It's also one of those old timey words that has no real need to be used except by people who think its sounds fancy.
I've never personally used it. When I first heard it, I thought that was a quick way for someone to think you're a racist fuck. Something interesting about the word gyp, is that short for gypsy? I saw something on reddit the other day that gypsy was short for Egyptian.
Arsonists? Seriously, now that we're no longer allowed to use the r word, what do we call something that helps slow the spread of fire? Should we go with fire decelerant, since it's the opposite of an accelerant? That's not really a word, but since we're banishing one word from general usage, it only seems fair that we invent a new one to replace it. BNM
"Flame-resistant" seems to be a simple enough replacement, though I find replacement of an innocuous term unnecessary.
If someone is truly retarded can they take offense to the term? How many retards post on message boards? (No mixum)
So I should be ok saying the word *** in here because it's an old slang term for a cigarette? Auto edited....apparently not. Just because a word started out meaning something completely different, doesn't make it ok. See *** and Redskin
I don't have any control over which words are filtered, but if you want to refer to cigarettes as ***s that you're prerogative.
It's not the same thing - and that's the problem. Fire retardant is a very accurate, very precise definition. If we no longer use it, the definition becomes less precise. There are many things that are flame-resistant that cannot be used as a fire retardant. A piece of granite is flame-resistant, but is not a fire retardant. BNM
What about the words insane and insanity? Are those considered offensive, or is it OK to still use them? Because, one popular definition of insanity is to do the same thing repeatedly and expect different results. And, that's EXACTLY what the Cavs did here. They rehired the same coach they previously fired. And, if he couldn't get the job done with LeBron James on the team, what made them think he could get it done with their current crappy roster? So, perhaps a better wording would have been: You have to be some special kind of insane to hire and fire the same guy twice in the span of.... what..... five years? BNM
OK, then. Since the replacement you seek would need to match the existing definition of "reduces flammability of fuels or delays their combustion," would "fire-inhibiting" be sufficient for you?
I'm not even sure the scientific usage of the word is being debated in the greater sphere of folks. Just don't use it as a synonym for stupid. For fuck's sake, this isn't rocket surgery!
By the way, I'm sure you understand that this is materially different. The word "retarded" was initially accurately applied in a clinical sense, and its clinical definition and usage was taken and turned into an insult, without changing the definition. The word "f@g" meant one thing, and was taken and given a completely different meaning, for no purpose other than to insult. This is clearly a false equivalency.
The problem I've always had is not whether or not I should use words in a certain sense; it's whether or not people or society should dictating their usage to me. Quite simply, if you don't want to offend people with your words, then you should by the same token not be telling people which words they can and cannot use, because you're offending me by doing so. Control your own words, but don't try to control mine.
What bothers me is that society, or a small demographic, decide that the word is no longer politically correct. Handicapped. Nobody uses it anymore because it's seen as politically incorrect. We either use disabled or special needs or whatever the fuck is the buzz word at this point. I find it interesting that "disabled" is the word we use now, but disabled to me means that something doesn't work anymore. Handicapped or retarded simply means it isn't working at 100%. The dictionary defines disabled as unable or unfit; weaken or destroy the capability of; incapacitate: The detective successfully disabled the bomb. He was disabled by the accident. Why would you want to be associated with that word? And I honestly believe that the words currently in use will be deemed offensive at some point and replaced with something new.
MM wasn't complaining that it's not politically correct. You rubbed him the wrong way because it's offensive. Seems simple enough. Who cares how it was once used. People use it now to either be funny or be an asshole, because the word has power. And now the rest of you are like 3rd graders on the playground.
MM wasn't complaining at all. MM was doing what MM does. I say lots of shit that's offensive. I really don't care.
