I'm not sure what your point is. There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to use words. Making fun of the neuro-atypicals is inappropriate, joking with likeminded folks in a community built around such is likely appropriate. You've just that word you are complaining about, should you be banned?
I think it depends. Certainly it could be used in a way that conveys racist positions and it could be used in a way that doesn't. Is someone singing along to a rap song a racist? Kids being edgy?
I am not saying though that I think use of the term is okay, only that I don't think it should be prohibited either by law or by the pressure of big companies punishing people who say what is forbidden for them to say. I'm perfectly happy with people who make the judgement that they may never say certain words. I'm not happy with people telling others what they can or cannot say.
Yes. And even with them around. All depends on the context and the willingness to get one's nose bopped.
I would, for example, encourage an actor to use overly offensive expletives, even repeating them ad nauseam in the presence of their fellow actors so they feel more comfortable using such words in a production dealing with racial strife, historical storytelling or what have you.
No word is so beyond the pale it must be Voldemorted.
> You've just that word you are complaining about, should you be banned?
The commenting guidelines state: Be kind. Don't be snarky. [...] Don't sneer. Regardless, I will indulge your curiosity.
1) There are certainly other terms in use on WSB that one could take offense to. I personally find this one to be particularly problematic. (The fact that I am myself autistic probably plays a big role in this ;))
2) I have posted many comments here on HN, and as far as I know this one and the one you replied to are the only ones I've posted on the topic of slurs. I fail to see why I should be banned over this discussion.
I don't mean that comment to be snarky or sneering and I apologize if it came off as unkind. What I mean to convey with that comment is that clearly you believe there are acceptable uses of the word. In other words, you don't think that every use of the word should be prohibited.
Once we've reached that point it seems like a negotiation. Why would it be wrong to say sometimes and not wrong other times? My intuition here is that this is tied to whether the word is used with intent to offend or harass someone. In your case, you weren't using the word that way, and I would argue that the same applies largely to uses of the term on wallstreetbets.
Joking among friends using slurs is not appropriate in my eyes. Doesn’t matter if the slur is based on neurodiversity, race, age, gender or something else.
People of various backgrounds often refer to themselves or close friends of theirs by what would otherwise be offensive slurs. That goes for black people, LGBT people, women, Asians, Jews, heck even white people often refer to themselves or another white person they are close with using a slur. There is actually evidence that people who refer to one another using slurs that would otherwise be offensive do so to strengthen social bonds with each other and there's some interesting game theory for why this is the case.
It's also quite common among comedians and other entertainers to make fun of their own ethnicity using slurs or use slurs in various performances.
You personally may not find it appropriate and that's a subjective point of view that you are entitled to have, but consider whether you have a good rational justification for it or whether you are exercising too much caution to the point that you are getting offended on behalf of others even when those others are not themselves offended.
I don't think people are talking about using slurs to describe themselves, but slurs to describe others.
The WSB folks are in a weird position where they're using slurs to describe themselves that don't actually apply to them (well, not as a whole; I imagine there are some autistic WSB members, just like there are in most populations). I'm bewildered as to why they think that's funny (or whatever justification they have for it), but it does strike me as potentially offensive.
Why does it matter what you find offensive though? What you're saying sounds like an excellent reason for you personally not to visit wallstreetbets, it doesn't sound like any kind of reason at all for the community to be curtailed, censored, or banned.
As an example, I grew up in a very religious home. My family would find things like cursing, taking the Lord's name in vain, or advocating for atheism to be very offensive. And yet, I hope it is very easy for you to understand that it would be wrong to take what my religious family finds offensive and apply those ethical rules to other people. Jehovah's Witnesses think birthdays and holidays are offensive, Muslims think graven images are offensive, etc etc. All sorts of people believe all sorts of things. Every group of people is not obliged to not be offensive to every other group of people.
You may be inclined to say that people can choose not to be religious but have no say over things like mental type or race. I don't think that's true because the majority of religious people are in the same religion as their parents, implying there isn't much free choice involved. Even if that were true, why is something you believe less respected than something that you are?
How can you know what is a slur and what is not when judging the way others communicate in their relationships? What if it’s a nickname from childhood? What if...anything really?
How on earth would you take action on this point, besides teaching our children to be kind, thoughtful, and curious.
> How can you know what is a slur and what is not when judging the way others communicate in their relationships? What if it’s a nickname from childhood?
How can you know what is an insult and what is not when judging the way others communicate in their relationships? What if it’s a nickname from childhood?
How can you know what is a threat and what is not when judging the way others communicate in their relationships? What if it’s a nickname from childhood?
