this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2024
182 points (98.4% liked)
A Comm for Historymemes
1419 readers
693 users here now
A place to share history memes!
Rules:
-
No sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, assorted bigotry, etc.
-
No fascism, atrocity denial, etc.
-
Tag NSFW pics as NSFW.
-
Follow all Lemmy.world rules.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Do I have to explain to you how language works? Terms develop connotations over time. Usage makes some into slurs. This isn't complex. This is how every fucking slur comes about. Jesus H. Christ.
Moron is a slur against precisely the same people retard is.
Retard was literally the word that replaced moron in medical language and has all the same connotations.
You have proven his point to perfection.
Wow. What an amazing point he has, that... [checks notes] connotations change with time?
His point that whatever term retard is replaced with in the lexicon will simply go on the treadmill of slurs just like moron did.
You are literally participating in the problem you tried to call out.
Okay?
Like, I really don't know what the two of you aim to prove here by repeatedly drawing attention to the fact that connotations of words change with time. Yes, both in the past and the future. This is my shocked face.
The use of 'Retard' and its acceptability has changed due to the dual connotations it acquired (those connotations being, specifically, a derogatory insult, and the assertion of actual medical mental disability). It's no longer acceptable. That doesn't mean that every word which clinicians used or which schoolyard bullies used is now the equivalent of calling someone a 'retard'. 'Retard' has a very acute combination of connotations, which anyone who grew up around the term understands as different from terms like 'fool', 'idiot', or 'moron'.
Like, fuck's sake. How are you not grasping this?
... the problem of... not using a term widely agreed upon to be offensive in the modern day?
Exactly the same behaviour as saying don’t be a fucking retard. Either both are acceptable or neither is because they are synonymous, in meaning and historical context.
That you used one as a slur on the playground does not change this.
If you need this explained any further there is probably a c/explainlikeimfive around here somewhere.
Okay, you go out to your local NAACP meeting and started calling all the people there 'colored', or even better, 'negros', since that's synonymous in meaning and historical context to 'Black', I'm sure it'll go over well. Good to see that you still don't understand what 'connotation' means, and apparently are too lazy to look it up.
Fucking moron.
I have explained to you very clearly how the connotation is exactly the same for both words because they have the same root, usage and cultural meaning though acceptability has differed over time.
You fucking retard.
Yes, like 'colored' and 'Black'. Yet only a fucking moron would confuse the two as equally appropriate.
You literally are just repeatedly demonstrating that you don't understand connotation, and are utterly resistant to the most blatant and obvious examples of connotation possible. It's like your eyes pass over the comparison without even reading it, glossing over with the hope of, I don't know, showing off your ignorance on the internet? I mean, if you're going to get into an argument about literal semantics, you should probably at least understand the elementary-school stuff, lmao.
Exactly, and how is moron not a slur?