use of the word 'moron'

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

could it be banned? do others find it offensive? I have seen it on 3 threads today already, should I report or just ignore? it has come up before and yet still I feel we have learnt nothing when users still put in in their posts.

As an older person some words suggest to me words that used to describe those living in mental hospitals of the past- moron, cretin, think jack Nicholson on 1 flew over the cn after treatment. So the words should have disappeared with the hospitals imo. Idiot is more common usage it is more acceptable.

Is 'div' OK? I never know if it is.
I just stick to calling people donkey or plum, I think they are safer.

Ok, if we are talking about freedom of speech and not banning offensive words, why do we have so many offensive unacceptable names then, why not use them all in the name of freedom of speech.

I am not personally affected by racist comments, but they are deemed unacceptable, so try my best not to use any and offend somebody.
There is no difference between racist words and disablist terms but for some reason disablist terms are allowed to stay in society.

I would also ask if you think racist comments that don't exist anymore are acceptable now, and those offended, choose to be.

M*n is a defined unacceptable term, yet people choose to ignore this and use it anyway. What a society we live in.

Ridiculous. You can't just ban words that aren't even in regular usage anymore. And comparing moron to n**r is just stupid. It's not the same at all.

I find cunt offensive, seriously. But l highly doubt that word would be banned.

Gilly that seems like an extreme reaction to the word, it obviously has a massive back story for you, could you try to look at that? It's not a great word, but nor is calling someone an idiot for example and sometimes we have to get past words that we feel are offensive, because well, most of society does not!

I guess I'll be accused of joining in with the Hip Hip Hurrah shouts of hooligans next time I want to post something cute dreamt up in the peanut gallery. All because I thought MN was really good for calling a spade a spade. Maybe it's good for us to be nervous about our precise wording & sure we won't appear like idiots.

Oops, did I offend you?

Gilly I'm sorry that you have such a visceral response to the word.

It's difficult because people can respond to all sorts of things. I had a real phobia of feet for a while, and would throw up. It took a lot of therapy to get rid of and I'll still avoid them if I can. I can't expect people to not show their feet, though. I have a colleague who hates a few common words and visibly recoils if they are used. I find it offensive when people call me babe when I'm in a professional capacity. I can't expect it to be banned.

It's not a word that I tend to use, but it doesn't offend me. It's intention isn't to be offensive, these days. Most people probably don't even know the origins.

There's also the issue that MN struggle to moderate the site at times anyway, and having a list of banned words would make that much worse.

There would be a much bigger reasoning to ban "cis", if we can start banning words. That has no usage that isn't offensive and 90% of MN find it offensive.

Idiot, moron and imbecile were medical terms defining I q in the early 1900 s - they appear on the 1911 census .

I tend to use 'fool' when referring to believers in things such as toxins , superfoods, homeopathy etc.

What's a peanut gallery?

We cross posted but the M word (which I'm not writing out of respect) isn't considered unacceptable anymore.

Gilly, you said "bloody hell", some people find that offensive. What's sauce for the goose and all that...

And I agree with a pp, comparing moron with n*r is really not a sensible comparison...

With all due respect, if you are going to be left a quivering mess because someone on an Internet forum called you a moron, the Internet is probably not the place for you. Sticks and stones and all that, it is only a word. You can be offended all you like but it won't stop people using such terms, the Internet of all places

There's also the issue that MN struggle to moderate the site at times anyway, and having a list of banned words would make that much worse.

I'm not sure I agree-there effectively are banned words. I've never seen "retard" left to stand (obviously apart from in the non insulting sense). Without making a list there are definitely others that Mnhq seem to consider to be disablist and will delete.

You're right, Purple, but my thinking is that they aren't words banned from MN - they are universally unacceptable words. You have a good point though.

NB: universal being generalised. There are going to be some back-of-the-Internet type places where offensive words are used regularly but in general, I think using disabling language would get you deleted/banned in most places.

Who has defined it as offensive?

All dictionary definitions point to it meaning a stupid person. None say it's offensive.

I don't find it offensive, makes me think of the song 'Gordon is a moron'; that might not be the title but I'm sure some will recognise it.

(I'm also of the opinion that twat or twattish is okay but I would never use cunt)

Sticks And stones.......

Bull. Shit.

If someone uses a hate filled term like some of those we agree are unacceptable (the r word, the n word) you don't think they hurt?

If someone shout r**d at your child, it may possibly hurt.

It is interesting that some words become more unacceptable than others, yet have the same roots. And it does change, with words developing as insults.

I agree with Errol; it's unlikely to happen, but a message from HQ flagging up why certain words are unacceptable might result in a gradual reduction of their use. Of course, there'll always be those who take pride in trampling over other people's sensitivities , even when evidence has been provided that the words are not acceptable.
For a long time people of a certain generation insisted there could be no possible offense taken to the n-word, likewise various other words referring to disabilities. Understanding the full meaning and origins of the language we use shows advancement in our society.

Of course ideally it wouldn't require any intervention from MN. Just people behaving like polite grownups, who can recognise that the important thing about 'freedom of speech' is the right to be able to articulate ideas and participate in discussions,. Not carte blanche to use a particular word after someone has explained why it may be problematic, if there are other words which can be used to express the same thought without causing hurt.

Isn't the point of using these words to offend anyway?! So if it works then.... Job done.

Well yes, Queenbean. But if I call someone an arsehole, a fool or a fucknugget - I am insulting them but not using words that are hurtful to a particular group of people.

If I choose to use a word like r*d or a m*g, then I am saying, the worst thing I can think to call you is a person with learning disabilities......because obviously that is the worst thing I can think of.

For me and others I have spoken to the offence is it being used to taunt and describe anybody with a learning disability or the academically challenged which I find much better a term, whilst waiting for a diagnosis.

If it wasn't used on a daily basis to beat me like a stick, throughout my childhood along with all the others, then I wouldn't be offended.
That was my point in referring to racist words.
If they were used as a label the same as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD etc then no offence would be taken.
It's the thought process of those using the term to bully and humiliate that makes a word unacceptable.

i find it offensive, but mn hq decided it wasn't