What's the Newspeak word for "gimp" or "cripple"?

submitted by sawboss from self.AskSaidIt

Last I remembered it was "challenged" but apparently I'm way behind the times.

Terms like differently-abled, challenged, handi-capable or special are often considered condescending.

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[–]Zombi 6 insightful - 3 fun6 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 3 fun -  (13 children)

Disabled, handicapped, paralyzed, special needs, and some others I'm forgetting. I say just call people what you think is the least offensive. You can't avoid offending people sometimes and so long as you aren't being malicious it's just a word at the end of the day.

[–]sawboss[S] 7 insightful - 5 fun7 insightful - 4 fun8 insightful - 5 fun -  (12 children)

I say just call people what you think is the least offensive.

It's fucking impossible.

[–][deleted] 8 insightful - 3 fun8 insightful - 2 fun9 insightful - 3 fun -  (11 children)

The best thing about these words is the target keeps moving forever.

If you have a trait that's objectively bad (being mentally retarded), whatever word is used to describe that trait will be used as an insult. Eventually the "now an insult" word will become offensive enough to the offendatrons that a new word will be coined to take it's place.

[–]magnora7 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah exactly. I think I've heard it called "the linguistic treadmill". I think George Carlin used to talk about this

[–]sawboss[S] 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (7 children)

Eventually the "now an insult" word will become offensive enough to the offendatrons that a new word will be coined to take it's place.

Exactly! That's because the true purpose of speech policing has nothing to do with politeness.

Also, "its" is possessive, while "it's" is a contraction of "it is".

[–]Zombi 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (6 children)

That's why I said to just try and pick the least offensive word and not worry. If someone gets offended then that's on them. People will ALWAYS be offended, so all you can really do is try your best and be confident you weren't trying to be offensive. No point in worrying about an issue that will never be resolved.

[–][deleted]  (5 children)

[deleted]

    [–]Zombi 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun -  (4 children)

    Well yeah I agree we should all be as honest as possible, but there's nice way and a shitty way to say things. I'm just saying try to err on the side of the nice way as that's all you can do in terms of being inoffensive. We're basically saying the same thing tbh, which is don't worry too much about word choice, just do your best.

    [–][deleted]  (3 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]Zombi 5 insightful - 4 fun5 insightful - 3 fun6 insightful - 4 fun -  (2 children)

      I see that now! I need to stop being so combative online, reddit has trained me to take every reply as a criticism and it's such a bad habit.

      [–]magnora7 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

      Same here! I find myself gearing up for a fight with every reply sometimes, and I have to remind myself that people aren't fighting with me always, especially on saidit

      [–]FormosaOolong 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

      offendatrons

      i love this! thank you!

      [–]yetanotherone_sigh 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

      "Teacher! Teacher! He used the 'R' word!"

      [–][deleted] 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (17 children)

      In India, the term "differently abled" is used on public transports

      [–]sawboss[S] 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun -  (16 children)

      what does that mean though? different from what? able of what?

      [–][deleted] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (15 children)

      The term "differently abled" is used as a substitute for disabled or handicapped. "Differently abled" emphasizes the fact that many people with disabilities are quite capable of accomplishing a particular task or performing a particular function, only in a manner that is different from people without the disability.

      (Copy pasted)

      [–]sawboss[S] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (12 children)

      So it means blind people can see and deaf people can hear and legless people can walk. Cool! They've got no problems and require no accommodations then.

      [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (11 children)

      That's not how you interpret it. "Accomplishing a task IN A DIFFERENT MANNER". Take the example of moving from a place to a higher ground. People without legs require a ramp for their wheelchair as opposed to people with legs using stairs. The task is to get to the higher ground but the way it is accomplished is not the same. Does that make sense? It's about using different means for one same (or similar) end.

      [–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (10 children)

      Cull the herd. If you want to show mercy to the weak, do it with a bullet.

      [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (9 children)

      Are you implying that we kill those who are disabled?

      [–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (8 children)

      I'm supporting each individual have full control of their own life and liberty. Individuals should be allowed to chose when and how their own life ends, provided they damage no one else in the process.

      [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (7 children)

      That I do not disagree with. I often feel the same. The only problem is that ending one's life would affect everyone else in their life and cause them a great deal of pain. (We are talking about an individual in general, right? Not specifically differently abled people)

      [–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (6 children)

      The only problem is that ending one's life would affect everyone else in their life and cause them a great deal of pain.

