The following language is prohibited on this blog:
Hateful / Phobic language that harms and otherizes people, particularly marginalized people. This includes (but is not limited to) language that is hateful and/or phobic of:
- QUILTBAG people
- queer people
- intersex people
- lesbian people
- trans people
- bi people
- asexual people
- gay people
- otherkin people
- religious people
- atheist people
- fat people
- people with-or-without children
- people with disabilities
- people of color
- people of any gender whatsoever
Ableist language deserves a special mention because is so heavily entwined in our culture that even advanced feminists are not always aware of what is and isn't appropriate to say in a Safe Space. The following words are not allowed in this space:
- Blind as a metaphor. ("I am legally blind" is acceptable. "The blind leading the blind" is not.)
- Crutch as a metaphor. ("I am using crutches" is acceptable. "Religion is a crutch" is not.)
- Deaf as a metaphor. ("I am deaf in one ear" is acceptable. "Deaf to my request" is not.)
- Retarded (and "-tard" variations, including fucktard.)
- Vegetable as a reference to people in comas.
That's a lot of words, isn't it? Do you think it's totally unfair that we have so many ableist words in our cultural vocabulary to the point where communication is sometimes difficult once they have been declared off-limits? I do too! Get mad at our culture for making us reliant on them, and not at me for banning them from this space. Here is a nice list of alternative words.
Caveat To The Above: Potentially triggering language is allowable in this space for purposes of deconstruction or reclamation. Language deconstruction generally seeks to show why slurs are not legitimate; here is an example that focuses heavily on misogynistic and ableist language. Language reclamation generally seeks to reclaim words for non-slur purposes; here is an example of a magazine named after a well known misogynistic slur. If I can't clearly tell from the context of your post that you are deconstructing or reclaiming a word, and especially if you are not a member of the affected group (i.e., neurotypical people do not get to 'reclaim' words associated with mental illness), then you are using it wrong.
Comments which seek to deconstruct and/or reclaim triggering language must have an appropriate content note.