I’ve heard this sentiment that it is immoral a lot on the internet, and I would like to hear more about it. It feels intuitively correct to me, but I would like to hear the reasoning behind it.

Examples to further the title's meaning
  • Calling someone ‘queer’ to mean they are weird, but not in a way intended as disparaging to those who are LGBT(Q+).
Not Examples

Discussion questions:

  • How does this factor into meanings of words fading away?
    • Does it still pack the same “punch” after it no longer is commonly used as a pejorative?
      • If not, at what point is it generally considered okay to use?
  • How does this differ/compare with reclamation?
Some potential reasoning that I've thought of on my own, feel free to discuss.
  • Bad actors can piggyback off of the use as a negative to help condemn the original target group.
  • It may directly harm the group, by them (also knowing the original context) coming into contact with it and causing/enabling self-hate.
    • This may apply irregardless of if they know it was intended as non-disparaging to them or not, but this is just speculation based off of my similar experiences.

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I apologize for any personal bias within this comment, I tried my best to limit it but I am fallible.

Though I would like a discussion in the comments, please refrain from insults and inflammatory statements towards your fellow lemmings, despite the hot topic. /srs

  • RobotToaster@mander.xyz
    4·
    7 months ago

    Retarded also has a pre-existing use, for “slowed down”. it’s used a lot in engineering, chemistry, even sometimes art.

    For instance the mechanism that regulates the shutter speed on a mechanical camera is called a retarder.