Yes!
Much the same as spastic, handicapped, disabled, etc etc etc that have been 1. The politically correct euphemism many people didn't understand, 2. The correct term, 3. a bit outdated and then 4. offensive for no good reason.

Special, for example, was a way of saying 'mentally handicapped'. Now, you can be special or [adopt stupid face, and/or "finger quotes"] 'special'. Essentially, as soon as everyone understands the term it becomes stigmatised by the condition it's describing. So why try to avoid the offence by changing the word, rather than addressing the stigma?

It really boils my piss... (I've been gagging to use that phrase for 3 days now - love it!)
(Mumm-ra, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 13:45, 1 reply)

Yup. Agree with ya totaly.
If you just change the word all you do is provide a new offensive insult a few years down the line. You've gotta change people's opinions and that to actualy deal with people using it as an insult.
(Fredz A graveyard of hopes, a dump of ambition, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 23:14, closed)