[Closed] Political correctness - am I allowed to call someone a lunatic?

Nope. It's impossible to offend me. (Except with RETARDED driving ability when I'm on me bike)

It's ok as long as you are batsh1t mental too.

Nope. It's impossible to offend me.

Ahem....

Hey, DezB, we've got a festival near here just right up your musical alleyway.

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I'd say depends on the context. Using mental health issues in derogatory ways [i]is[/i] generally a bit frowned upon these days.

Mind you I'd say [i]"emotionally retarded"[/i] is a acceptable thing to say, especially about yourself. So I may well be as out of touch as you!

so did you call yourself a 'lunatic' or 'emotionally retarded'?

[i]I'd say depends on the context. Using mental health issues in derogatory ways is generally a bit frowned upon these days.[/i]

Yeap, I seem to recall some of the supermarkets having to recall some halloween costumes, last year I think, for similar reasons.

Self deprecation, these days, also seems to be a bit of a minefield.
Probably better to leave others to slag you off.

Does the person in question actually have epilepsy or a disease of the moon? 😉

WWAsWas - I had previously called myself emotionally retarded (while recounting how I cried at the bit in the Superman film, the old Christoper Reeve version, when Louis Lane gets buried in her car while Superman is busy saving a village from being drowned), to then be told I "can't use the 'R' word".

I was now going on comment on a photo of myself taken at a recent run, pointing out how my happy, smiley face looks more like that of an escaped lunatic, but thought best to check first.

[i]Hey, DezB, we've got a festival near here just right up your musical alleyway.[/i]

Damn, if I wasn't going to my local one a few days before, I'd be there! 🙁

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Now, that's [s]retarded[/s] er retro..?

Under the rules of PC, you are permitted, nay encouraged, to call a non-PC person a lunatic.

[i]to then be told I "can't use the 'R' word"[/i]

It's one of those words that is increasingly seen as having 'connotations' and might best be avoided in polite society.

Maybe emotionally repressed would be better to describe how you behaved in any case?

I might find a different analogy for the running thing if I were you now that you have form in the inappropriate phrase sweepstake.

Does the person in question actually have epilepsy or a disease of the moon?

Is the person in question actually a potato? And can a potato really be deemed by anyone, let alone itself, to be 'great'?

"can't use the 'R' word"

Well that's just ... erm... [i]silly[/i]?

Calling someone a retard is offensive.

Calling yourself emotionally retarded isn't.

I avoid the minefield of people taking offence at my use of potentially inapropriate terminology by just calling everyone a *ing *!

Clears up any confusion 😀

Stoner - that looks less a festival, more a suicide pact

As above, Lunatic is to describe someone who is psychologically effected by the cycles of the moon. I was born in June which means I have a Cancer star sign, which is supposedly a moon sign, and have been accused of being a Lunatic many times as a result, mostly by my ex wife. She believes in all that nonsense.

Essentially the term lunatic is based in Astrology which is of course all complete pony anyway.

Therefore as the word as no real grounding in medical science there is no such thing as a lunatic so it fair game to use it.

[i]can a potato really be deemed by anyone, let alone itself, to be 'great'[/i]

I think you have to say 'rosti' not 'great' these days.

Therefore as the word as no real grounding in medical science

I think there is/was a theory that (in the days before streetlights) full moons meant more light at night which triggered sleep disorders and the conditions associated with lack of sleep.

[i] maccruiskeen - Member

Is the person in question actually a potato? And can a potato really be deemed by anyone, let alone itself, to be 'great'? [/i]

Excellent!
😆

Have you considered using this anti-retard formulation?

[img] [/img]

How is it wrong to call yourself emotionally retarded? You might well be deficient in the emotion department and they would have no idea. I would have a go at whoever got at you for being so insensitive as to assume you had sufficient control on your empathy to realise what you'd said might be upsetting.

Just use the words as you see fit and then politely ignore the lefty bed wetters.

I sometimes shout "'TARD!" at drivers who almost kill me. Politically correct? Who gives a ****.

I regularly refer to Hora as a mongtard, which is brilliant because it combines 2 suitabley apt and decriptive words. Though I'm guessing that it wouldn't pass the PC test.

Maybe [b]emotionally repressed [/b]would be better to describe how you behaved in any case?

This is a better phrase imo but doesn't have quite the same punch.

Irrespective of its PR status or not or its accuracy in my experience 'retarded' is a term mainly used by the same linguistically challenged teenagers and intellectually challenged adults that describe bad things as 'gay'. In fact they are quite often interchangeable. Up to you if you want to sound like one of those.

