# Let me be real clear: this message board does NOT need conservatives **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 28, 2021, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474 "2021-07-28T02:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 40
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/784 "2021-08-04T12:07:43Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Can some mod direct the tedious semantic hijack to the tedious semantic hijack forum? Can you imagine? It would be the most active forum on the board. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/785 "2021-08-04T12:09:10Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > But yes, when traveling in the West with Chinese friends I give them a heads up, and they are usually careful about using this filler. There are also a couple of pronouns in Korean that resemble the n-word. It’s probably impossible to avoid those completely, though I’ve heard of K-pop songs getting censored in America as a result. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/786 "2021-08-04T12:10:22Z")
I would imagine the only one. (I recognize that in junior-modding this thread, I am myself engaging in tedious semantics about what is and is not an appropriate subject for a pit thread) ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/787 "2021-08-04T12:11:12Z")
🤣  ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/788 "2021-08-04T12:17:28Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > If someone chooses to insult other people using slurs, i think less of them. I suspect you so, too, based on your own internal list. > > I may be alone on this but the fact that people are choosing to direct personal insults at people in the first place is more important than the words they choose to do it with. Both matter. But when i read sometime insulting another poster, my feelings are usually influenced by context. Has that poster just said something horrific? Have they just described a personal tragedy? I’ll judge the insulter differently in those two scenarios. Whereas of they choose to use slurs (which by their nature also target third parties) I’ll pretty much always hold it against them to about the same degree. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/789 "2021-08-04T12:19:23Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I assume my list is slightly different from your list. But we all know that we judge people based on how they choose to express themselves. If someone chooses to insult other people using slurs, i think less of them. I suspect you so, too, based on your own internal list. ??? A slur is an insult. You’re saying that you think less of people who insult each other in the Pit? [slur](https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slur) > [@](#): > > an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another’s feelings ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/790 "2021-08-04T12:21:49Z")
A slur is a subset of insults. And yes, of course i think less of people who use slurs in the pit. Isn’t that what i said in the post you were responding to? > **[Pejorative](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pejorative)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard. Sometimes, a term is regarded as pejorative in some social or ethnic groups but not in others, or may be originally pejorative but later adopt a non-pejorative sense (or vice versa) in some or all contexts. > The word p... ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/791 "2021-08-04T12:31:00Z")
Relevant to the discussion I was having previously > [@](#): > > Sometimes, a term is regarded as pejorative in some social or ethnic groups but not in others, or may be originally pejorative but later adopt a non-pejorative sense (or vice versa) in some or all contexts ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/792 "2021-08-04T12:49:36Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > A slur is a subset of insults. I’ve been through the definition on 4 online dictionaries. All of them say that a slur and an insult are synonymous. The only place that I’ve seen a slur defined as applied to groups is a comment in a Reddit post and Urban Dictionary, but it’s just one definition among many, and the others are more like the dictionary. Are you using a non-standard usage? Even your wiki doesn’t explain the subset. [Slur vs. insult](https://wikidiff.com/slur/insult) > [@](#): > > **Slur** is a synonym of **insult**. > > In context|obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between slur and insult > > is that **slur** is (obsolete) a trick or deception while **insult** is (obsolete) the act of leaping on; onset; attack. > > As nouns the difference between **slur** and **insult** > > is that **slur** is an insult or slight while **insult** is an action or form of speech deliberately intended to be rude. > > As verbs the difference between **slur** and **insult** > > is that **slur** is to insult or slight while **insult** is (obsolete|intransitive) to behave in an obnoxious and superior manner (over, against). ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/793 "2021-08-04T12:51:38Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > I’ve been through the definition on 4 online dictionaries. All of them say that a slur and an insult are synonymous You CANNOT be serious ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/794 "2021-08-04T12:53:18Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > [slur](https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slur) > > > [@](#): > > > > an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another’s feelings Interesting. I don’t see the sense in which @puzzlegal is using the term: an insult that is also indirectly insulting to third parties. But I don’t think it makes sense to ask for a list. If someone thinks less of you for using a term you did not know was stigmatised, or not so seriously, they are being unreasonable. And if you disagree on what the list should be, well, you are free to think less of each other. In any case, the worst insults are not slurs but those that attack some insecurity of the insultee, and there seems to be little pushback against those. