I object strongly to the use of the word ‘moron’ or ‘moronic’ as used by a mod in another thread (also other derogatory terms involving people with learning disabilities – the few who know me will know why).

As it actually denoted a category of learning disability and was widely used as a categorisation for eugenics I feel it is unacceptable to be used to deride or describe others.

Those using it in such a fashion are being derogatory to those with learning disabilities, and making their condition an insult towards others.

report the post then.

Quiet, you cretin! 😉

Is :mogn: OK?

Those using it in such a fashion are being derogatory to those with learning disabilities, and making their condition an insult towards others.

Perhaps a very long time ago.

That’s too PC a view for me, but i’ll avoid using the word all the same.

Even Mark has a ‘Report-Post’ button on his posts.

I’m just waiting for him to step out of line ……

well said OP

Its just a word these days and nobody calling someone a mong is really meaning it as an insult to those with learning difficulties.

what IQ range corresponds to ‘moron’ ? Would such people be able to understand that the use of the word was insulting ?

Is ‘dumbass’ an acceptable alternative ?

It’s the Goddard scale isn’t it:

idiot = IQ of 0-25
imbecile = IQ of 26-50
moron = IQ of 51-70

Though he was a bit of a fan of eugenics himself:

“A moron, by his definition, was any person with mental age between eight and twelve. Morons, according to Goddard, were unfit for society and should be removed from society either through institutionalization, sterilization, or both.” (from Wikipedia)

SFB

IIRC its an IQ of 50 – 70, so the mildest category of LD – probably a mental age of 9-12 years old – so it would probably be understood, if not the exact meaning then the connotation.

Most folk of this level I know will have heard it as a derogatory term many times in their school life.

And it’s dumass, there’s no ‘b’

And it’s dumass, there’s no ‘b’

You sure about that dumbass?:
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=dumass&word2=dumbass

And it’s dumass, there’s no ‘b’

sorry, you’re thinking of Alexander Dumas, noted French author…

Is idiot ok?

You sure about that dumbass?

please don’t mock dangerousbeans‘s spelling difficulties 🙁

I like it as a word and think of it as another for idiot which it is i guess, i have known a few people in my 34 years whom have had relations with mental disabilities, and one used to use the term alot, as did my dad on the many occasions in my youth i was an idiot…don’t take it to heart dude, like many things in life, only upsetting if your setup for being easily upset or summink…

but noted all the same.

“A moron, by his definition, was any person with mental age between eight and twelve. Morons, according to Goddard, were unfit for society and should be removed from society either through institutionalization, sterilization, or both.”

Which in practice meant that anyone who failed an “intelligence test” (even if it was just due to poor education) could potentially be sterilised or institutionalised. This happened to quite a few unfortunate people. A really shameful chapter in modern American history.

What that Wikipedia article only touches on briefly is that Goddard was dishonest and his research worthless. He even had doctored photos in his textbooks to make the “degenerates” look less human. There’s more about him in this book, which is excellent reading for anyone who wants to know more about “intelligence testing”:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mismeasure_of_Man

When did this forum merge with the Daily Mail?

Fair enough, noted.