotion, you will see that clearly n*gger is considered a worse word.

Seriously, why do I need to explain this. This sort of basic logic should be simple for everyone.

So what, we have to wait for a few hundred years to wait to stop insulting people?

Let's stop dressing it up in the history lesson. It's clear what this is about.

You use 'retard' yourself, right? And you don't like being told what to do. So it's OK to tell others not to use N-I-G-G-E-R but it's not OK to tell you not to use retard.

Sorry about that · 26-02-2019 11:23PM

OMM 0000 wrote: »

As I stated, it's not the same because n*gger is defined as an insult. It was used when white people used to lynch black people.

Retard was literally the word for people with physical/mental disabilities until recently.

You're too close to this issue (son with special needs) to have a neutral opinion.

I'm not saying retard isn't an insult. It's just not as insulting as n*gger.

In fact, our society tells us this. People use retard all the time, but almost no one uses n*gger.

You’re too far from the issue to have an informed or compassionate opinion.

And yes, you’re right, some people use that word all the time. But not carers, not family, not friends , and not people who understand that unlike other minorities, people with intellectual disabilities are mostly unable to object to this word. They can’t object. So if you were unaware of what a cruel term it is, be assured, it’s very cruel. Spread the word.

Wibbs · 26-02-2019 11:44PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I'm not sure why you seem determined to ignore the facts.

The confusion is mutual I assure you.

Boards.ie blocks certain words to protect insults targeted at minority groups. It chooses not to block 'retard', enabling people to take a swipe at people with intellectual disabilities. Them's the facts - it's fairly simple really.

So your argument begins and ends with the Boards swear filter? Which you then extrapolate to mean Boards is gung ho for it being OK to take a swipe at people with intellectual disabilities, but not other minority groups And like I pointed out other "minority groups" get far more negative attention than those with intellectual disabilities. "Them's the facts" Ted.

A tad dramatic, no? No-one is 'removing language'. The word retard remains, and may well be appropriate in some technical situations. All you have to do is to not use it in a way that insults people. Is that really beyond you?

It's so far within my ken I'm thinking of charging rent. That's not the issue, the issue is you are wanting to specifically target some language you personally find offensive, yet other language that is exactly the same language you ignore.

Sorry about that wrote:

You’re too far from the issue to have an informed or compassionate opinion.

and maybe you're too close to the issue to be able to form a more objective approach? As I said earlier: It [often] depends on one's own often solipsistic viewpoint as to what should be taken as offensive. Lord knows we're all guilty of that.

Sorry about that · 26-02-2019 11:57PM

“and maybe you're too close to the issue to be able to form a more objective approach? As I said earlier: It [often] depends on one's own often solipsistic viewpoint as to what should be taken as offensive. Lord knows we're all guilty of that.”

An assumption of my proximity to the issue, and really, how solipsistic can one be to be unaware of the weight of this term. Unevolved more like.

Johnnyhpipe · 26-02-2019 11:58PM

Everyone seems to go mental when you say ****** these days. That was a classic years ago!

Wibbs · 27-02-2019 12:26AM

Sorry about that wrote: »

“and maybe you're too close to the issue to be able to form a more objective approach? As I said earlier: It [often] depends on one's own often solipsistic viewpoint as to what should be taken as offensive. Lord knows we're all guilty of that.”

An assumption of my proximity to the issue, and really, how solipsistic can one be to be unaware of the weight of this term. Unevolved more like.

So, beyond "Unevolved", which is a tad low rent and trite a comeback, you're kinda struggling for a half decent riposte then?

joeguevara · 27-02-2019 12:31AM

Tim Minchin wrote a song about prejudice and the biggest taboo word. The most poignant line is ‘sticks and stones may break bones but words can break hearts’.

I don’t think any word is inherently offensive. I think the most offensive word is when someone wants to really hurt someone.

Have a listen to this though.

https://youtu.be/KVN_0qvuhhw

joeguevara · 27-02-2019 12:37AM

I don’t mean to drag the thread off topic but one of the list above reminds me of one of the most funny and awkward stories in our family.

I owned a bar in the mid 2000s and let’s just say it was very rough and ready. One particular night there was a huge fight amongst travelers and they were all thrown out.

A few days later Patrick Bergin was playing a gig and my mother who never was at the bar happened to come visit. Someone pointed over to Patrick Bergin and told my mother ‘that’s him, that’s the Knacker.’ My mother didn’t know about the song and thought he was the ring leader of the fight a few days previously walked up to him and said ‘i don’t care who you are or where you come from, you have to leave immediately’. Everyone in the pub was dumbfounded and it took a while for someone to convince her of his true identity. Still cringes about it now.

https://youtu.be/hzbi1v14ciQ

Sorry about that · 27-02-2019 07:07AM

Wibbs wrote: »

So, beyond "Unevolved", which is a tad low rent and trite a comeback, you're kinda struggling for a half decent riposte then?

Society is said to evolve, in that it becomes kinder to it's most vulnerable, among other improvements. You choose to criticise my "low rent" wording, rather than address the issue. And yes, you are a skilled wordsmith. Well done.

AndrewJRenko · 27-02-2019 07:08AM

Wibbs wrote: »

The confusion is mutual I assure you.

So your argument begins and ends with the Boards swear filter? Which you then extrapolate to mean Boards is gung ho for it being OK to take a swipe at people with intellectual disabilities, but not other minority groups And like I pointed out other "minority groups" get far more negative attention than those with intellectual disabilities. "Them's the facts" Ted.

Yes, this issue begins and ends with the swear filter. It is in the direct control of boards.ie. It works to protect some minority groups from certain attacks, but leaves other groups exposed.

That is a policy decision to enable attacks on people with intellectual disabilities.

AndrewJRenko · 27-02-2019 07:14AM

Wibbs wrote: »

It's so far within my ken I'm thinking of charging rent. That's not the issue, the issue is you are wanting to specifically target some language you personally find offensive, yet other language that is exactly the same language you ignore.

No, I'm targeting language that many people with intellectual disabilities and their families find offensive. In general, they get a poor deal, so if we can address one issue that gives them a slightly better deal fairly painlessly, why would we not do it.

The word retard has a particular meaning and context today. I blame Jackass for importing the word to our culture. The other words you mention do not have the same derogatory context today.

27-02-2019 07:28AM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Yes, this issue begins and ends with the swear filter. It is in the direct control of boards.ie. It works to protect some minority groups from certain attacks, but leaves other groups exposed.

That is a policy decision to enable attacks on people with intellectual disabilities.

Stupidest line of logic this year? Perhaps.

OMM 0000 · 27-02-2019 07:34AM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

So what, we have to wait for a few hundred years to wait to stop insulting people?

Let's stop dressing it up in the history lesson. It's clear what this is about.

You use 'retard' yourself, right? And you don't like being told what to do. So it's OK to tell others not to use N-I-G-G-E-R but it's not OK to tell you not to use retard.

You are making assumptions about me to back up your false narrative that people who disagree with you must be bigots.

My only point, which you are unable to understand, is n*gger has a long history of being an abusive word, whereas retard has perhaps 10 years of this. So, when you're able to view the world in a non black and white way, that means you're able to understand n*gger has a darker and deeper history and meaning. Therefore it's a "worse" curse word.

suicide_circus · 27-02-2019 07:40AM

sticks and stones.

no words offend me.

what a silly way to expend energy.

retard your outrage, people.

Sorry about that · 27-02-2019 07:44AM

In 2009 The Special Olympics launched a campaign to "spread the word to end the word".
10 years later, here we are. Easy targets for edgy insults.

suicide_circus · 27-02-2019 07:45AM

Sorry about that wrote: »

In 2009 The Special Olympics launched a campaign to "spread the word to end the word".
10 years later, here we are. Easy targets for edgy insults.

sorry about that

handlemaster · 27-02-2019 07:46AM

black

Sorry about that · 27-02-2019 07:50AM

suicide_circus wrote: »

sorry about that

Excellent, you read my post. Chance that you'll think twice.

Olivia Pope · 27-02-2019 07:51AM

The c word, living in Munster. If someone uses it in my company (which is very rare) I say could you please refrain from using that word in my company. At that point said c word offender usually leaves my company.

sbsquarepants · 27-02-2019 08:20AM

Which is exactly what I'd do. I'll be fúcked if i'll spend my time with any cúnt c word who presumes they can choose my words for me.:mad:

It's for the best - we'd both be happier apart:D

jimgoose · 27-02-2019 09:13AM

Don't even try to tell me what you think is right
When to you blacks are ****, and jews are kikes
And you expect to be taken seriously
But your actions, they're more than curiously
Juvenile. You emulate what you hate,
And you don't even know why you feel this way
'cause daddy hated this, and mommy hated that
And your own ability to reason's like a tire gone flat

-- Anthrax

27-02-2019 09:29AM

sbsquarepants wrote: »

you can be called a bollox as a term of endearment, or sir as an insult!

Ah the genius at work....

Cina wrote: »

Context?

