College Campaigns Against Offensive Language Such As 'Derp,' 'Wuss,' and 'you guys'

[Pinkie-Dawn]

A Minnesota college has launched a campaign to warn students about the "oppressive impact" of offensive language such as "wuss" and "you guys."

The More Than Words: Inclusive Language Campaign was created by Macalester College's Department of Multicultural Life in order to "raise awareness about the importance of using inclusive language." The campaign includes a series of YouTube videos and posters around campus.

"I don't consciously do it, but I'll say 'You guys!' or 'We should do something together, guys!' and I don't even consciously...like, usually I'm addressing a group of all girls," a Macalester College University student said in a video in August.

"I joke around with my friends like 'Don't be a wuss, don't be a girl,' come on just do this," another student said. "I never really took the time to think about what that meant, and how loaded that phrase was."

Though there initially were only a handful of posters instructing students not to use certain words, they quickly multiplied, Macalester senior Daniel Surman told Campus Reform in an interview Monday.

"The first wave was [words] like 'gay,' 'girl,' 'retarded'," Surman said. "Then they had a second wave where suddenly the posters increased in number remarkably … that showed all of these other words that weren't included before."

The posters instruct students to avoid words such as "crazy" or "derp" and replace them with "person with a mental health condition" or "person with a learning or cognitive disability."

"And that's when people started being like, 'is this seriously happening?" Surman said.

The campaign's website lists even more words, such as "lame," which have an "oppressive impact in our society." Other posters instruct students not to use the phrase "illegal alien" or "handicapped."

The college also released multiple videos, one of which featured comments from a professor.

"Our culture is heterosexist, it's racist, it's patriarchal. It's transphobic, homophobic, ageist, ableist," SooJin Pate, a Visiting Assistant Professor of American Studies, said in another video.

"Our language... not only reflects that culture but also creates it," she continued.

Surman said students have not been formally punished for using offensive language in the past, but the college has hosted town hall meetings in response to offensive language.

Source: https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=5481

Words cannot describe how utterly ridiculous it is to consider such as simple and harmless words as offensive. Have we gone off the deep end on what is considered inappropriate language? Should these college students try to grow thicker skins?

 

[Fernbutter]

This is by far one of the most ridiculous articles that I have ever read in such a time. That is what I would consider going off the deep end, with low tolerance for words like these, it might as well be in Maryland. I am not completely sure if I understood what some of these were meant to imply, but if it was the students themselves that had requested these words be considered as such, then yes, they need to grow a backbone or something, maybe a brain while they're at it.

Overall this is just ridiculous.

 

[Eevee-Kins]

I mean, using words like "gay" and "retarded" can be seen as offensive but the other words aren't, calling someone a wuss or a derp is usually used in joking context.
Some people are just too sensitive...

 

[Sydian]

I definitely understand "retarded" being offensive, and it has its own campaign entirely (Spread the Word to End the Word), but "you guys?" What? I don't know about you other ladies, but I'm not bothered by that at all. I consider "guys" used in that context to just be a general term for everyone, not just males. It's never bothered me. "Wuss" sounds like something you'd tell elementary school children not to say, not everyone everywhere. Seems like this is going too far.

 

[Corvus of the Black Night]

Coming from someone who technically has a neurological condition this is literally the most retarded ♥♥♥♥ I have read all week. Next.

(Also, "you guys"? How the ♥♥♥♥ is that even offensive?)

There's this thing going on on tumblr to ban the word "bossy" too for being misogynistic and uh... can someone explain to me how the ♥♥♥♥ that's even... no. I'm tired of these offensive word campaigns. The level of stupid confounds me.

 

[Sopheria]

I don't have any problem with swear words either, but I don't see what the big deal is with this campaign. It's not like they're making rules or punishing people for using swear words, so I don't see what the big deal is. A school could start a "no playing video games on a school night and go to bed at 8pm" campaign and I could care less as long as they're not forcing me to comply.

