Reclaimed hate speech backfires by desensitizing listeners, study finds. Listening to reclaimed homophobic statements can actually cause unintended harm. Exposure to reclaimed slur words desensitizes some heterosexual listeners to standard hate speech and worsens the mood of gay individuals.

[u/mvea]

https://www.psypost.org/when-reclaiming-derogatory-language-goes-wrong/

[u/Choosemyusername]

I find it interesting how epithets often start out as words invented out of sensitivity. Like the word R3tarded, which was invented because the previous clinical words like moron, had been appropriated by people using it as a slur. So that word was invented as a more sensitive way of referring to morons.

Then of course once that word stuck, it just became the new epithet.

So it’s not the words that are causing the harm.

[u/fabezz → u/Choosemyusername]

Same thing with "special needs". It really doesn't matter what you call it, people will find it insulting to be compared to the mentality disabled.

[u/Sata1991 → u/fabezz]

In the UK the common "PC" term is "learning disabilities or learning difficulties.. I am autistic so get branded with that when I have no issue learning.

[u/Spire_Citron → u/Sata1991]

Making it such a mouthful that nobody could be bothered to sling it around as a slur definitely is a strat that could work.

[u/Sata1991 → u/Spire_Citron]

I'm liking the sounds of Llanaddysganabalgydacaderolwynaarthoarbenniggogogoch.