There are very few contexts where it's not an offensive word.

There is a massive difference in context between discussion of a word and _use_ of that word. Alas that is a difference in context the permanently offended/outraged appear to be intent on ignoring.

Tipping toeing around the word in the former context - or having university professors chased for their jobs for using it in that context - just shows how delicate our sensibilities are becoming. It is ridiculous. Not least because it gives a word more power than it should have. But also because it ignores context entirely.

I do love however when peoples delicate nature has them fly off the handle erroneously. The "controversy" over an American politician using the word "Niggardly" had me in stitches. That was seriously hilarious. Especially as it was a Black Guy who was triggered by the word.

But that is a context where I can use the word without it being offensive. I can talk about the phonetic similarities between niggardly and ******. I can talk about their pretty much entirely separate etymology. I can tell you where the word ****** came from. I can tell you where the word niggardly came from. And none of that is _actually_ offensive. Which of course is no reliable measure that someone will not fall over themselves to be offended anyway.

And I will not even bother to misspell it to intentionally bypass the pointless boards.ie curse-bot censor. We are all adults here. We know what word I am typing.

AndrewJRenko · 27-02-2019 03:49PM

Deleted User wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Yes, this issue begins and ends with the swear filter. It is in the direct control of boards.ie. It works to protect some minority groups from certain attacks, but leaves other groups exposed.

That is a policy decision to enable attacks on people with intellectual disabilities.

Stupidest line of logic this year? Perhaps.

Minor change perhaps

That is a policy decision that enable attacks on people with intellectual disabilities.

AndrewJRenko · 27-02-2019 03:52PM

OMM 0000 wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

So what, we have to wait for a few hundred years to wait to stop insulting people?

Let's stop dressing it up in the history lesson. It's clear what this is about.

You use 'retard' yourself, right? And you don't like being told what to do. So it's OK to tell others not to use N-I-G-G-E-R but it's not OK to tell you not to use retard.

You are making assumptions about me to back up your false narrative that people who disagree with you must be bigots.

My only point, which you are unable to understand, is n*gger has a long history of being an abusive word, whereas retard has perhaps 10 years of this. So, when you're able to view the world in a non black and white way, that means you're able to understand n*gger has a darker and deeper history and meaning. Therefore it's a "worse" curse word.

What has the number of years got to do with anything? Why would we want to wait for a certain number of years to take action?

If you're going to ban some words, why would you not add retard to that list?

jimgoose · 27-02-2019 04:01PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Minor change perhaps

That is a policy decision that enable attacks on people with intellectual disabilities.

To be perfectly honest with you Chief and with the best will in the world, I think you're stretching it a fair bit there. The word "gowl" isn't filtered either - that's a policy decision that enable attacks on people who exhibit vegan tendencies.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 27-02-2019 05:22PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

What has the number of years got to do with anything? Why would we want to wait for a certain number of years to take action?

If you're going to ban some words, why would you not add retard to that list?

And gammon. Which you’ve used.

Why are on this topic anyway except for you to display more of your woker than thou philosophy.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 27-02-2019 05:25PM

Where does kike come out of lads? I understand Yid and Heeb but can't grasp the origins of kike.

Some of the Irish ones are terrible too, white n1gger was a term I heard in New York.

Wibbs · 27-02-2019 05:36PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Where does kike come out of lads? I understand Yid and Heeb but can't grasp the origins of kike.

From what I recall - and this could be way off to be fair - it comes from America of the 19th century when illiterate peasants showed up as immigrants they'd sign an X on any documents by way of a signature, but Jews(and Muslims) wouldn't because it was as they saw it the sign of the Cross, so they signed with a circle and again IIRC in either Yiddish, Hebrew or an Eastern European language(can't recall which) "circle" sounds something like "Kaickle" which became shortened to "Kike".

DEFTLEFTHAND · 27-02-2019 05:41PM

Wibbs wrote: »

From what I recall - and this could be way off to be fair - it comes from America of the 19th century when illiterate peasants showed up as immigrants they'd sign an X on any documents by way of a signature, but Jews(and Muslims) wouldn't because it was as they saw it the sign of the Cross, so they signed with a circle and again IIRC in either Yiddish, Hebrew or an Eastern European language(can't recall which) "circle" sounds something like "Kaickle" which became shortened to "Kike".

Cheers Wibbs, very interesting.

Another good one is WOP, an abbreviation of 'Without Papers.' Was initially used for both Irish and Italian immigrants but became more commonly associated with just the Italians as time moved on.

What would be the most offensive word in the English language now?

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