OOH! OOH! It's called "semantic change"! It's a thing!

I love you guys. I swear I'm like 10,000x smarter because ya'll make me think about shit I'd totally just la-la-la Scarlett O'Hara away from my brain.

I guess I don't really understand that because as far as I know the word "crazy" has never been used as anything BUT a slang term. It's never been used to mean exclusively people with true mental illnesses, has it?

I can and do see the argument applying for "OCD", or "schizo," or "insane." But crazy?

Okay, i did some reading, and it looks like the word "crazy" was used medically (though probably not exclusively so) until at least the late 19th century. But the phrase "drive someone crazy" was being used in a less severe meaning as early as 1873, the art of crazy quilting caught on around the same time, and the 20th century medical establishment has never used the term "crazy" as a diagnosis. Psychotic? Yes. Insane? Yes.

Personally, when I say "Tom Cruise is a little bit crazy" I don't mean he actually has diagnosable mental illness. I mean he regularly behaves well outside the normal distribution of human behavior. And I will always find a way to say that, frankly; judging Tom Cruise's behavior from a distance is probably not the nicest thing to do, but it's a very human thing that isn't going away any time soon.

I can see where the word "crazy" can be sensitive, but in my mind it's not incorrect to cal Tom Cruise crazy, but to call somebody who actually is struggling with manic depression crazy. I feel like the term has always been somewhat pejorative, so it should only be used in pejorative situations. This is very distinct from the word "retarded," which began as a perfectly valid medical term.

My point being, shouldn't the intent of the person using the word override the etymology IF common usage shows that general intention is not to insult or offend?

Absolutely, but there are certain instances where the word itself has such a negative connotation that will cause a reaction regardless of intent (niggardly being a prime example).

It's like negligent homicide. You didn't mean to kill/offend, but you went into it knowing that it could happen.

And frankly, I think that if you have to stop to explain etymology, it would just be easier to use something else :)

Well, if you explain it, sure. Then unless you like coming off as a pedantic, know-it-all ass, maybe using another word would be a better option. (NOTE: I am not, in any way, saying anyone on this board resembles this. Except maybe MM. He's a total ass.)

But for words like "gypped", I would venture to say that common usage does not define it as having to do with and or pertaining to the Roma.

(And ita - I hope you know I am not picking on you for calling Hec out on the word, which I totally understand. This is just something I've actually been thinking a lot about lately as Emeline's vocabulary gets more and more influenced by her peers and she asks where words come from.)

When I learned about "gypped," I was surprised, and, given the etymology, I tried to stop using it. That seemed like a clear slur, like "gay" to mean "stupid." I think I probably still use it, but maybe less.

When I learned about "lame," I was surprised but confused because although I could see where it came from, it seemed to me that the original usage had practically died out to be replaced by this slang term. Maybe I use it less, but I still use it.

When I learned about "crazy," I was just baffled. When I read up on it, I could see the reasons, but, like Gris said, I felt like "crazy" and its ilk had transformed into slang so strongly that they were divorced from their original meanings. I am kind of trying to use it less, but it's such a part of my lexicon and so pervasive in culture that, honestly, it's just not something I want to devote my mental and emotional energy to. Perhaps that makes me an ableist douchebag, but so be it. (Not saying anyone here would think that of me, but, oh, some of the more passionate members of the Mark Watches community, damn.)

But for words like "gypped", I would venture to say that common usage does not define it as having to do with and or pertaining to the Roma.

I don't understand how it doesn't. Most people are familiar with the word "Gypsy," which is used to refer to Romani, Irish Travellers, etc. "Gyp" is used as a derogatory term to mean swindle, steal, cheat, con, etc., which is a stereotype pretty well-established with that group. How is using the first syllable of "Gypsy" *not* related to Gypsies/Romani/Travellers?

I can see where the word "crazy" can be sensitive, but in my mind it's not incorrect to cal Tom Cruise crazy, but to call somebody who actually is struggling with manic depression crazy. I feel like the term has always been somewhat pejorative, so it should only be used in pejorative situations. This is very distinct from the word "retarded," which began as a perfectly valid medical term.

I'm not sure what distinction you're making here w/r/t "crazy" and "retarded." It's okay to use "crazy" as slang because it's never had a medical-textbook clinical usage, but it's not okay to use "retarded" as slang because it did have medical-textbook clincal usage? (I'm not challenging you here; I'm just not clear on what you're saying.)

Perhaps that makes me an ableist douchebag, but so be it. (Not saying anyone here would think that of me, but, oh, some of the more passionate members of the Mark Watches community, damn.)

Shakesville is down to about 25 non-offensive terms (that's unkind of me to say, but I am amazed at things they either ban or include trigger warnings for). That's probably where I first read about "crazy." It seemed kind of ridiculous at first, but I do also see where the connotations are damaging to people with mental illness.

I know language is a changing thing ("literally" notwithstanding, god damn it), but I also want to not give offense if it's avoidable. I don't personally feel the richness of my vocabulary and ability to communicate is hampered by not using "gyp" or trying to winnow "crazy" out. (Although, again, that is REALLY fucking hard.)

Another habit I have, which causes me a lot of shame, is calling people pussies. Yikes. Or "don't be such a GIRL!" Gotta stop that, god DAMN.

But for words like "gypped", I would venture to say that common usage does not define it as having to do with and or pertaining to the Roma.

I don't understand how it doesn't. Most people are familiar with the word "Gypsy," which is used to refer to Romani, Irish Travellers, etc. "Gyp" is used as a derogatory term to mean swindle, steal, cheat, con, etc., which is a stereotype pretty well-established with that group. How is using the first syllable of "Gypsy" *not* related to Gypsies/Romani/Travellers?

I did stop using it once I knew, but I am pretty sure that I found out sometime in the last 10 years that the word wasn't "jipped" and I was actually unfamiliar with the stereotype- I thought of Gypsies as fun loving people who liked to tell fortunes! I think I was living under a rock, because I also thought that you "chewed" someone down.

Another habit I have, which causes me a lot of shame, is calling people pussies. Yikes. Or "don't be such a GIRL!" Gotta stop that, god DAMN.

When a situation arises such as that, I like "big ball of bitch", as in "don't be a"

What's the etymology of wus or wussies? That could be a reasonable sub, maybe.