to politely request people stop using the word 'moron'

[opionated]

it was a medical term

OP - if we're getting picky about language, you split the infinitive in the thread title. I know it's more acceptable to do that these days, but it offends me.

Oh Christ. The perpetually offended. Have you nothing else to be offended by OP!!!

I use slut regularly, applied to myself. It still means a rubbish housekeeper in my lexicon. I was genuinely astonished when I was told the word bitch is now considered swearing.

It still means a rubbish housekeeper in my lexicon.

Me too - I quite like it.

Cretin referred to a level of intellectual development. May I suggest 'Shit for Brains' instead?

It is so upsetting to find that people still utilise - CHOOSE above a whole panolply or plethora of other labels or phrases or words - terms or labels about disabled people as insults.

You can point score all you like. Sneer about "word police". Suit yourself of course, but it would mean so much if just one person decided that donut is a better description than cretin. Thank you.

Americans use “spazzy” a lot - it’s in kids tv like Victorious and because we accept any crap they send us it is broadcast here.

It is so upsetting to find that people still utilise - CHOOSE above a whole panolply or plethora of other

It’s also upsetting when people use utilise instead of use

As somebody who could well have medically been referred to as several of these words, it's offensive to hear them.
We all do the odd thing which on reflection was ill chosen, silly, not thought through, it does not mean we should use terms that will offend those with learning difficulties.
When you have been described as such throughout your formative years, when you do have a low IQ and learning difficulties/ disabilities being called a Moron just because you lack certain skills is unbelievable.

I may not be too bright, I may be slow, I won't ever pass a Maths GCSE,
that doesn't mean you should call me names .

Moron, Spaz, Dumb, Thick as two short planks, Imbecile, Dunce, Stupid, Cretin, retard, I don't think there was anything not thrown at me.

Ah. I'm sorry about that.

Slut has only (relatively) recently started to mean anything other than a slovenly or lazy woman. In my grandma's world a slut didnt keep her front step scrubbed!

One phrase she used to use which alluded to ...... goings on...... is "She is no better than she should be" which doesnt actually make any sense at all, but I still somehow knew what she meant.

Didn't cretin relate to a physical deformation (is that the right word?) whereby a person was stunted? Thyroid related perhaps?

I gather moron was a measure on the IQ scale .

What term would you recommend OP? Because sometimes someone's lack of intelligence does need to be put into words.

"Slut has only (relatively) recently started to mean anything other than a slovenly or lazy woman."

Historically recent-round about 1500, I think..........

Well I for one didn't know of the origin of moron and that it can offend. I will try and use it less, so thank you OP for starting this thread.

I don't think words ought to be banned. But if I discovered that a word I used upset people I would do my best not to use it. What's so hard about that? Why would you carry on using a word once you realised that it made other people sad? Be kind is a good rule for life.

My God, that's actually something I agree with! Of course politeness will mean that most people will choose to avoid insulting language in most contexts. But contemporary society - driven by authoritarian left-wing concerns - has gone far, far beyond that in enforcing its speech codes with the force of law and criminal sanction. Time for the pendulum to swing back the other way!

bertrand
Not very often we agree but 100% with your last comment.

If you are nice to people and don't throw insults around then you won't find many words that will offend people.

I don't understand why people would want to use terminology that offends others.
When you look at the history of the use of such terms, I'm not on my own with the awful bullying, the destruction of childhood due to their use. There is a generation of us, who just didn't get academics at school.
To be taunted and jeered at on a daily basis, non stop, to be defined by such terms, many never experiencing it could comprehend the damage to self esteem, confidence and future prospects.
But it's fine because they are only words and terms, and us divvies should get over it.

Lady

You sound so lovely , will you do the same for retard, cretin, and the others if you use them.

I think it's ok to say that some behaviour is stupid, or ill thought out, or plain silly, but actually name calling because of somebodies aptitude for something is never right.
I have a dd who struggles at school, and sometimes she will do something silly or daft. I call the behaviour and not the person. Sometimes she isn't very intelligent, she isn't thick or a retard, imbecile or moron.

I was called an uneducated moron on MN yesterday!

[shines badge]

Hi Gillybeanz, I don't use the other words as I know they offend. I didn't know about 'moron'.