 

[Sylphiel]

I can understand trying to get rid of some of those words, and I'd agree with that, though then there's stuff like this:

The posters instruct students to avoid words such as "crazy" or "derp" and replace them with "person with a mental health condition" or "person with a learning or cognitive disability."

Which boggles my mind, because what is it even trying to accomplish. You're just going for semantics at that point; assuming people are trying to use it as a pejorative and not just dropping it in casual speech, you're saying the exact same thing in the exact same context, just with more words.

...So what's the point?

It seems like a good idea in theory, but then goes overboard way too quickly. :(

 

[Corvus of the Black Night]

I don't have any problem with swear words either, but I don't see what the big deal is with this campaign. It's not like they're making rules or punishing people for using swear words, so I don't see what the big deal is. A school could start a "no playing video games on a school night and go to bed at 8pm" campaign and I could care less as long as they're not forcing me to comply.

It does matter because many individuals actually carry this kind of behaviour every day. I've had people lose their ♥♥♥♥ at me because I called them "stupid" or "dumb" because it's apparently a slur for mentally disadvantaged people now (even though I would never use it to describe such a person). I know I USE actual slurs like a sailor, and even then it's like... context is important. Going around and blanketing terms that made someone get all puffy isn't helping ♥♥♥♥ and it's making our language more convoluted. I find it bizarre that it's moved to a college enviornment.

 

[Eevee-Kins]

I find it bizarre that it's moved to a college enviornment.

If this was a high school or middle school, it might be easier to understand but a college..?
And yes, context is completely important.

 

[CoffeeDrink]

Great Scott, koff~

Well, I do say that the students of today seem to lack that emphatic 'oomph' most gentlemen had in days of yester-yore. If something had upset oneself, the other's nose would surely show the brunt such foul displeasure. Why, I would go so far as to say these wimps go about being just as useful as a wet towel. The ninnies probably would protest against most basic language, and do not have an appetite for the finer points in the English language. I say, they almost beg for people to jolly-jove them up the rear as for how weak-willed they maintain their persons. I do have such a cheerful time prodding them with my word sword. Wagging chins I say. Perhaps the group will spy the futility in their ways of blatant stupidity. Cheerio, koffi~

 

[Silais]

People really need to realize that they simply can't take offense to everything; at some point, it becomes exceedingly ridiculous. If you are personally offended by the use of a neutral word such as "girl" or "derp", you probably have deep emotional issues and cannot take any sort of perceived criticism.

 

[£]

Great Scott, koff~

Well, I do say that the students of today seem to lack that emphatic 'oomph' most gentlemen had in days of yester-yore. If something had upset oneself, the other's nose would surely show the brunt such foul displeasure. Why, I would go so far as to say these wimps go about being just as useful as a wet towel. The ninnies probably would protest against most basic language, and do not have an appetite for the finer points in the English language. I say, they almost beg for people to jolly-jove them up the rear as for how weak-willed they maintain their persons. I do have such a cheerful time prodding them with my word sword. Wagging chins I say. Perhaps the group will spy the futility in their ways of blatant stupidity. Cheerio, koffi~

So much love for you. <3 A+++ post pretty much saves me writing anything. Even included ninnies. What a fiendish word. Definitely one they'll be pushing a ban on.

I believe the English language should be expressed ♥♥♥♥ing freely. And I think that sums it up. Each and every word has a time and a place. Getting offended by certain words is pitiful in my book. I do wonder how many words in this post will be censored in 50 years time at this rate.

 

[maccrash]

Hahaha this is awful. I'm pretty sure it's vaguely sexist to consider "you guys" misogynistic at all tbh. A prime example of people overthinking everything and then being idiotic.

However, saying something like "oh wow that English test was some gay ♥♥♥♥" is really ♥♥♥♥ing stupid, and I hear it all the time at school. It doesn't even make sense as to how that somehow got twisted into becoming an insult. People don't even think before they say something to this effect, which is both oddly comforting and obviously dumb. Thing about that (and retarded for that matter) is that people aren't saying this and thinking to themselves "oh I just totally WRECKED all the homosexuals in the world!!", they're just using it to get their point across. There's obviously better words for it, and I don't use 'em for that purpose, merely playing devil's advocate.

