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This is also called the euphemism treadmill. Over time almost any word assigned to a social stigma will become pejorative. The word retard used to be the only w
by Ollinson 11y ago
This is also called the euphemism treadmill. Over time almost any word assigned to a social stigma will become pejorative. The word retard used to be the only way to refer to the "differently abled" in polite society.
- belenos46 11y agoWell, it's not so much 'words that are assigned social stigma' as it is 'words that become red flags for people who might be murdered right after hearing them'. Which I think is a pretty solid argument for not using those words, unless you're cool with frequently hanging the threat of murder over <insert minority>'s heads. Personally, I'm not cool with that.