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

weldoninhio · 26-02-2019 9:23am

Mam of 4 wrote: »

Retard and Spastic , I hate anyone using either of those words to describe someone , makes my blood boil tbh .

Never go full retard.

OMM 0000 · 26-02-2019 9:33am

harr wrote: »

Retard is very much the same as n*gger if you are using it in context as an insult.
Just because it’s a word in the dictionary doesn’t make it ok to use as an insult.

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.

BrookieD · 26-02-2019 9:37am

jimgoose wrote: »

Minge, furburger, beef curtains, pork portcullis and kebab, in no particular order. Note that these may or may not be moist.

Just took a sup of coffee and you made me spit it out laughing at this... salute to you

yes i am that childish!:P

Feisar · 26-02-2019 9:39am

I find the abbreviated word "hubby" to be really annoying. I'd look down of the user far more than if the same person said c*** or n*****.

Wibbs · 26-02-2019 10:07am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Words change meaning all the time. There used to be legislation years ago called 'Idiots Act 1886'
It refers to idiots,imbeciles and lunatics. Now these words are in common usage. No one gives them a second thought.

This. Varies a lot by culture too. So Americans will be far more OK with saying "retard" rather than "cnut", whereas Aussies will use the latter word and it's about the same level as "fcuk".

While "retard" "spa" etc were always not exactly suburban cocktail party speak, they've gained a lot more disapproving looks over the last say decade, yet "idiot, "imbecile" and "lunatic" - words which were also medical terms just like "retard" and "spastic" - barely rise an eyebrow. Ironically and the joke is "retard" was originally suggested as a less offensive word for those with mental impairment as a replacement for "idiot" and "imbecile" which had become offensive. Roll on a few decades and the offence pendulum has swung again. Maybe one reason is that "retard" started to be associated with autism and Aspergers and as that condition gained much more mainstream traction "retard" became more offensive?

tritriagain · 26-02-2019 10:13am

"offensive"

foxy farmer · 26-02-2019 10:21am

Cina wrote: »

Call someone a c**t in Cork and you'll be best mates for life.

Wanna bet?

somesoldiers · 26-02-2019 10:24am

Wibbs wrote: »

This. Varies a lot by culture too. So Americans will be far more OK with saying "retard" rather than "cnut", whereas Aussies will use the latter word and it's about the same level as "fcuk".

While "retard" "spa" etc were always not exactly suburban cocktail party speak, they've gained a lot more disapproving looks over the last say decade, yet "idiot, "imbecile" and "lunatic" - words which were also medical terms just like "retard" and "spastic" - barely rise an eyebrow. Ironically and the joke is "retard" was originally suggested as a less offensive word for those with mental impairment as a replacement for "idiot" and "imbecile" which had become offensive. Roll on a few decades and the offence pendulum has swung again. Maybe one reason is that "retard" started to be associated with autism and Aspergers and as that condition gained much more mainstream traction "retard" became more offensive?

The Black Eyed Peas song "Lets get it started" was originally "lets get Retarded"

AndrewJRenko · 26-02-2019 10:43am

OMM 0000 wrote: »

harr wrote: »

I have a son with special needs and the words retard and spastic obviously would be the words I find most offensive.
A few months back I happened to be in the company of a friend of a friend who happened to be a black man he was using the retard word quiet frequent, obviously he didn’t know about our sons situation. He wasn’t only using it to call someone a retard he was in fact using to describe kids with special needs and how they freak him out.
So you can imagine the commotion when I turned around started to describe black people as nig..gers he still couldn’t see that he was in the wrong and he was coming out with all sort of **** why his use of the word retard wasn’t the same as me using the N word.

Retard isn't the same as n*gger.

No one went around lynching retards.

You might want to do some research on hate crimes and indeed mate crimes that are still happening against people with disabilities today.

AndrewJRenko · 26-02-2019 10:47am

OMM 0000 wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Neither of which get blocked by boards.ie, sending a clear message that it's OK to take a swipe at people with intellectual or physical disabilities, but not other minority groups.

I don't think they're trying to send a message that "it's OK to take a swipe at people with intellectual or physical disabilities".

I think they have a naughty words list, and they just did a half assed job.

Not true - the issue has been raised several times over the years and they have refused to add 'retard' to the list of blocked.

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.

Wibbs · 26-02-2019 10:49am

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

mate crimes

Googled that. Jesus. The world has never been less offensive, yet we're inventing ever more labels for offence.

Wibbs · 26-02-2019 10:54am

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

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.

Yeah like Catholics, the religious in general, Muslims, immigrants, social welfare recipients and Travellers are lauded... You'd want to be pretty damned blinkered to not see that.

"Offence" is very often extremely personally localised. I am/know someone with condition A which has a pejorative word associated with it, therefore it's the most offensive word ever, just as bad as [insert universally acknowledged offensive word here]..

26-02-2019 11:07am

somesoldiers wrote: »

The Black Eyed Peas song "Lets get it started" was originally "lets get Retarded"

I was listening to an audio recording recently of a 1996 US Supreme Court judgment, where Ruth Bader Ginsberg was referencing "retarded" women.

Was very surprised to hear that term being used in the late 1990s. I was a kid back then, but I certainly knew not to say it.

AndrewJRenko · 26-02-2019 11:17am

Wibbs wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

mate crimes

Googled that. Jesus. The world has never been less offensive, yet we're inventing ever more labels for offence.

There is no suggestion that the term 'mate' is offensive.

It is a category of crime targeted against people with intellectual disabilities, where the attacker pretends to be their friend before taking advantage and abusing the victim.

mark_jmc · 26-02-2019 11:20am

"entitled" as in: i'm entitled to.......

jimgoose · 26-02-2019 11:23am

SafeSurfer wrote: »

I always thought referring to people as coons was more offensive than calling them ****.

"Coon ass" is worse, but that's used for Cajuns and they'll just beat the tar outta ya. C'est bon! :cool:

OMM 0000 · 26-02-2019 11:24am

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You might want to do some research on hate crimes and indeed mate crimes that are still happening against people with disabilities today.

It pains me I have to explain this.

Things are not black and white.

Here's a scenario:

For a hundred years, black people are enslaved and regularly beaten and killed.

For a hundred years, people with disabilities are sometimes mocked, and in rare instances attacked.

They are not the same.

One is worse than the other.

Here's another scenario:

A woman is raped.

A woman's ass is grabbed.

They are not the same.

One is worse than the other.

Using this logic surely you can see the emotion and meaning behind n*gger is far heavier than the emotion and meaning behind retard.

sbsquarepants · 26-02-2019 11:29am

Hector Savage wrote: »

Look at this

The really frightening thing is (yes it's real) she is a planetary scientist for NASA - so you'd imagine some sort of intelligence there.

How f*cking condescending tho ?

"Let the little black people enjoy their film"

The very definition of an educated fool.

She also doesn't look like she sucks too much black joy out of anything, ifyouknowarimsaying:D

Wibbs wrote: »

This. Varies a lot by culture too. So Americans will be far more OK with saying "retard" rather than "cnut", whereas Aussies will use the latter word and it's about the same level as "fcuk".

Yanks are mental though - have you ever seen any of the youtube videos warning people to prepare themselves for the offensive language if they visit Ireland "everyone, and I mean everyone, uses cus words all the time"

True we do - but we don't shoot up schools on the daily so, you know swings and roundabouts!

My personal take is that words are not in and of themselves offensive, the meaning is in the intent - you can be called a bollox as a term of endearment, or sir as an insult!

AndrewJRenko · 26-02-2019 11:29am

Wibbs wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

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.

Yeah like Catholics, the religious in general, Muslims, immigrants, social welfare recipients and Travellers are lauded... You'd want to be pretty damned blinkered to not see that.

Boards.ie chooses to block certain offensive words, and yet allows "retard". You'd want to be pretty blinkered to not see that as enabling swipes on people with intellectual disabilities.

jimgoose · 26-02-2019 11:29am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

The "Huckleberry Finn" had an original character called 'N1gger Joe.'
But those who are offended by it has now been changed to 'Slave Joe'...

It's "Nigger Jim" and "Injun Joe".

jimgoose · 26-02-2019 11:31am

OMM 0000 wrote: »

As I stated, it's not the same because n*gger is defined as an insult...

No it isn't, it's Southern backwoods dialect for "negro".

Paddy Cow · 26-02-2019 12:02pm

Wibbs wrote: »

Googled that. Jesus. The world has never been less offensive, yet we're inventing ever more labels for offence.

I thought it was a typo and they meant hate crimes

Paddy Cow · 26-02-2019 12:16pm

OMM 0000 wrote: »

It pains me I have to explain this.

Things are not black and white.

Here's a scenario:

For a hundred years, black people are enslaved and regularly beaten and killed.

For a hundred years, people with disabilities are sometimes mocked, and in rare instances attacked.

They are not the same.