      I own my life, not them. The same goes for every human individual capable of reason.

      (We are talking about an individual in general, right? Not specifically differently abled people)

      EVERY GODDAMN HUMAN INDIVIDUAL CAPABLE OF REASON

      [–]yetanotherone_sigh 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

      Interesting tidbit: double amputees who have false legs are prohibited from competitive running (in formal sports events) against unmodified humans. Those huge "flipper" legs are really, really good at running. Better than normies with feet.

      [–]Tiwaking 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      Better than normies with feet.

      Press X to Doubt
      X

      [–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

      I'm gonna go with differently abled. Great question, maybe there is no acceptable PC term. Raddle.me would know, they are big on people not being ablists.

      [–]sawboss[S] 3 insightful - 5 fun3 insightful - 4 fun4 insightful - 5 fun -  (0 children)

      Raddle.me

      shoot me now

      [–]Snow 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (7 children)

      You can change the alphabets,but you can't change the evil aggression inside.

      [–]sawboss[S] 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (6 children)

      So you want to outlaw "evil alphabets"?

      [–]Snow 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

      No. And I don't really want to reply you.

      [–]sawboss[S] 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

      You had the option of ignoring my post. Well, I don't expect you to continue this exchange if you feel bad about it. All interactions are voluntary.

      [–]wizzwizz4 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

      Read it again. If you like, I'll reword it for you.

      [–]sawboss[S] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

      I'm pretty sure it said "go fuck yourself" (paraphrasing).

      [–]wizzwizz4 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

      Nope: You can change the words used, but you can't change the malicious intent behind using them pejoratively. (/u/Snow is this right?)

      [–]Snow 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

      Yeah.

      [–]Mnemonic 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

      I usually call them by their names :p

      Serious: It's easier and better understandable (and used by handicapped people, because they all share the same sports and even schools etc.) to classify upon needs/help they receive.

      Aka:

      • Wheelchair

      • Walking sticks

      • Slow walker

      • In need of a special lavatory

      • Blind

      • Electrical wheelchair with air-support

      etc.

      These are rough translations but they paint a picture. Gimp or Cripple doesn't tell anyone what that person might need or can/can't do, same uselessness as the term handicapped.

      But this is all not newspeak, it's normal speak, sorry.

      [–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

      Are you sure those are inoffensive?

      [–]Mnemonic 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (3 children)

      If you use them when needed. Talking about or to a person you use their name, if there is need to acknowledge their handicap my method is the best because a lot of handicaps (for example Cerebral palsy) have many different severity levels and can cause a lot of different help needs.

      If you go around calling random strangers 'Wheels' or 'Sticks' (or the Broken) it's on the same level as calling a dude a lady because of the long hair: it depends on how the person takes it but usually that sort of shit is friend level only. But for communicating the needs (or the lack of need) for help their system works best.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kaT5dDiISw https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436613/ My sibling does Wheelchair basketball (almost as brutal) and they talk a lot of trash to each other, like holy f*gging shit, but you also know if I as a walker would say such shit they will not like it. If you think you can talk the same, you need your spine cracked you snowflake.

      [–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

      Mnem name called me and threatened me in the same post? Whew, I must be close to a cosmic truth!

      [–]Mnemonic 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

      I made the snowflake part up, not commenly used in the Netherlands, but the rest is a saying I've heard a few times thrown at people who were more than pushing the 'friendly' banter meme.

      Though the snowflake part seemed right if you took that all personally :p

      [–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

      No worries. It's about what I'd expect from "Internet friends".

      [–]RedditDrownsInShit 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

      The word you're looking for is spaz-sexual

      [–]gooddeath 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

      I think that "special needs" is the most appropriate. I'm annoyed too with the constant shuffling of phrases for political correctness, but definitely don't call people "gimps" or "cripples." There's no need to be rude.

      [–]sawboss[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

      don't call people "gimps" or "cripples."

      https://invidio.us/watch?v=8hRci78kN74

      https://hooktube.com/watch?v=8hRci78kN74

      https://youtube.com/watch?v=8hRci78kN74

      [–]Tiwaking 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

      South Park - The Cripple Fight