In the event it doesn't simply claim that it's a double insult therefore a compliment, like a double negative in grammar or maths. Or something.

Context innit?

Bloke I used to work with, recovering from a brain injury, always referred to his community centre minibus as the 'Spacker Waggon'.

Very loudly.
🙂

Just stick to wazzark.

Covers a multitude of scenarios, sounds good and is entirely inoffensive...

I do struggle with stuff like this, because I tend towards "they're just words" and if people are going to get bent out of shape because I use a deprecated term then that's them choosing to take offence rather than me intentionally causing it.

Whether you say "emotionally repressed" or "emotionally retarded" it's the same [i]meaning[/i] regardless of what word you use. "Retarded" is a perfectly cromulent word anyway, it's the opposite of "advanced." Life's too short to be pandering to this sort of, well, lunacy.

I struggle as well with the concept that insulting yourself can be offensive to others. Anyone care to tell your average rapper that they can't say "****" any more because it's racist and offensive?

Context innit?

That, I think, is a far more succinct version of what I was trying to say. Thank you.

I struggle as well with the concept that insulting yourself can be offensive to others.

Want a hand? Try using an offensive simile in a self-deprecating manner...

mongtard

'Spongle' is one of my favourites

I quite like 'Cretin' as well, especially when someone snottily asks me if I know what it means...

it's a perfectly valid term so feel free to use in self criticism

"Emotional retardation refers to slowed or stagnant development of the emotions. Several symptoms characterize this type of developmental disorder, including a lack of subtle or complex emotions and the reduced capacity or inability to experience empathetic emotions"

i guess, unless you're qualified to pass judgement on others then it would be wise not to use it when describing their mental state.

though feel free to call me whatever you like, i'm not precious (i'm kinda mental like that...)

Want a hand? Try using an offensive simile in a self-deprecating manner...

Interesting point.

I suppose by using a simile you're associating a character trait to someone else, which is actually then projecting your statement outwards rather than inwards. So, if I were to say "wow, I'm as thick as an STW forumite today" the implication is that STW forumites are thick. Ie, it's not solely a self-deprecating comment in that case.

I think.

Cougar.

Good post. (the first one)

[i] Anyone care to tell your average rapper that they can't say "****" any more because it's racist and offensive?[/i]

Ime, that word, in that context, isn't intended to be racially offensive. But rather, is employed to describe or imply a social status.

It helps if you think of "political correctness" as a sub-set of politeness.

Quite a lot of people apparently feel like they've been aggressively farted on if I say "retarded". So I don't. It's not like I'm being deprived of a vital technical word without which I can never express myself again.

As with farting, there is some company in which it is hilarious to do it. If you're in that company, fine, let it rip. But once you've been told that it is generally regarded as a bit horrid, just save it for the next time you're in the fresh air, or the loo, or your hilarious farty mate's car.

If, after letting rip a good, long, reeking trump and laughing at it at (say) your sister's wedding, someone asks you not to do it and you respond by farting some more to demonstrate that you're a free man who loves the smell of methane and won't be cowed by bourgeois notions of social respectability, it's at least possible you're being a bit of a dick.

That's how I rationalise it anyway. I am quite partial to a fairly broad range of retro terms of abuse which are probably best off in the dustbin of language really.

🙂

Am I allowed to retard the ignition on my car?

..'retarded' is a term mainly used by the same linguistically challenged teenagers and intellectually challenged adults that describe bad things as 'gay'.

I agree that it is, BUT I don't think that's a good enough reason to stop using it.

Retarded just means slowed or held back.

It would be a shame to lose a bunch of useful words (retarded, retardation, retardment, retardative, retardatory) just because some "linguistically challenged" people have adopted the noun form as an informal shorthand for "intellectually retarded" and then used that as an insult.

That's letting them win.

Consider that "Gay" is still used in a neutral/positive way, despite it also being adopted as an insult. I think that's a good thing.

[i]wow, I'm as thick as an STW forumite today[/i]

Mods - ban him/yourself!

I think this is the crux - any self deprecation is playing down your own attributes so the thing you are comparing yourself to is, automatically, seen to have a lower worth than you do.

Am I allowed to retard the ignition on my car?

You're "allowed" to. But as with "niggardly", it's perhaps best treated as collateral damage.

