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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to politely request people stop using the word 'moron'

299 replies

opionated · 09/04/2018 02:34

it was a medical term

OP posts:
RepealMay25th · 09/04/2018 19:54

It’s interesting that in a moment of temper on here once I used the word moron. And, quite rightly, had my arse handed to me

Why is that interesting?

BertrandRussell · 09/04/2018 20:35

I thought it was interesting because on that occasion, there were plenty of people who found the word problematic. Unlike this thread - where very few people do.

BertrandRussell · 09/04/2018 20:36

Thank you, birdsdestiny.

zzzzz · 09/04/2018 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scabetty · 09/04/2018 21:26

Just been watching ‘would I lie to you’ and one of the panellists used the word moron. It’s not something I can be offended by tbh.

SaltireSaltire · 09/04/2018 21:36

Personally I am quite a sweaty person when not surrounded by children

🤔🤔

zzzzz · 09/04/2018 21:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Morphene · 09/04/2018 23:36

yep arse works for me....

There are plenty of other ways to insult Trump without doing it by insulting some other group in the process...

And basically anything you call him will indeed be an insult to anybody who identifies as said characteristic!

I wouldn't call him a girl, or an idiot, or gay, or mental....I quite like orange shit-gibbon...although I do know someone who works with gibbons trying to protect their habitat...so I probably wouldn't use it in front of her!

LadyWithLapdog · 10/04/2018 07:26

Don't use animals as an insult :)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=qACxfKB3iP4

BertrandRussell · 10/04/2018 07:31

I like arse too.

MolliewithOllie · 10/04/2018 07:38

The way I see it - using idotic/moronic/half-witted/stupid to describe behaviour is acceptable but using the noun (i.e. moron,idiot,halfwit) is not when it is directed at a person.

Charley50 · 10/04/2018 09:41

I agree with Mollie - was just coming on to say that.

RepealMay25th · 10/04/2018 09:43

I thought it was interesting because on that occasion, there were plenty of people who found the word problematic. Unlike this thread - where very few people do

Wow, it's almost as if there are different people on different threads!

apostropheuse · 10/04/2018 10:01

My prefered derogatory slur is horse's arse.

Simple but satisfactory.

ReversingSnail · 10/04/2018 10:03

"You can't ask the world not to use common words just because they offend you."

Yes you can. Are you saying there are no words you would never use, including some which were once commonly used?

Morphene · 10/04/2018 12:11

mollie I see what you are saying and it is certainly less offensive...but if some one dropped something, would you really say 'ahha that's some spazy behaviour right there'.

I think probably most people wouldn't.

So I don't think 'oh look you did something moronic' is really any better.

Morphene · 10/04/2018 12:14

I think I most often see people agreeing not to use ableist language when its used on a disability relevant thread...like a 'AIBU to use the wheelchair space on a bus for my pointlessly huge pushchair'

to which some people respond 'YABU, you entitled moron'...and then because of the high presence on the thread of people who campaign on behalf of people with disabilities they are usually successfully challenged on their language.

This went out to a more general audience I think, and hence the response seems skewed with respect to the other threads...

zzzzz · 10/04/2018 12:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertrandRussell · 10/04/2018 12:24

“You can't ask the world not to use common words just because they offend you."

Yes you can. Obviously the person you ask doesn’t have to take any notice of you, but generally the conventions of a civilized society indicate that they should.

coconuttella · 10/04/2018 12:33

Can anyone give an example when it was necessary for them to insult someone's intelligence?

I think it’s perfectly reasonable to express anger or frustration where someone has done something foolish and stupid. Saying “he’s an idiot” is appropriate and far more natural and communicative than saying “He has acted in a manner that led to a sub-optimal outcome”. I wouldn’t be making a comment about his intelligence per se, and certainly wouldn’t be implying he had learning difficulties, rather I’d be referencing his lack of common sense or reasonableness.

I think people probably need to grow skin a little thicker than tracing paper!

coconuttella · 10/04/2018 12:37

I can’t see how “halfwit” can ever be just describing behaviour, and not a slur relating to disability.

I think that’s because you operate in a hyper-sensitive environment... the vast majority using ‘halfwit’ wouldn’t for a moment consider they were comparing a person to someone with learning difficulties.

RepealMay25th · 10/04/2018 12:38

Repeal is your carping at other posters really relevant to the thread?

No idea what you mean since I've only made comments relevant to the thread. No idea what fish has got to do with it!

zzzzz · 10/04/2018 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coconuttella · 10/04/2018 13:49

What DO you think a half wit is?

A foolish or stupid person... which coincidently the definition that is returned when I put it into Google!

coconuttella · 10/04/2018 14:11

What do you think a half-wit is? And how is that supported by evidence of its common usage in that manner?

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