"Republicunt": why use terms like this?

[Joods]

I disagree with you ham. And I'm gonna leave it alone because I know far too many parents of special needs kids who would disagree with you in a heartbeat. Myself included.

[shadow]

I've noticed terms like 'republicunt' being throw around quite a lot on this forum, and I'm wondering what this accomplishes. Any time derogatory terms like this are used, it makes the argument ad-hominem instead of issue based, and I'm unlikely to find the point being made persuasive even if I'd normally agree with it. In fact, it almost discredits the source in my eyes because I see them as biased.

Even if you disagree with something or someone entirely, name-calling seems counterproductive, because it alienates the parties that you are discussing. It serves to build echo-chambers, and it never makes you more likely to hear a rational response.

Am I missing something? Is there any benefit to this style of discussion?

Agree, Yet I've seen some of the individuals that kudosed your post, not think twice about using the word "retard". If that word doesn't phase them, then republicunt or any other derogatory word won't matter.

Just my two cents. You have a point shadow but I've already tried appealing to this forum about the use of the word " retard" and I just get told to deal with it. That and I shouldn't be so sensitive.

Well, while I agree with you, I'm not trying to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't say: it's just something for people to consider. It sounds like people use that kind of insult because they aren't really thinking about what the point of their message is, but if someone wants to be more effective there's a strong rational argument for not intentionally offending your audience. It's their own loss if people don't want to consider this.

Like, personally I grew up with enough siblings (and played enough MMORPGs ) that I've learned not to be bothered by insults, so it's not something that I take issue with on a personal level. It's more something that I see as counterproductive to the functioning of a group, especially one that wants to foster rational discussion.

[Edwardo Piet]

When I say "retard" or "retarded" I mean it in this sense:





I could never be someone who believed in bad words. Words don't have magical powers. It's entirely the meaning behind them that matters... and if when you say "retard" you don't mean "mentally disabled person", then you're not insulting the mentally disabled. It's very much like the South Park episode where annoyingly obnoxious motorcyclists are refereed to as "fags" but absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality is intended:

[AFTT47]

It's childish to be sure and I think it does detract from the poster's credibility when they resort to that.

That said, we're all imperfect. For instance:

See the problem is you're assuming that these people argue in what we call "Good Faith".  They don't.  Arguing with a conservative is like playing chess with a drunk pigeon.  It doesn't matter what you say, they're just going to knock over the board, shit all over it, and declare victory.

That is just fucking hilarious and I love it!

It would be better for the sake of discussion if everybody avoided that kind of thing but like I said, we're all imperfect - and we like to have fun. Moderation is probably the best compromise. I'll agree that using terms like "Republicunt" and "Christard" constantly and generically sabotages the humor factor and instead makes the poster look like a jackass and an asshole.

[Tiberius]

I try and avoid such references and encourage people to do the same. You'll find you will have much more productive discussions with people if you constantly try to use a respectful tone.

Alas, I feel like the people who tend to use those words don't actually want a discussion, they either want to be provocative or want to bask in an echo chamber.

[Edwardo Piet]

That can be the case but not everyone who says that stuff says it to cause trouble or provoke, sometimes they're just saying what they think . . . as unhelpful as it is.

[henryp]

I could never be someone who believed in bad words. Words don't have magical powers. It's entirely the meaning behind them that matters... and if when you say "retard" you don't mean "mentally disabled person", then you're not insulting the mentally disabled. It's very much like the South Park episode where annoyingly obnoxious motorcyclists are refereed to as "fags" but absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality is intended:

Exactly.  When a southerner displays the confederate flag, black people feeling offended are just being irrational.  The only relevant thing is what the white guy with it painted on his pickup truck intends for it to mean.

[Aegon]

I could never be someone who believed in bad words. Words don't have magical powers. It's entirely the meaning behind them that matters... and if when you say "retard" you don't mean "mentally disabled person", then you're not insulting the mentally disabled. It's very much like the South Park episode where annoyingly obnoxious motorcyclists are refereed to as "fags" but absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality is intended:

Exactly.  When a southerner displays the confederate flag, black people feeling offended are just being irrational.  The only relevant thing is what the white guy with it painted on his pickup truck intends for it to mean.

What would be a reason to display the Confederate flag that shouldn't be offensive to the people the Confederacy wanted to keep enslaving?

[shadow]

I could never be someone who believed in bad words. Words don't have magical powers. It's entirely the meaning behind them that matters... and if when you say "retard" you don't mean "mentally disabled person", then you're not insulting the mentally disabled. It's very much like the South Park episode where annoyingly obnoxious motorcyclists are refereed to as "fags" but absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality is intended:

Words do have connotations attached to them, though. Why choose a word that is commonly used to offend people if you don't want to offend people? There are enough words in the world that you can surely come up with a better one.

And a word like 'republicunt' or 'libtard'... yeah, no, that's not a word without meaning attached. The word is altered to infuse a meaning, and designed to offend.

[Catholic_Lady]

Exactly.  When a southerner displays the confederate flag, black people feeling offended are just being irrational.  The only relevant thing is what the white guy with it painted on his pickup truck intends for it to mean.

What would be a reason to display the Confederate flag that shouldn't be offensive to the people the Confederacy wanted to keep enslaving?

I think he was being sarcastic to make a point.