🙂

[i] wwaswas - Member 
wow, I'm as thick as an STW forumite todayMods - ban him/yourself![/i]

You might well be surprised, were you ever to learn of what the overlords think of and say about us mere mortals of this forum.
😉

Therefore as the word as no real grounding in medical science

Not so sure. As GrahamS said, the (possible) increase in light can affect some people. However, there's actually a fair bit of scientific research into the subject. From a very quick web search:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=872560&dopt=Abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=641019&dopt=Abstract

Furthermore, anecdotally, I've spoken with police officers who reckoned that they experienced more public order offenses during a full moon. When I used to drive a taxi, I got the impression that more folk were erratic, excitable or aggressive when the moon was large.

As for calling somebody a lunatic: it depends entirely on context/situation; but if you're going to use a term, you should always be prepared to explain it.

I think this is the crux - any self deprecation is playing down your own attributes so the thing you are comparing yourself to is, automatically, seen to have a lower worth than you do.

Not sure as I agree with "lower worth," I don't think that's the case at all. You could say, I don't know, "I'm as slow as a tortoise today"; there's absolutely no implication there that being a tortoise is inherently a bad thing, is there? But otherwise, yes, I see what you're saying.

But then, pretty much any term for mental incompetence can be reduced to a slur on people with actual mental health issues. The problem here isn't the words, it's the inference from them.

The OP wants to pass light-hearted comment on his own irrational behaviour. What word should he use? Lunatic? Crazy? Mental? Retarded? Stupid? All of these terms [i]could[/i] have connotations, if you chose to interpret them as such, because they've all been used to describe people with actual issues. What about "hysterical"? No-one would blink twice at that, and it basically implies that you're batshit because you're a woman.

Hmm. You know, I think the biggest issue I have with "PC" and people inferring meaning that was never intended by the speaker, is that we're going to start running out of words. I don't want to have to spend ten minutes deconstructing a sentence just in case someone might wilfully misinterpret it in order to be offended.

Surely, [i]surely [/i]what's important with language is communication and expressing meaning? I could communicate purely through the medium of interpretive dance so long as the point got across (though I'd probably offend a couple of Mimes in the process).

It helps if you think of "political correctness" as a sub-set of politeness.

Quite a lot of people apparently feel like they've been aggressively farted on if I say "retarded". So I don't. It's not like I'm being deprived of a vital technical word without which I can never express myself again.

As with farting, there is some company in which it is hilarious to do it. If you're in that company, fine, let it rip. But once you've been told that it is generally regarded as a bit horrid, just save it for the next time you're in the fresh air, or the loo, or your hilarious farty mate's car.

If, after letting rip a good, long, reeking trump and laughing at it at (say) your sister's wedding, someone asks you not to do it and you respond by farting some more to demonstrate that you're a free man who loves the smell of methane and won't be cowed by bourgeois notions of social respectability, it's at least possible you're being a bit of a dick.

That's how I rationalise it anyway. I am quite partial to a fairly broad range of retro terms of abuse which are probably best off in the dustbin of language really.

Very nicely put. You are definitely not a retarded wazzok mongtard spongle.

[i]What word should he use? [/i]

"I'm emotionally neural atypical"

😉

You jest, but that's the problem.

If I came out with "wow, I can't believe I just did that... I'm so neurally atypical" then most listeners would think "wow, what a tool" (I think I'm going to name this the "Russell Brand Effect"). The rest would probably get offended because I was comparing myself to neurally atypical people.

It's a bloody minefield, and as a wise computer once said, the only winning move is not to play.

[i]You are definitely not a retarded wazzok mongtard spongle.[/i]

no, he's a lezzer

[i] Cougar - Moderator
It's a bloody minefield, and as a wise computer once said, the only winning move is not to play. [/i]

What? Like this?

[i] Solo - Member
Self deprecation, these days, also seems to be a bit of a minefield.
Probably better to leave others to slag you off. [/i]

Oi! You calling me a computer! [/offended]
😆

I was referring to the use of language rather than self-deprecation specifically. Reading back, I guess that wasn't very clear. (Ah, irony.)

[i]the only winning move is not to play.[/i]

Agree this is probably the safest bet.

"emotionally repressed" or "emotionally retarded" it's the same meaning

Its not though is it.

Repressed would suggest capability of empathy but something is causing you to repel your emotions

Retarded would suggest incapability to to feel emotions at the same level as the the norm.

^^^ Aaaaand.... We're off!

I think I'm with Cougar on this one, it's a flippin minefield.

woohoo!

In the event it doesn't simply claim that it's a double insult therefore a compliment, like a double negative in grammar or maths. Or something.

Aye right.

