Why is stupid offensive

Many of us are feeling these things toward the illogical, destructive, and cruel people who endanger our safety and security. Its use harms and triggers disabled people, which makes it a source of mass psychological harm for an already marginalized group. If something is likely to upset the members of a marginalized group, just let it go.

Ignoring those requests is also ableist. The history of disability in our society is rife with injustices based on intelligence. Women with intellectual disabilities are also at high risk for abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence — and are underserved by inaccessible support programs.

Our culture promotes a climate of toxicity toward intellectually disabled people, and part of that is in the words we use. By condoning the casual use of ableist slurs, we tacitly permit more severe abuses. Because we undermine the people, we also undermine accountability for their abusers. We fail to construct a healing path forward. The frustration that we feel over bigotry can be expressed in so many ways. Alternative phrases are more descriptive, and more accurate; unintelligence is not the prevailing problem with right wing extremists, for instance, nor is it the cause of their actions.

For that matter, making assumptions about anyone's family or relationship situation can get you in hot water. Let them inform you first and avoid, "Actually, this is my daughter, not my girlfriend. The ultimate guy, according to media stereotypes, is tough as nails, always ready to fight, never weak or hurt, with huge biceps, and a huge wallet to match.

Saying "Man up" tells a man that he should stop feeling and conform to this false, unattainable standard. Shaming a man into being tough is a surefire way to create lingering damage to his psyche. Maybe you're under the assumption that describing something as ghetto is calling it cheap, or lame, with no class or race implications. You're wrong. Ghetto refers to the poorest and most segregated parts of cities in the U.

There are more appropriate words you can use to describe something you don't like that aren't racist and classist. This phrase began as an innocuous reference to garden tools -- to call something as it is without beating around the bush.

Previous Back. Two words you need to remove from your vocabulary Retard or the r-word , and spastic are words which have historically been used to describe people with a disability but here's why we need to stop using them.

Inclusion language. Disabled vs disability. Definition: being a dunderhead What is a dunder , and why do we use this word to insult people in a somewhat mild fashion? Definition: stupid, silly Here we have a lovely example of a word which began its life in our language, at least with a figurative meaning, and only took on a literal one after more than a century of use. Definition: complete or utter ignorance Ignoration is not just a fancified word for "ignorance," but also refers specifically to "an act or action of ignoring.

Definition: stupid and confused, mixed up, or eccentric The pate portion of addlepated comes from an older word for "head," in use since Middle English, and of uncertain origin. Definition: slow of mind : obtuse Okay, fine. Why try to improve on a classic? More Words At Play. Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Oct.