this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
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As a disabled person, I face ableism and ableist language every day. Some people use ableist language without even knowing that it is ableist. I thought it would be good for folks to take a look at the attached BBC article and expand their perspectives a bit.

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[–] Ransom@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (67 children)

Why is it hard for you to believe? If someone is telling you that the language you’re using is harmful, is your reaction really to say, basically, that you don’t care and you’re going to continue using it?

[–] Guns4Gnus@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (46 children)

That's exactly the mentality they have.

Any thought that goes contrary to them being perfect turns them into petulant brats that allow them to justify having a hissy fit against the left.

[–] Ransom@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (20 children)

I just don’t get it. If someone tells me that a word or phrase I’m using is offensive, I’m going to apologize and stop using it. Why is this so hard? Why would people double down on wanting to offend others?

[–] xe3@kbin.social -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

In an interpersonal (small group or 1 to 1) context, sure, I agree, if you know someone finds something offensive and you keep saying it, you are kinda being a dick (at the least) even if you don't think you are being offensive.

But beyond that.. what you are saying is not is just not practical or reasonable. You can't realistically stop using every word or phrase that someone somewhere finds offensive.

We live in a time where everyone is offended by everything and everyone defaults to the righteous victim role (and this is not some veiled criticism of the left, the (American) left gets criticized for this all the time, but in my experience the right can be even worse (more easily offended, more fragile, more eager to play the victim, e.g. 'war on christmas', 'christians are an oppressed minority' and all that bullshit).

My opinion is that you should not change your language because someone else is offended by it. You should listen when someone else is offended, try to understand, and be considerate. If you come to understand that what you said was innapropriate due to that conversation then change your language, but if you don't agree, don't change your language just be more considerate around that person because they are sensitive to it.

[–] Ransom@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

It’s really not that many words. If you google ableist terms, you’ll find maybe what, ten? I think it’s reasonable to stop using ten words. What you’re saying by refusing to do so is that you don’t think that some people or groups deserve respect.

Nobody is asking you to protest, or to write letters, change your diet, change what you do with your free time, change your job… Just stop using a few words. Hell, I’d be happy if you just considered cutting some words out of your vocabulary. If you’re at least willing to think about it, I think that’s reasonable. :)

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