Rules of thumb on when something's offensive/slur/innappropriate:

Is the word pejoratively used generally on a person/group with a physical/mental/unchangeable characteristic?

Is the word pejoratively used generally on someone of a specific gender or race?

Is the word generally used pejoratively to describe or make fun of someone with a physical or mental challenge?

Does the word enhance or contribute to stereotypical views, or encourage statements about people with one of the above characteristics? (x group is all smart, bookworms, y group runs fast, z group good with money, xy group has sticky fingers, etc.)

If any of the above are the case, the term you're using is going to cause problems.

Now you may feel it's appropriate given the point you are trying to make (and no, a certain presidential candidate and the interview of this person's mother over a decade ago doesn't mean you're in the clear when you use one particular term)...but i digress

Rather than being the language police, I just want to point out that using the term pretty much renders intelligent discussion of the point you're trying to make impossible. That is unless your interest in using the term was to talk about why they exemplify that term in the first place.

I'm not saying use or don't use all terms, but generally speaking, that is the right answer. But I'm realistic and I did laugh at Tropic Thunder (albeit nervously in reference to a term I'm uncomfortable with).

That said, even if you feel justified in using a term, don't act surprised and mortified when someone calls you out on it. That's almost as annoying as using offensive terms in the first place.

:hide:

(on edit, refined this a little adding "pejorative")

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"men", "women", "brunette", "tall", fits one or both and are not normally offensive unless used with the latter two.

that being said, I agree with what Hannah says above.

in this scenario might be considered inappropriate.. just saying. ;)

"Political correctness" is a handy-dandy tool of the right wing to legitimate rudeness, bigotry, and hatred and to diminish the voice of victims of same.

Yeah, I saw your apology and your clever (but unsuccessful) rewind at the end.

Any reasonably intelligent adult knows...or should know...what is likely to offend someone.

Vile names is one of those things.

One person may not vulgar to another. And I'm not talking about the big ones - more the borderline stuff.

It refers to the width of the stick you are legally allowed to use to beat your wife.

cockamamie cockalorums of a virulent uber-right persuasion who spew mendacious, duplicitous, disingenuous, and reichous hypocrisy? :patriot: