Thank you, mods, for enforcing the "-tard" rule.

[Common Sense Party]

I find it disgusting that such a rule is needed on a progressive board.

Again, on behalf of my mentally challenged son, I thank you.

[lawodevolution]

1. in before the lock

[Common Sense Party]

5. I'm not sure why this thread would be deserving of a lock.

But if so, so be it.

The fact remains that creating and using these "-tard" insults is incredibly offensive and not something that should be allowed on DU. Thankfully, it isn't.

[TheWraith]

8. Usually threads talking about board moderation get locked.

The mods would rather not have attention drawn to actions taken enforcing DU rules, particularly not anything that smacks of celebration that someone got smacked down.

[Common Sense Party]

11. No, usually threads praising mods for enforcement of one of the board

rules are not locked. They are, in fact, fairly common.

In this case, I don't care who got "smacked down." I care that an offensive term was not allowed to stand.

And, yes, I would like to draw attention to the fact that it IS an offensive term, so that perhaps someone who may unconsciously use the word (or variations of it) will think twice next time.

[X_Digger]

2. Agreed. n/t

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TygrBright]

4. Having been a mod, I can tell you that during my terms this was a "no brainer."

As in, it never even needed much discussion on the mod board, unless it was a 'repeater' who was courting the granite cookie.

There are plenty of ways to point out how stupid someone is being without throwing around hurtful slurs on those living with cognitive challenges.

endorsingly,
Bright

[Common Sense Party]

6. Yup.

We have lots of bright and creative minds here at DU. Surely we can come up with better insults.

[petronius]

7. I think the mods have been doing quite a good job in this forum in general

Not heavy handed, but stepping in when necessary - here's to the mods! :toast:

(And I completely agree about your specific point, I'm unpleasantly shocked every time I see it here...)

[TygrBright]

15. Heh-heh... Back when moderators were assigned specific fora to work in...

...this one was considered, um.... a challenging assignment.

But for the most part, I think the regular posters here manage to deal with a highly contentious topic pretty well.

appreciatively,
Bright

[guitar man]

9. Hear hear!!

I heartily agree :toast:

my wife has worked as a in home care worker with the developmentally disabled for over 20 years and it galls me every time I see somebody use that slur. :grr:

[Common Sense Party]

10. Bless her for what she does. That's a great service.

And yes, it chaps my hide when I hear it. I have chewed out high schoolers for using it.

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. Yes, thank you. n/t

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. K&R

yup

[Electric Monk]

14. Taking a wild guess here, did it have anything to do with this other thread? (link)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=466805&mesg_id=466805

[Common Sense Party]

17. Nope. n/t

[ileus]

16. this is somehow gun related? how?

[Common Sense Party]

18. This happened to be the forum where the derogatory term was used

and the mods correctly locked that thread.

[ileus]

23. OIC....good job. I thought it was moved here just because

a large % of people here believe gun owners are stoopid.

[benEzra]

19. Thanks from another parent of a developmentally delayed child. (n/t)

[Spoonman]

20. I too have a mentally challenged child

and it was my comment that was deleted.

Tone, and intent determine if the use of a word is derogatory to a specific group.

I see no use in apologizing when you and I both KNOW the use of the word was NOT in any way derogatory to mentally challenged people.

[Common Sense Party]

21. FYI, this thread started LAST NIGHT and was referring to a completely

unrelated thread on this forum that had already been locked.

This has nothing to do with you.

But I think you can see that you're in the minority; many people consider it offensive and demeaning, regardless of tone or intent.

Have a good day.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

22. If there is a "-tard" rule... is there a "tard-" rule?

I call my wife a tard-vark all the time. :shrug: