In this thread, Marley says:
Is it just the -tard words that are now disallow? It’s OK to say Troglodyte, DEMONcrat, or Repug as long as you don’t attach a -tard to it?
Seems rather arbitrary.
How about Tea Bagger?
-XT
I’ve said a couple of times in GD and Elections that I don’t want to see slurs like that in those forums. They don’t add anything to the debate and they’re offensive to the targets and to people who are disabled or work with people who are disabled. It’s fine in the Pit, but saying someone’s position or political party is retarded doesn’t belong in a debate forum. We’ve done the “tea bagger” dispute a couple of times, and I can’t see my way to banning it. We’re not banning any negative reference to any political group.
So, as long as the slur doesn’t have 'tard in it we are good then? Fair enough.
-XT
Rule of thumb for GD: if it can be seen as a personal comment but not at a level that will incur a warning, keep it to a minumum. I believe Gaudere has said that those who don’t keep it to a minumum will be warned if they don’t back off when told to.
I’m not a member of the Tea Party in any way, shape or form, but if someone was constantly calling me a ‘tea bagger’ I’d certainly be taking that personally, whether it’s something I generally do or not…
-XT
So, to be clear, it’s only the -tard words that are forbidden. Right? We can say DEMONcrat all day long, and that’s OK. Right?
Tea bagger = good. Teatard = bad. Okay… got it.
Knock yourself out. My problem with “libtard” and “Paultard” and things like that is that they’re offensive to the retarded as well as the groups of posters being discussed. I don’t think something like Demoncrat or Tea Bagger is comparable in that sense even though they’re obviously all rude.
OK. I didn’t get the -tard = retard connection wrt an insult to disabled people.
If that’s not explicitly in a rules sticky somewhere, it’s probably a good idea to put it there. Seems to be common currency in the vernacular these days.
And, just for the record, I don’t use -tard terms, DEMONcrat or Repug. I’m not asking permission for myself, just trying to understand what is acceptable behavior from those who regularly do.
Quit your whining, tea bagger.
Well, I guess that’s not an insult. 
Go and tea bag your mama, since it’s not an insult. It’s all in good fun!
-XT
You telling me to go teabag my mother is actually insulting, and is in no way synonymous with calling supporters of the Tea Party by a term they adopted for themselves.
I know you don’t. It’s a fair question.
As far as “tea bagger” being insulting- this is where I have to point out that not every rude or insulting comment is against the rules here. When I say that “tea bagger” isn’t an insult, I’m speaking in terms of the Straight Dope rules.
Well, leaving aside the fact that you decided to take it on yourself to label ME as a ‘tea bagger’, I’ll just say that, no, it’s obviously NOT insulting in any way. It’s just playful fun. So have at it…tea bag that old lady! Tea bag your father too! Tea bag everyone you meet! See, it’s not an insult…just good clean fun! We can get into labels I can apply to you, all in the name of fun of course, later…and then I can tell you to stop your own whining too!
-XT
Yeah, you have no association with or support for the Tea Party at all, you just live in Arizona, spout half-baked anti-government sentiments, and get offended when they’re referred to as tea baggers. Whatever you say.
Somehow I assumed you two couldn’t possibly be serious, but I guess I was wrong. Knock it off.
Um… if your mom has a bag… I don’t think that’s your mom.
Oh joy-yet another “Exactly how much can I get away with?” race to the bottom thread. Instead of trying to find out where the line is just so you can dance on it, how about making an honest attempt to keep discussions outside of The BBQ Pit somewhat civil in nature?
I have no association with or support for the Tea Party, I don’t live in Arizona and as far as spouting half-baked anti-government sentiments (really?), that’s my gods give American right. You did get the ‘Whatever you say’ part right though…thanks for acknowledging that.
He’s serious and I’m not from Arizona, so take it as you like.
Presumably the one doing the bagging has the bags, ehe? So, if I tell you to go tea bag your mama, the assumption there would be that YOU would have the bags, not thy mama. But it’s all good, clean fun so no insult intended.
-XT