Comments | belenen: PSA: use of ableist slurs will cause me to unfriend you

belenen

PSA: use of ableist slurs will cause me to unfriend you

Mar 29, 2015 15:50

icon: "snarling (photo of a snow leopard in profile, snarling)"PSA: if you want to stay on my friends list you're gonna have to avoid slurs, especially ableist slurs, because there are only so many I can take. If you don't care that use of these words/concepts hurts me and many other people, you are bad at empathy and I don't want to be your friend ( Read more... )

slurs, social justice / feminism, communication / words, rants

Comments 9

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lilywolfsolomon March 30 2015, 01:43:31 UTC

And others who may not say anything or be vocal about it but who these words still hurt. <3

zimtkeks March 29 2015, 20:13:28 UTC

I consider myself more PC than many people I meet, but I honestly never thought about words like "stupid" or "idiot", and I might even use "crazy" the wrong way. I will try to remember these.
Thank you.

lilywolfsolomon March 30 2015, 00:41:12 UTC

What about "The weather is crazy"? I don't use the word myself but wonder if I'm too sensitive to it. As a word to describe something, not someone, is it a slur?

belenen April 29 2015, 08:00:54 UTC

yes, a slur is a word with derogatory meaning which depends on the undesirability of a group of people to have that connotation. It doesn't matter if it is being used against a person or situation.

z8z8 March 30 2015, 09:30:50 UTC

As a blind person, it drives me crazy how people throw that term around for all kinds of things
It's also a subject in many songs as I think people recognize just how fucked up it is to be blind and music is quite the emotional release

belenen April 29 2015, 08:01:55 UTC

yes! if it isn't my experience, it's not my metaphor to use. I wish artists would take this seriously.

meri_sielu March 31 2015, 16:43:38 UTC

I get what you mean, I personally can't stand the casual use of OCD or "I'm so stressed I'm tearing my hair out" as that is a problem very personal to me and it's not very nice to joke about in my eyes. I've gotten a lot better about the sort of words I use.... I think on that list I seem to only use 'stupid' but to describe actions, not as a slur on people. I will try very hard to be clear and more careful in my posts and certainly when addressing you. <3

belenen April 29 2015, 08:06:35 UTC

I appreciate that effort! thank you <3

to clarify, slurs are still a problem when they are used about situations or actions, because they're still reinforcing the idea that a certain group of people is less worthy. So, if someone calls a situation 'gay' or an action 'stupid' when they find the situation/action upsetting and undesirable, they're (unintentionally) implying that anyone who is put in those categories is also upsetting and undesirable just for existing. This is one of those effects that's mostly subsconscious, usually. But it has very real consequences.