Pending Make r****ed count as a slur
- Thread starter cooldude42
- Start date
I never understood why this word was allowed to begin with. I don't know if I would consider it a slur as the qualifications for what makes a word a slur are not well established, but I consider it offensive regardless of the context in which it is used. Whether or not it's a disabled person being called it or someone who isn't disabled, I think it shouldn't be allowed.
I'm certainly not a Puritan when it comes to language, but I think words matter when they originate from the discrimination of the disabled. Nobody is using this term in a positive context.
I'm certainly not a Puritan when it comes to language, but I think words matter when they originate from the discrimination of the disabled. Nobody is using this term in a positive context.
There's been a lot of feelings expressed on this word from the staff team over the last several months, and the dialogue has gone in circles several times.
Some members of our team agree with the sentiment you are proposing and we were acting on "retard" as a slur adjacent word for quite some time. However, lots of members of our team didn't feel great about upholding this word to the "slur elevation" given how prevalent it is as a natural part of people's diction and how that may dissuade people from joining our community.
While having a different ruling than another TTT community is fine and dandy, I really do think it's important to compare social rulings that may dissuade new blood from jumping ship our way:
For fairness sake, I also checked these 3 servers for the homophobic slur and the soft a. Only Basically Vanilla had the homophobic slur used recently.
With how frequently the word is used by players in these communities vying for a similar playerbase, I really don't like the idea of us integrating the word into our slurs protocol again. That and I really don't like having to warn players for something "retarded".
Some members of our team agree with the sentiment you are proposing and we were acting on "retard" as a slur adjacent word for quite some time. However, lots of members of our team didn't feel great about upholding this word to the "slur elevation" given how prevalent it is as a natural part of people's diction and how that may dissuade people from joining our community.
While having a different ruling than another TTT community is fine and dandy, I really do think it's important to compare social rulings that may dissuade new blood from jumping ship our way:
BV
myriad
steam gamers
myriad
steam gamers
For fairness sake, I also checked these 3 servers for the homophobic slur and the soft a. Only Basically Vanilla had the homophobic slur used recently.
With how frequently the word is used by players in these communities vying for a similar playerbase, I really don't like the idea of us integrating the word into our slurs protocol again. That and I really don't like having to warn players for something "retarded".
Everlong
Member
I personally refrain from using any and all slurs just because it makes me feel like shit (normal curse words are still fair game as evidenced by how much i say shit) and i do count this word as one. I really don't care about other people using it, however in my experience, a fair bit of people who casually use it also tend to spout some of the outright hateful slurs a bit more commonly. I feel like banning it wouldn't be as bad as predicted as it's one word. The main issue really is if there's a French player who doesn't really speak much English as that is their word for "late", but that is such a specific problem that I can't really see it happening.
That's just my two cents though.
That's just my two cents though.
We had it as a quasi slur like that for a minute where if it was directed, it was treated as a slur no questions asked. There were quite a few instances where this still felt off with the reality of things, especially if the party on the receiving end could care less about it.
Right now, it’s at an okay place if you keep the harassment protocol in mind; if someone calls wink a retarded admin who kisses goldfish and he doesn’t care, cool no warning. If wink did care, another staff member could escalate the harassment protocol for him.
I think the quasi slur thing is fine. Casually using it is fine imo, like using it for calling something stupid or something or using it in the proper terms, but people 100% been taking advantage of it not being a slur here and becoming beyond harsh with it, and at that point some of the ways ive been hearing people scream it lately, feels like it shouldnt be allowed lol.
I think it should be fine since it is a normal part of a lot of peoples vocabulary, but things like tone, context, and how many times its screamed should just play in and if its being used in a hateful way, or screamed over and over, maybe step in with maybe a warning, or just doing the kick like normal slurs.
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