A draft law sparks debate with locals calling it excessive and questioning how it would be enforced.

A draft law sparks debate with locals calling it excessive and questioning how it would be enforced.

    • Dizzy Devil DuckyEnglish
      4•10 months ago

      As an autistic person, I’ll say that I personally don’t have a problem with the word retard and jokingly call my self retarded.

      • Blake [he/him]
        3•10 months ago

        And that’s fine, I don’t mind people using the term about themselves really, but as someone with a very visible disability, I strongly oppose the use of it as a pejorative slur, because it’s most regularly used by people who want me to be castrated (or worse) so that I don’t reproduce and pass my “weak genes” to future generations. Perspective and all that.

    • Blake [he/him]
      -5•10 months ago

      Self-identification is valid, feel free. But using a term as an insult against others is not.

        • Blake [he/him]
          -5•10 months ago

          First of all, not only am I neurodiverse, I am also physical disabled, so if you think that you have some special power over this argument because of your identity or life experience, you’re totally wrong. You’re not in charge of tone-policing people who are opposing ableism.

          The important thing here isn’t who has agency over which words, but whether or not your use of those words is harmful. No white person has ever really been victimised by the n-word, and therefore, they can’t really be hurt by it. Additionally, your example isn’t even what we’d think of as an insult. “You’re crazy” isn’t really a scathing remark unless it’s said in a certain way, and it’s way more often said in a playful or friendly context, like “wow, you’re working so hard, you’re crazy!”

          If we cut deeper into what you’re saying (that identity is all that matters and that the n-word is fine to say if you have dark skin) then do you believe it would be acceptable for someone to say to someone else “You’re a horrible, disgusting n-word, go to hell”, for example? Would it matter what colour of skin either person had in that exchange?

          Using the r-slur as an insult is harmful because it dehumanises people with disabilities. That’s the important thing, it’s nothing to do with semantics.

            • Blake [he/him]
              -5•10 months ago

              You started this by making your “gotcha” argument, all I did was explain why your argument doesn’t hold water. Instead of considering that you might have been wrong, instead you lash out in anger because your ego is in danger - and you accuse me of making people think that “we” are “crybabies” who will go into “meltdown”?

              Take a deep breath, it’s okay to be wrong about things, I don’t think any less of you for that, and it’s a pretty natural response to become upset by it, made worse by rejection sensitivity, but it’s a really bad habit to fall into - try your best to stay level headed, and that way you can learn things instead of sticking your head in the sand.

              But I want to make this very clear: I don’t speak for anyone but myself, and that’s enough - I don’t need your consent or your permission to try and make this world a better place for everyone and I don’t really care if you don’t approve or agree. I don’t care if people think I’m a wussy little sensitive baby, because the world I’m fighting for is an inclusive one, where people can be vulnerable without being worried about whether their masculinity will be called into question. And honestly, I think that’s a far greater strength than pretending it’s fine for people to use an ableist slur because I want to be the cool disabled kid. If you wanna do that, that’s your prerogative, but it’s some weak-ass uncle tom shit.