 

[Corvus of the Black Night]

People really need to realize that they simply can't take offense to everything; at some point, it becomes exceedingly ridiculous. If you are personally offended by the use of a neutral word such as "girl" or "derp", you probably have deep emotional issues and cannot take any sort of perceived criticism.

I swear I think this is the generation of "Let's try really hard to get offended by something!"

 

[BadPokemon]

I don't like bad language one bit and certainly don't say them, but this has gone too far. I think retarded is offensive and stuff, but wuss. I haven't heard the word in years. You guys- seriously? How is lame bad? I can understand campaigning against the four letter words. I don't have much of a problem with people who do curse, but I hate the words. They can make you sound uneducated and stuff.

 

[Entermaid]

Haha. Most derp-worthy moments are performed by those with relatively operational mental faculties. So...should I call my friends cognitively impaired? Would that not draw a syllogism between the definitions of derp and cognitively-impaired? I have never heard the two words used synonymously since they both have different connotations.

That party was cray...I mean, that party had a mental health condition. Jeez..I mean, divine idol or spirit of Christianity, I can't believe I almost offended so many special needs, I mean, person with a learning disability and cognitive impairments.


"Special Ed"???? What???? My mother has a professional degree in "Special Education" and works with the state "special" needs division. The needs are special since they are specifically tailored to the needs of students. Each student has a specialized progress plan; no special needs students have the same situation or set of goals given a variety of needs to meet their cognitive and emotional impairments. Further, special needs doesn't just include cognitive impairments. As stated, emotional impairment among other distinct classifications are needed to identify a student, thus "special(ized)!" Replacing these umbrella words with precise phrasings that are not accurate, like cognitive impairments, doesn't fully embody the classification. Further, it's unnecessary to state long phrases, "those with emotional, developmental, cognitive among other impairments".

Illegal alien? I don't understand how that is offensive. Should it be phrased, those-originally-from-other-countries-that-now-reside-in-the-United-States-without-any-legal-recognition-but-they-should-have-recognition-since-that-would -be-politically-correct? Illegal alien is the term used in LAW. Meaning 'not legal' 'person from outside the country', in reference to their residency in the U.S. If this advocate is trying to say "alien" is offensive, they fail to understand what it's origin and usage in our legal system is.


This is a matter of context. Like, "Jew" being used as a verb for cheap. The word "Jew" can be used offensively, but it doesn't mean that therefore we should not refer to Jewish people as "Jews". That' just ridiculous.

Nearly all of these words, aside from some standouts like 'retarded' are being misconstrued in this campaign. They are fine or neutral words, but can be used in offensive context. The over focus on language control doesn't address the real issue-context.

Will this filtering of language affect classes??!?

I mean, if words must be sanitized, to the point they don't even resemble textbook and societal/government terminology...I don't know. I would never let myself, family, or friends go to a school that wastes resources and dilutes language that isn't actually offensive in of itself and penalizing the use of words that are accepted into legal and professional terminology.

Ugh, this reminds me of that cultural diversity class where we could only refer to two racial groups. People of color and People no of color. Really? I gritted my teeth the whole class. This "political correctness" actually creates a racial binary. White and non-white, or color and non-color. (but, I wanted to get my A in a general education course so...)

Language is a barrier. We should not bar it's usage or get hung up on connotations if not necessary...otherwise policy debate becomes semantics wars. I learned more than anything from courses when we discussed rape, race, sexuality, gender, murder/war, incest, among other topics of contention without the restriction on language, but rather a focus on the message conveyed. We were instructed to frame ideas to produce the least amount of ambiguity; often conventional phrases must be employed to have a standardized understanding of the words being used. This whole sanitation of language can have an adverse effect of causing polarization among cultures, the educated and the non-educated, or liberals vs conservatives, ect. Both sides waste so much breath on meaningless, clean, santized language without any hint of logic or substance. (And "the people" eat it up.) Essentially, once a candidate frames a sentence or phrase, it can be spun, again and again by Fox and CNN in order to change the intent. Focus on the meanings, context, and ideas; STOP THIS EXCESSIVE LANGUAGE SCRUTINY!!!