🙂

Pat Healy: My real passion is my hobby. Mary: Really, what's that? Pat Healy: I work with retards. Mary: Isn't that a little, uhm, politically incorrect? Pat Healy: Well, heh, to hell with that... no one's going to tell me who I can and can't work with, right? Mary: No, I mean... Pat Healy: We got this one kid, Mongo... He's got a forehead like a drive-in movie theatre, but he's a good ship. So we don't bust his chops too much. So, one day Mongo gets out of his cage... Mary: They keep him in a cage? Pat Healy: Well, it's just an enclosure... Mary: No, but they keep him confined? Pat Healy: Right, yeah. Mary: That's bullshit! Pat Healy: Well, that's what I said! So, I went out and I got him, uh, I got him a leash. Mary: A leash? Pat Healy: Yeah, one of those ones you can hook on the clothesline, and he can run back and forth and, uh, there's plenty of room for him to dig and play. That kid is really, uh, he's really blossomed, you know?

Context is everything and wether offense is meant.
Also PC has no place in comedy.

If you are worried about offending try "fruit loop".

I'm suddenly reminded of Riti Sped.

http://fullduplex.org/tardblog/

If you think this mocks anyone, this is because you are bringing these prejudices to the site, they are not here to begin with.

Verified by the ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA:

Racist

Hmm. You know, I think the biggest issue I have with "PC" and people inferring meaning that was never intended by the speaker, is that we're going to start running out of words. I don't want to have to spend ten minutes deconstructing a sentence just in case someone might wilfully misinterpret it in order to be offended.

Whilst I get your point, this is a bit far-fetched. It's also the get out standpoint of those who say, "I speak as I find" etc.
It's really really easy to speak without causing offense.
If your language is so limited that you can't come up with other terms then it would be excusable. I'm sure that isn't the case for most people.

New words are constantly being created. I don't imagine we'll be running out any time soon.

[quote=Cougar ]Anyone care to tell your average rapper that they can't say "****" any more because it's racist and offensive?Things have obviously changed. Even using the word **** in a non-racist and non-offensive manner used to get you a ban off STW

Last year a radio presenter said her child's primary school called Christmas the winter festival and winter break with no mention of the word Christmass as they did not want to offend the non Christian parents.

Guess what, this offended the Christians for obvious reasons and non Christians alike for being portrayed as the would be offended.

Stop worrying about what may offend and speak as you find and if you do offend where none was meant, apoligise if you are sorry.

I don't believe that the extent of our vocabulary should be a measure of our value to society

It's also the get out standpoint of those who say, "I speak as I find" etc.
It's really really easy to speak without causing offense.

Yeah perhaps, that's not really what I was saying. I wasn't suggesting using it as an excuse to be a dick.

It's easy to speak without being [i]intentionally[/i] offensive. Being able to speak without offending someone who's hell bent on finding offence where none was intended is considerably trickier. Some people have a chip on their shoulder and are, sadly, just that way out; and well, to hell with them, let them be offended.

People should make reasonable efforts not to be offensive (well, assuming they care about being nice people). As someone else said earlier, it's really just common decency and politeness. But I don't really see why we should be descending into lingual ridiculous just to pander to the whims of a minority of folk who are the professionally offended.

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Things have obviously changed. Even using the word **** in a non-racist and non-offensive manner used to get you a ban off STW

Would it? Hopefully that's an improvement then (and TBH, that's sort of what I'm getting at, context is king). I don't know about before my tenure but a moderation call like that would at the very least be discussed; I'd think it unlikely these days.

Last year a radio presenter said her child's primary school called Christmas the winter festival

I'd expect that's either an urban myth or, if it did happen, was an ill-conceived decision made without consulting those they were afraid of offending. Sounds like the sort of propaganda that Britain First would trot out to stir folk up. I'd be very, very surprised if anyone was actually offended (and if they were they can bugger off).

It was one of the female presenters on LBC, and she was offended as it's Christmas FFS,not her exact words.

Who gives a shit.

The only thing that really offends me now is people who appear to be going out of their way to be offended. They are not worth the time of day and offending them is fair - open season if you will.

it's Christmas FFS

Is it though? Arn't most of us over the whole christmas/ baby jesus thing and back to just celebrating a winter festival knees up like the olden days (with a bit of 21st century commercialism thrown in for good measure)?

Avoid the word "ignorant" though - unless you want a brief holiday!!! That's a really, really bad one.

If someone says " you can't say that" call them an offendamong. They'll love you for it. Honest.