Words some people still use that most find offensive...

[telephone89]

Apparently 'thug' is the new N-word.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/29/us/baltimore-riots-thug-n-word/

I find this very interesting, because to ME, it is not just used to describe one race. But, another word to remove from your vocabulary...

 

[blackprophet]

Apparently 'thug' is the new N-word.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/29/us/baltimore-riots-thug-n-word/

I find this very interesting, because to ME, it is not just used to describe one race. But, another word to remove from your vocabulary...

This relates to the use of thug to describe rioters.
This article outlines the double standard pretty well.
http://mic.com/articles/116680/11-stunning-images-highlight-the-double-standard-of-reactions-to-riots-like-baltimore

 

[maccers]

"These descriptions will stop when the actions and behaviors that drive them stop."

That being said, I do have a question about the word "retarded." Is it wrong to use that word to describe a person who is mentally retarded in a non-derogatory way? If so, what is the right word to use?

I'm not sure about the use of the word "retarded". I've been using the words "mentally handicapped" since "retarded" has so much
baggage. I'm sure someone will take offence to "mentally handicapped" as well and I realized it is not as specific as the term
"retarded" but for me and the conversations I'm having it is specific enough.

I too am curious to what the answer may be.

In a nutshell, eliminating the word 'retarded' from vocabulary is best. It's a word that's been misused so much that it's become derogatory. It's out of date to describe anyone by their condition/disease/disability. E.g. he is retarded. he is mentally handicapped. You wouldn't describe someone with a chronic disease as 'he is cancer. he is multiple sclerosis.'

Quickly googled the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and they had this to say about it:

http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/about-down-syndrome/words-can-hurt/

Words Can Hurt

Everyone knows words can hurt. For people with Down syndrome and their families, the history of “labels” is not a pleasant one. People with Down syndrome used to be labeled “idiots, morons,” and “imbeciles” by both society and the medical profession. The label evolved into “Mongoloid, handicapped, mentally retarded, retarded,” and then for short, “retard.”

Today, these labels are considered politically incorrect, hurtful and dehumanizing. As award-winning actor, parent-advocate, and Global Down Syndrome Foundation International Spokesperson, John C. McGinley has said, there is no difference between derogatory words used to label ethnic or religious minorities and the words used to label people with Down syndrome. As with people advocating for ethnic or religious minorities, there is a movement (led by Special Olympics) to end the use of derogatory words such as the “R” word – ‘retard.’

What Words Should We Use?

Renowned educator and inclusion specialist Patti McVay emphasizes “the best name to call someone is the name he or she was born with.” Many organizations, including the federal government and the National Institutes of Health, have gone back to scrub their old records of the word “mentally retarded” and have replaced it with “intellectually and developmentally disabled,” with the acronym of IDD. Other organizations are using cognitive disability, intellectual disability, or developmental disability. Still others use the word “challenged” instead of disability. There are subtle differences in the definitions based on each organization and even by state, but most importantly any of these terms are accepted as appropriate by the community being defined. For the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, we like to take it a step further and talk about our community as “differently-abled.”

 

[telephone89]

Apparently 'thug' is the new N-word.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/29/us/baltimore-riots-thug-n-word/

I find this very interesting, because to ME, it is not just used to describe one race. But, another word to remove from your vocabulary...

This relates to the use of thug to describe rioters.
This article outlines the double standard pretty well.
http://mic.com/articles/116680/11-stunning-images-highlight-the-double-standard-of-reactions-to-riots-like-baltimore

That particular article does, yes. But when I googled this (since I'd not heard it before), it was also described as racist when describing Trayvon Martin. (I think Zimmerman had said he was walking down the street, and looked like a thug or something). Multiple prominent black celebs have also come out and said its a 'racist code word'.

I find the development of language very interesting, because most people would probably describe mafia/good fellas as thugs. But it has evolved as such. I literally had no idea that it was considered racist until reading these articles.

FWIW - I'd call any of the folks in your article thugs. Vancouver recently had another riot. And yes, it was called a riot. I mean, at least in Baltimore they have more of a reason. Hockey is not a reason to riot

 

[blackprophet]

Apparently 'thug' is the new N-word.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/29/us/baltimore-riots-thug-n-word/

I find this very interesting, because to ME, it is not just used to describe one race. But, another word to remove from your vocabulary...

This relates to the use of thug to describe rioters.
This article outlines the double standard pretty well.
http://mic.com/articles/116680/11-stunning-images-highlight-the-double-standard-of-reactions-to-riots-like-baltimore

That particular article does, yes. But when I googled this (since I'd not heard it before), it was also described as racist when describing Trayvon Martin. (I think Zimmerman had said he was walking down the street, and looked like a thug or something). Multiple prominent black celebs have also come out and said its a 'racist code word'.

I find the development of language very interesting, because most people would probably describe mafia/good fellas as thugs. But it has evolved as such. I literally had no idea that it was considered racist until reading these articles.

FWIW - I'd call any of the folks in your article thugs. Vancouver recently had another riot. And yes, it was called a riot. I mean, at least in Baltimore they have more of a reason. Hockey is not a reason to riot

The article I linked and the Trayvon Martin case are two sides of the same coin. Calling Trayvon a thug for nothing more than walking down the street in a sweater is racist.

The word without context is not inherently racist. But the use in the context of black rioters of Trayvon Martin is. I think that is why black celebs said racist code word.

I agree with you, I would call them thugs too, but the mainstream media avoids it. Institutionalized Racism.

(I hope this doesn't come off like I am attacking you telephone89, I'm just trying to clarify. I know you are genuinely curious.)

 

[telephone89]

Apparently 'thug' is the new N-word.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/29/us/baltimore-riots-thug-n-word/

I find this very interesting, because to ME, it is not just used to describe one race. But, another word to remove from your vocabulary...

This relates to the use of thug to describe rioters.
This article outlines the double standard pretty well.
http://mic.com/articles/116680/11-stunning-images-highlight-the-double-standard-of-reactions-to-riots-like-baltimore

That particular article does, yes. But when I googled this (since I'd not heard it before), it was also described as racist when describing Trayvon Martin. (I think Zimmerman had said he was walking down the street, and looked like a thug or something). Multiple prominent black celebs have also come out and said its a 'racist code word'.

I find the development of language very interesting, because most people would probably describe mafia/good fellas as thugs. But it has evolved as such. I literally had no idea that it was considered racist until reading these articles.

FWIW - I'd call any of the folks in your article thugs. Vancouver recently had another riot. And yes, it was called a riot. I mean, at least in Baltimore they have more of a reason. Hockey is not a reason to riot

The article I linked and the Trayvon Martin case are two sides of the same coin. Calling Trayvon a thug for nothing more than walking down the street in a sweater is racist.

The word without context is not inherently racist. But the use in the context of black rioters of Trayvon Martin is. I think that is why black celebs said racist code word.

I agree with you, I would call them thugs too, but the mainstream media avoids it. Institutionalized Racism.

(I hope this doesn't come off like I am attacking you telephone89, I'm just trying to clarify. I know you are genuinely curious.)

No! I absolutely don't feel like you're attacking me. One of my good friends lives in the US now, and is very active in posting articles like yours, along with
http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/04/what-white-folks-need-to-know-about-baltimoreuprising/
http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2015/04/how-baltimore-riots-began-mondawmin-purge
And I really do learn alot.

I would say though, that now that thug has racists connotations it wouldn't be appropriate to use it to describe ANYONE - no matter the context. I mean, hence this thread, I wouldn't want to say it in reference to some random criminal and then offend someone else.