Sorry...yet another annoying rant by yours truly :)

 

[gimmepie]

Uh... what?

This is just stupid, how any of you managed to write a decent sized paragraph I'll never know. Yes, some words can be very offensive and should be phased out or not used in certain contexts (ie. gay as a derogative term or retarded) but this is just out of control.

This is so stupidly PC that it is bordering on oppression through language, it's like George Orwell's 1984 is becoming a reality. Grow up and grow a thicker skin people, this ridiculous campaign is even taking terms out of context and trying to claim that they are bad for society for crying out loud. Just, what the ♥♥♥♥?

 

[Tek]

This reminds me of another thread posted by some touchy-feely dummy (/self deprecation).

Looks like everyone here has had basically the same reaction, and I'm not surprised. There are, undoubtedly, legitimate reasons to criticize this movement. The one that stands out most to me, is political correctness for its own sake - this engenders only frustration.

But can we also acknowledge that there is something very deep and very important going on here? What we can learn from this is to be conscious when we speak, and to be courteous enough to other people to stop and think, "Is this going to make you feel bad?" before opening our mouths.

It's not that much to ask, and to get angry at someone for asking you to be thoughtful and respectful is deeply selfish. If you enjoy the right to speak in public, it follows that you should be responsible enough to do so without hurting people.

In school, there was a rhyme about sticks and stones being less hurtful than words. But I think we all know that's not the case. It would be better stated like this:

Sticks and stones may break my bones, and words can also hurt me.
Skin has healed now, bones have mended - it's words that I remember.

 

[Eevee3]

I swear I think this is the generation of "Let's try really hard to get offended by something!"

This is how I feel. I definitely feel that people are waaaaaay too sensitive nowadays. It seems like everyone is being offended at everything, just to raise attention or whatever it is they want to accomplish. It's really silly.

I feel like soon, if this stuff keeps up, we'll have to watch what we say 24/7. I hope that's not the case.

 

[AkameTheBulbasaur]

Just... wow. I've concluded that these students must have absolutely perfect lives with no problems whatsoever. I mean, if the worst thing that happens to them is that somebody uses "guys" to refer to a group of people that may or may not be male (identifying), than their lives must be heaven.

In all seriousness though, I understand that words have power and can have a lasting effect on those who hear them. However, there is a gap between being legitimately offended by someone using a slur or a term such as "gay" as an insult (instead of to describe someone's sexuality), and being a whiny baby who gets upset when somebody calls them "bossy" or whatever.

If a black person was offended if somebody called them the n-word, it would be completely understandable. That's because that word was used to dehumanize them, and therefore justify lynchings, beatings and other forms of racism. That word therefore. carries great power with it, and it's history gives it such a negative connotation that to even say it out loud feels wrong to most people.
A similar case can be made for words such as "F****t" and "retarded." Those words are commonly used to hurt, and are also commonly used to hurt a specific groups of people.

A word such as "wuss", to my knowledge anyway, does not have this connotation. This is not a word that symbolizes oppression, exploitation or dehumanization of a specific group of people. This word is usually used to call someone a weakling or a coward. The thing about the word "wuss" is that it can be used to describe anybody, regardless of skin color, gender identity, sexual orientation etc. Unless somebody can prove to me that all cowards and weaklings have a shared culture, and I don't know about it because they've been oppressed for so long, I stand by my case that "wuss" is not a slur.
Same thing with "derp." I've only heard this word relatively recently on the internet, and as far as I know, is just a general term to describe someone being ditzy.
Example: "Derp! I forgot my homework on my desk!"

TL;DR: Some words have strong connotations because they were used to degrade certain groups of people for a long time, while others are just general terms/insults that can be applied to anybody and have a similar effect.