Alternatives for Discriminatory & Derogatory Language
WORK IN PROGRESS

Hi! please use this list as a guide for alternatives to common derogatory language!Using alternate language is not enough. We must unlearn discriminatory behavior and biases that are normal to us- Attacking and discriminating against age, race, physical mental or neurological ability, gender, sex, body, personality or behavior.
It is all too common for us to call our friend or co-worker "slow", "idiots" or "stupid" for not understanding things as easily as we do, being clumsier than we are, forgetting more than we do... Calling our friends, typically ones classified as women or females, "bitches" for being bothersome, or describing provocative behavior we dont like as "whoreish".
This is the crux of the issue- discriminating against those who are different than us, under the pretense that we are better than others because of our abilities and anyone who functions differently than us are beneath us- often using the bias of "normalcy" to excuse our discrimination.
When we call someone stupid, slow, or idiots, we are directly insulting our perception of their (lack of) intelligence. We believe they are unintelligent, not smart, a bad person, because of their differences. The reality is all neurological and psychological traits are on a spectrum- some cannot ever remember things without difficulty, some remember with incredible ease. Neither end of the spectrum is good or bad. Moralizing and pathologizing behavior and the spectrum of human existence is what creates discrimination.Even beyond identity-based insults, we shouldn't be insulting anyone in the first place. Insults are meant to feed our anger or upset. If we want to be productive, we need to giving direct, unbiased criticism or objectively describe their behavior- Instead of insulting your intelligence by calling yourself stupid for forgetting an important meeting, respectfully call out your mistake and how you'll correct it while acknowledging that humans make mistakes- yes, even big ones.
"I'm such an idiot for not doing my homework!" --> "It was irresponsible of me to neglect my homework!"
You are not unintelligent for neglecting to do something important. This directly insults developmentally disabled and neurodivergent individuals by insinuating they are incapable of being responsible- then comparing yourself to them. This also insinuates one intellectual status is the reason for ones failured, when there are infinitely more realistic and reasonable ones to explain it: Were you stressed, preoccupied, or avoidant of the homework? Did you forget unintentionally? Were there physical barriers preventing you from doing it?This carrd will include derogatory language that even other radical progressive folks would not care to include. (I.e, bastard, fool, weird...) Plenty of words started out as neutral, or even positive, but through time develops into derogatory language. Just because it was originally okay, doesn't mean it can be excused to use it now. If you genuinely think your goal is to use language "neutrally" (not how it works)", "how it was originally meant" (not always important), or to "reclaim it" you need to do a lot more than just say it when you want and expect others to respond well to it. It involves serious energy, time, community and effort to reclaim or redefine language and if you're not willing to do that then your "reclaiming/neutral" efforts aren't shit and is a weak excuse!

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