Posted on 10 February, 2010 By
Kim Woodbridge
20 Comments
4 Words to Stop Using on Facebook, Twitter and your Blog
There are a number of words I am tired of seeing used on Social Media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, and by reputable bloggers.
The words are either offensive, demeaning, or have been so overused they have lost their strength.
I’m sure people will disagree with me about some of them but that’s fine – debate and differences of opinion are always good.
- Douchebag – do I even need to go into why this shouldn’t be used? It gained traction on twitter with the term “social media douchebag” to refer to someone who professes that he can get you millions of followers and help you earn lots of money. There is ever a website devoted to this. But the word is casually thrown around in a variety of contexts. It’s offensive and I find that I have less respect for those who use it so casually. If course, now people are going to find this article when searching on that word.
- Retard or tard - I work with an organization that provides services for special needs adults. Most of them are mentally retarded, although even though that is the clinical term is is not the politically correct term to use. I think it is demeaning to these special individuals to have retard and tard thrown around to refer to someone who is acting like an idiot.
- Fail – This isn’t an offensive term but has been played out. Especially when people are saying something like, “Apple named their new product iPad – name fail. I think a fail should be something a lot more serious like a structural failure if my roof caves in around me. Plus, the term has just been overused.
- Killer – Will this product be the next that product killer. It’s been overused and I don’t like the violence implied by the language.
Any others that you would like add to this list? Let’s try to remove the overuse of these words and phrases in 2010.
photo credit: cmefish
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February 10, 2010 at 7:18 am
While I disagree with the over-sensitivity aspect overall, I especially take issue with the fact that you say that you don’t think a word should be used, but decline to explain why (in the case of ‘douchebag’).
Also, as a general note, it’s odd to include one word that you find overused with three other words that you find inappropriate. It would make more sense to have it as “3 Offensive Words…” rather than “4 Words…” Plus, the link itself says “5 words”.
Respectfully,
Roni
February 11, 2010 at 9:49 am
Hi Roni – I made a couple of errors with the number of words – I actually meant to not publish this article because it wasn’t quite ready but I lost my power from the snowstorm and wasn’t able to fix it before it went out.
I am not supporting censorship – it’s more of an issue of professionalism.
Douchebag is sexist. I would much rather a word be overused that is gender neutral. I’ve found, overall, that men use it a lot more than women do.
February 10, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Loved this post, and completely agree on the overuse of “Fail.”
vered – blogger for hire´s last blog ..Torn About Fat Acceptance
February 11, 2010 at 9:49 am
Hi Vered – It’s a fail fail.
February 10, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Using ‘gay’ as a synonym for stupid has always bothered me as well. I still see it in comments on twitter, facebook, etc.
February 11, 2010 at 9:49 am
Hi Carla – That’s a good example that I didn’t think of. It seems to be used in place of lame. Not cool.
February 12, 2010 at 7:51 am
I’d venture to guess 99% of those using douchebag, actually have no clue what they are saying. lol
The same goes for retard. I always say, those that use retard as a synonym for idiot, really are. ;)
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Theme Construction Part 2 – What Should Go WITHIN The Blog? This Is The FUN Part!
February 12, 2010 at 7:54 am
Hi Dennis – Good point! When I first heard the term 5 or so years ago, I
didn’t know what it was. I asked the person who said it and he became
really embarrassed.
And I like the way you think about retard :-)
February 12, 2010 at 6:31 pm
There is always a Dennis comment across the web that I come across that makes me laugh. Spot on with your synonym Dennis. :)
Carla has already mentioned the word that I think is way overused.
Interesting post Kim.
Karl.
Karl Foxley´s last blog ..Google Page Rank Score Too Low? Keep Your Links Thank You
February 14, 2010 at 11:05 am
Hi Karl – Carla’s word should have definitely been on the list.
Dennis often has a different way of viewing things that makes me
laugh ;-)
February 13, 2010 at 10:41 pm
You do, of course, realize that idiot used to be a term for a level of mental retardation, right?
At what point do words that we use for disabled become acceptable to use to insult those that are not?
February 14, 2010 at 11:09 am
Hi Roni – I think idiot was also used for the mentally ill … what would be a better word to use for someone who is acting stupid?
February 12, 2010 at 7:50 pm
I am just hard pressed to like much of anything that falls into the dis-respectful column of words. Life is tough enough…
I was labeled retarded by the school system as a child and that label has haunted me all my days….now they have more classifications Dsycalcula doesn’t help much, because folks just say “stupid or dumb” in their heads and proceed to act in that fashion.
I dislike the term liar too….
Patricia´s last blog ..ANTS or Automatic Negative Thinking ~REPOST
February 13, 2010 at 10:42 pm
You dislike the term ‘liar’ in what context?
Roni Weiss´s last blog ..Roni Reviews: Google Buzz (AKA “Don’t use Google Buzz”)
February 14, 2010 at 11:10 am
Hi Patricia – Being labeled a certain way can be difficult as a child.
I’m curious about liar too – is it when it is used in a certain way?
February 13, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Thanks Kim.
You’ve hit on the head one of the most annoying things out there. A long time ago I used to peruse Craigslist Rants and Raves section and suddenly realized how degrading and negative all of the stuff there truly was. I think most of these words started over there. Blech.
George
George Angus´s last blog ..Jazzed About #MOJOtweet: A Book Review
February 14, 2010 at 11:11 am
Hi George – I don’t think things start on Craigslist – I think it tends to attract a certain type of person. Or it could be an age thing.
February 21, 2010 at 11:01 pm
I do not mind when someone points out that another is fabricating a statement: such as: “no terrorists acts happened during the Bush administration” and they run the tape about 9/11 to remind folks that is not true…
But there are lots of folk who do not think and integrate ideas as fast as I do or as creatively as I do…and there is always someone to jump into the fray to say LIAR and label it as something that does not need to be understood or can be dismissed. I notice that usage a great deal on the internet to discredit or blame…and on the news too…That form of LIAR is so derogatory and insipid.
Patricia´s last blog ..Questions of Practice
February 22, 2010 at 10:41 am
Hi Patricia – So, it’s more when the term is used to discount another’s point of view …?
February 22, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Yes! and to demean or belittle the person – make irrelevant . The radio hosts who are so conservative use it all the time and now people just seem to be using it all over the media sites too.
Patricia´s last blog ..Questions of Practice