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/795 "2021-08-04T12:54:05Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I may be alone on this but the fact that people are choosing to direct personal insults at people in the first place is more important than the words they choose to do it with. Depends on what one considers ‘directing personal insults’. General contentless snarls: yes, I think poorly of those. I think more poorly of them if the particular insult also insults other people besides whoever it’s directed at. Person X is a troll/sealioning/willfully ignorant/racist/misogynist/liar/etc/etc, while referring in the post or at least clearly in the thread to evidence for the claim: that to me is in a different category entirely, whether or not the accuser throws in a few swear words as intensifiers. And I will judge that based on the evidence, including what I myself have seen of the accused’s posts. This also, quoted because I agree with it: > [@puzzlegal](#): > > when i read sometime insulting another poster, my feelings are usually influenced by context. Has that poster just said something horrific? Have they just described a personal tragedy? I’ll judge the insulter differently in those two scenarios. Whereas of they choose to use slurs (which by their nature also target third parties) I’ll pretty much always hold it against them to about the same degree. > [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > A slur is an insult. You’re saying that you think less of people who insult each other in the Pit? I take a “slur”, as it’s being discussed here, to mean the kind of insult that also insults others besides the one(s) it’s aimed at. And I think @puzzlegal has explained clearly how they’re using it. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/796 "2021-08-04T12:56:27Z")
In case it isn’t 100% obvious, which it definitely is, @puzzlegal is clearly using ‘slur’ as shorthand for the category of racial/ethnic/LGBT/disabled/gender slurs, rather than normal insults. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/797 "2021-08-04T12:58:30Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > You CANNOT be serious Don’t even ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/798 "2021-08-04T13:03:42Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > In case it isn’t 100% obvious, which it definitely is, @puzzlegal is clearly using ‘slur’ as shorthand for the category of racial/ethnic/LGBT/disabled/gender slurs, rather than normal insults. But pretty much any personal insult against anyone that refers to a characteristic of that person in a disparaging way falls into that category of “slur”. I’m not sure that’s a useful or clarifying distinction. Why are those things included in a special slur category when things such as class, accent, height, weight, hair colour, religion, politics, mental capability, skill proficiency, nationality, dress, artistic taste etc. etc. are not? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/799 "2021-08-04T13:06:44Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Why are those things included in a special slur category when things such as class, accent, height, weight, hair colour, religion, politics, mental capability, skill proficiency, nationality, dress, artistic taste etc. etc. are not? Because we aren’t sitting around in a vacuum coming up with ideas about what may or may not be offensive. Have you been part of a Western culture in the last 250 years? If so, you shouldn’t need the reason why some insults are just insults and others are slurs explained to you. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/800 "2021-08-04T13:08:38Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > In case it isn’t 100% obvious, which it definitely is, @puzzlegal is clearly using ‘slur’ as shorthand for the category of racial/ethnic/LGBT/disabled/gender slurs, rather than normal insults. Why these groups, and what other groups? Generally, if people are referring to slurs of this nature, people use the the descriptor first, like racial slurs or ethnic slurs. But that’s no different than insults against an ethnic or racial group. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > And I think @puzzlegal has explained clearly how they’re using it. I’m still not so clear. Does she also include all these groups? > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Person X is a troll/sealioning/willfully ignorant/racist/misogynist/liar/etc/etc, because these are third party groups as well. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/801 "2021-08-04T13:11:15Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Because we aren’t sitting around in a vacuum coming up with ideas about what may or may not be offensive. I said nothing about whether any of them can be offensive or not. > [@Babale](#): > > Have you been part of a Western culture in the last 250 years? If so, you shouldn’t need the reason why some insults are just insults and others are slurs explained to you. That is what I would say if I were struggling to explain the difference and wanted to avoid answering. What is the difference between a slur based on gender and slur based on weight? Does one hurt a person less than the other? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/802 "2021-08-04T13:15:53Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > That is what I would say if I were struggling to explain the difference and wanted to avoid answering. I’m sorry to hear that you’re a dishonest debater then > [@](#): > > What is the difference between a slur based on gender and slur based on weight? Gender is a category that had been used in our society to oppress one kind of people, making them subservient to another, for thousands of years. Gender slurs perpetuate that. Same goes for race, although systemic oppression based on race is a more recent phenomenon than oppression based on gender, which may very well be the ancestral state for our species. If you can show evidence that for hundreds of years people were oppressed based on their weight, you’d gave a point. > [@](#): > > Does one hurt a person less than the other? No, but one hurts society more than the other. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/803 "2021-08-04T13:16:46Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > these are third party groups as well. They are descriptions of specific types of behavior. That there are multiple people who engage in them doesn’t make them the equivalent of racial/ethnic/differently abled/physically distinguishable/etc. groups. It’s an entirely false equivalence. > [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > What is the difference between a slur based on gender and slur based on weight? Does one hurt a person less than the other? I’m certainly going to think poorly of the person who uses either one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474.md?page=41)