I notice a lot of people use terms like “psychotic” or “psychopath” as insults and negative descriptions on here. These are clinical terms that are used to describe real people with difficulties, not boogeymen! I don’t disagree with the sentiment that these people are doing wrong, but if you wouldn’t use the r-slur or “autistic” as an insult (which you shouldn’t) then you shouldn’t use these words either. And I get the idea of calling someone delusional, but take care that you don’t just mean “I disagree with them.” Though by posting on neurodiverse I imagine I’m preaching to the choir.

Sincerely, a casual schizoaffective disorder haver.

  • ashinadash [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
    621·
    7 months ago

    Unfortunately very normalised in society. Even I was only alerted to words like “insane” being very hurtful a few months ago. I’m a big “absurd”, “ridiculous” and of course “unserious” user now.

    Good post, stalin-approval hopefully there can be selfcrit and waning usage of these terms in harmful contexts.

    • ReadFanon [any, any]@hexbear.netMEnglish
      37·
      7 months ago

      I usually open people’s eyes on the term crazy when I have the right audience because our discourse around that term is the obvious stuff but also it implies that someone should be locked up or deprived of rights but it’s also very common to use it to imply that someone “deserves” to be taken advantage of (“our prices are crazy” and “we’ve gone completely mad”).

      Kinda gross when you think about it, especially in the context of the stats on mentally ill people being abused and exploited.

    • CupcakeOfSpice [she/her]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      21·
      7 months ago

      I’m personally a big fan of understatement, so I like using ridiculously underwhelming insults. Like for this South Dakota governor, calling her meanie of rude when atrocious might be a more appropriate word.

    • penitentkulak [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
      141·
      7 months ago

      “lame” and “crippled/crippled by” were pointed out to me by a friend who has muscular dystrophy a few years ago, they are also both incredibly common. I’ve sadly had quite a bit of pushback when trying to correct comrades on it (even in the old r/CTH sub)

      • JohnBrownNote [comrade/them, des/pair]@hexbear.netEnglish
        10·
        7 months ago

        hey have some more pushback

        as a fellow “can’t walk properly” person, the last time lame applied to me was a bible passage. the only times I’m (or anyone else, unless there’s an american vs commonwealth english thing going on here) am reminded about the ability meaning is when etymology nerds bring it up like it’s a problem.

        it’s certainly dated to call someone “a cripple” and, again in my experience, that’s usually self-ID. Usages like crippling anxiety or a damaged mechanical system (“land a crippled airplane”) don’t seem to be disparaging or contributing to the marginalization of people so someone would have to explain to me how those are ableist.

      • ashinadash [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
        61·
        7 months ago

        Yeah I ejected “crippled” from my vocab ages ago, I guess “hobbled” too? Unfortunately this kind of language change is still considered somewhat fringe, I think…