One is worse than the other.

Here's another scenario:

A woman is raped.

A woman's ass is grabbed.

They are not the same.

One is worse than the other.

Using this logic surely you can see the emotion and meaning behind n*gger is far heavier than the emotion and meaning behind retard.

Will ya stop. We don't need a history lesson. We all know about slavery. That poster was talking about a specific incident and in that incident, I agree with them. People use the term "retarded" to refer to stupid stuff, much like we now use idiot etc. It's not a term I use myself but I don't really care if others use it in that context. However, using it in a derogatory way to describe kids with disabilities is disgusting and that guy should've known better. He was never a slave yet hates the n word so he should have been able to empathise with that parent about how his use of retard was completely unacceptable in that instance.

AndrewJRenko · 26-02-2019 12:26pm

OMM 0000 wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You might want to do some research on hate crimes and indeed mate crimes that are still happening against people with disabilities today.

It pains me I have to explain this.

Things are not black and white.

Here's a scenario:

For a hundred years, black people are enslaved and regularly beaten and killed.

For a hundred years, people with disabilities are sometimes mocked, and in rare instances attacked.

Again, you might want to go do some research before you make an even bigger fool of yourself. Have a look at how people with intellectual disabilities were locked up, enslaved, raped, and worse over the years. Have a look at how they are still being treated today, even in Ireland - where basic rights to property, a sex life and to simply live a life of their own choosing are non-existent.

Your own personal lack of knowledge of this sector does not negate the offensive nature of the term 'retard'.

pleas advice · 26-02-2019 12:26pm

Feisar wrote: »

I find the abbreviated word "hubby" to be really annoying. I'd look down of the user far more than if the same person said c*** or n*****.

DH

Wibbs · 26-02-2019 12:40pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

There is no suggestion that the term 'mate' is offensive.

Where did I say it was?

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Boards.ie chooses to block certain offensive words, and yet allows "retard". You'd want to be pretty blinkered to not see that as enabling swipes on people with intellectual disabilities.

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.

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?

OMM 0000 · 26-02-2019 12:41pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Again, you might want to go do some research before you make an even bigger fool of yourself. Have a look at how people with intellectual disabilities were locked up, enslaved, raped, and worse over the years. Have a look at how they are still being treated today, even in Ireland - where basic rights to property, a sex life and to simply live a life of their own choosing are non-existent.

Your own personal lack of knowledge of this sector does not negate the offensive nature of the term 'retard'.

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.

AndrewJRenko · 26-02-2019 12:57pm

Paddy Cow wrote: »

OMM 0000 wrote: »

It pains me I have to explain this.

Things are not black and white.

Here's a scenario:

For a hundred years, black people are enslaved and regularly beaten and killed.

For a hundred years, people with disabilities are sometimes mocked, and in rare instances attacked.

They are not the same.

One is worse than the other.

Here's another scenario:

A woman is raped.

A woman's ass is grabbed.

They are not the same.

One is worse than the other.

Using this logic surely you can see the emotion and meaning behind n*gger is far heavier than the emotion and meaning behind retard.

People use the term "retarded" to refer to stupid stuff, much like we now use idiot etc. It's not a term I use myself but I don't really care if others use it in that context.

You may not care about the word being used in that context, but many of those who have family and friends with intellectual disabilities are concerned about how the casual derogatory use of the word perpetuates negative stigma for them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04Ser5wmPSA

Simple_Simone · 26-02-2019 1:00pm

"“Mentally retarded,” once the respectful phrase that replaced the insults, is now the new term to hate among people with intellectual disabilities (the preferred term today) and their families and supporters. Many of these people are old enough to have lived when they themselves used the term in its proper, official manner, and thought little of it. Now uttering it, whether as an insult or just a label, will get you accused of hate speech, or at least earn you an angry tongue-thrashing or a shower of angry tweets. Like the “n-word,” to even speak or write it for its own sake may be a transgression — it’s often rendered as the “r-word.” Advocacy groups have launched “r-word” campaigns urging people not to use it.

From: https://medium.com/s/story/the-rise-and-fall-of-mentally-retarded-e3b9eea23018 All about morons, imbeciles, mentally retarded folk, mongols and the like. Fascinating stuff.

As an aside, I wonder whether, some day, the fine word "Renko" will be used to describe people who wander aimlessly through internet fora frantically seeking things to get offended about.

jimgoose · 26-02-2019 1:02pm

Be cool if we just, like, didn't call anyone horrible names? Mmm-kay luv ya buh-bye!

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

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