(September 23, 2016 at 5:47 pm)Bunburryist Wrote: I think the operative word here is "polite." It all depends on context. The problem with the PC thing is that people go way overboard - like when a kid gets in trouble in school because he draws a picture of a gun, of when someone refers to a handicapped person as being "crippled." It's still strange for me to use the word "handicapped" - it seems so, well, PC. But I'm careful and don't say "crippled" if I can help it. People on both sides need to keep their radar up for whether people are intentionally being offensive, accidentally being offensive, of when, perhaps, the listener is being a little too sensitive.
Hear, hear, I totally agree. I remember when we were growing up, some kids would insult others by saying that they should be "on the Spastic Bus", or just use the word "Spastic" to denigrate. Thankfully that has vanished as it was too hurtful to the unfortunate disabled. I never use cripple, retard and especially don't ever use the ridiculous and hurtful term "fucktard".
I even avoid saying "lame" for the same reasons, as there are more meaningful and descriptive words to use.
