[Serious] Proposing A Rule Change

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

There's been some discussion among Staff about the 'hate speech' rule. This rule specifically disallows the use of slurs related to race, gender, sex and sexual orientation.

What would you all think about slightly expanding the rule to cover intellectual disability?  This has come up because the word 'retard' seems to be getting used more and more on the forum, along with variations such as 'libtard'.

A lot of people consider this word highly offensive and hurtful, particularly those people who have a family member or work with the mentally disabled.

Please vote and post your thoughts.  And PLEASE be mindful that this is a 'Serious' thread.  Thanks.

Boru

[no one]

I'm fine with referring to a moronic imbecile as a trumpecile or pencornic.

Those that are willingly ignorant, do not deserve to be shelided from their stupidity.

[GrandizerII]

I think it would be a fair extension of the rule. People have so many options to choose from to call someone dumb. No need to use the exact same word that is used to dehumanize people with intellectual disability when used as an insult.

[arewethereyet]

I have always hated use of the word *retard* and years ago taught my kids that it's unacceptable. It has always bothered me that people think it's okay to use. All the new variations are equally offensive. I would be completely behind adding it to the list of unwelcome slurs as that's what it is.

[onlinebiker]

Words -

If there are words you dislike - don't use them.

If other people use them and it bothers you - there is the "ignore button".

I find self-censorship is the only good censorship.

[Abaddon_ire]

Decades ago in my youth I volunteered in the care of what was then termed Down's syndrome, nowadays Trisomy 21.

The thing that I learned from that, was that they are people just like the rest of us. No different.

So yes, the term "retard" is offensive.

That said, there is a problem with regulating it. I know of one chap who was censured for using the term. He was merely talking abut reducing the rotational speed of a device in an entirely friendly benign discussion about, IIRC, a proposed perpetual motion device. That then devolved into a strange bun fight with moderation. Needless to say, I did not participate, but I sure as hell ate a lot of popcorn. It was an afternoon cheap soap opera.

My point here is a pragmatic one. "retard the throttle" is normal speech in aviation circles. "throttle the retard" is composed of the same words, but means something very different. Are the mods willing to police every instance of that word, parse it for meaning and intent, pass judgment and deal with the inevitable rules lawyering? I doubt it. I know I wouldn't.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Words -

If there are words you dislike - don't use them.

If other people use them and it bothers you - there is the "ignore button".

I find self-censorship is the only good censorship.

The "ignore" button cuts YOU off from the conversation. The person using demeaning hateful language is free to proceed on, leaving them, in the end, as the only voices heard.

[onlinebiker]

Words -

If there are words you dislike - don't use them.

If other people use them and it bothers you - there is the "ignore button".

I find self-censorship is the only good censorship.

The "ignore" button cuts YOU off from the conversation. The person using demeaning hateful language is free to proceed on, leaving them, in the end, as the only voices heard.

If someone is a real knock kneed idiot and everyone puts them on ignore - haven't they effectively gone away?

[tackattack]

If I could erase all the hurtful slurs in the archive it wouldn’t be what we have now ( and possibly a third of the size). I have a handicapped brother and sister And grew up around A support circle that comprised a lot of under-represented people. I find the word highly offensive and the derivatives such as Christard. That being said logging onto a forum is engaging in a social contract where there is implicit opportunity to be offended. I’m actually not a fan of the slur rule. I wouldn’t want the responsibility of adjudicating it and actually recommend it be abolished for a clearer definition of flaming. I’m ok with people being offensive to me and others. I’m not ok with that being the only interaction. Posting repetitive slurs while adding nothing to the topic of the thread, should be corrected, but banning doesn’t seem to be too affective of a punishment for an emotional outburst, or to a troll which are the targets of the rule. I vote no.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The "ignore" button cuts YOU off from the conversation. The person using demeaning hateful language is free to proceed on, leaving them, in the end, as the only voices heard.

If someone is a real knock kneed idiot and everyone puts them on ignore - haven't they effectively gone away?

Some folks can't resist feeding a troll. It's a bad idea, even they admit it, but they can't stop.

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If I could erase all the hurtful slurs in the archive it wouldn’t be what we have now ( and possibly a third of the size). I have a handicapped brother and sister And grew up around A support circle that comprised a lot of under-represented people. I find the word highly offensive and the derivatives such as Christard. That being said logging onto a forum is engaging in a social contract where there is implicit opportunity to be offended. I’m actually not a fan of the slur rule. I wouldn’t want the responsibility of adjudicating it and actually recommend it be abolished for a clearer definition of flaming. I’m ok with people being offensive to me and others. I’m not ok with that being the only interaction. Posting repetitive slurs while adding nothing to the topic of the thread, should be corrected, but banning doesn’t seem to be too affective of a punishment for an emotional outburst, or to a troll which are the targets of the rule. I vote no.

I had fun with the autocorrect a decade or so back. One person insisted on using a word that wasn't even remotely acceptable, so I filter it to "I said something stupid right here".