I've been working on removing stuff from my vocabulary, too. Being mindful of my language often leads me into a "wait, is that offensive?" research spiral.

Ha! Re: dork. I stopped using it because I thought someone told me it was a slur for someone with CP! Maybe I am confusing it with "spaz"???? Yes, that's what. I don't use either. So am I okay with going back to "dork"?

So am I okay with going back to "dork"?

I think so!

I'm forgetting something about why you'd think to say "mental" a lot, java, aren't I?

It's because I watched so much Ricky Gervais and his character in Extras says it all the time. I think in BBC Office it's used too. But my colleagues in Oxford say it all the time, too. I did kind of gently steer them away from it on my last visit, but they TOTALLY were caught off guard by it being considered a slur.

ETA: it was also the most used insult at Goldsmiths of fellow students

I'm looking at the Met Ball red carpet pics. [link]

It's early but I'm calling NPH and his partner for fug of the night. [link]

Wow. That is certainly a fashion statement. And with no socks, too!

It's one thing to use ableist language when you're unaware, but if you've had your privilege checked and respond by trolling everyone, then you are an asshole.

Exactly!

And glad to hear dork isn't something I'm missing!

I feel like a lot of those terms fell out of my daily use because they reminded me of how I spoke in middle school rather than for any high-minded reasons on my part. "Retarded" I had to make myself drop, because I clearly recognized the derivation and realized it was uncool.

WRT dork: so it's not just me in feeling only "nerd" and "geek" have been redeemed, "dork" remains an insult?

WRT alternatives for "lame": dud? I use dud a lot to describe things that generally failed to live up to expectation, or desire.

Death Star Dress: [link]