A Massachusetts university compiled a growing list of words and phrases it considers “oppressive” and discouraged people from using them.

The phrase “killing it,” for example, is language Brandeis University wants people to stop using.

"If someone is doing well, we don’t need to equate that to murder," Brandeis’s Prevention, Advocacy, and Resource Center wrote in a new "oppressive language list."

The list is divided into five categories: violent language, identity-based language, language that doesn’t say what we mean, culturally appropriative language, and person-first alternatives.


“Take a shot/stab at,” “trigger warning,” and “go off the reservation” are all on the “violent language” list because they “needlessly use imagery of hurting someone or something.”

People should also stop using “rule of thumb,” another phrase on the list, as the “expression allegedly comes from an old British law allowing men to beat their wives with sticks no wider than their thumb.”

The “identity-based language” list includes terms that are masculine-dominant, such as “you guys,” “policeman,” “congressman,” and "freshman.”

“Ladies and gentlemen,” a phrase often used to address a crowd of mixed genders, should also not be used, as it is “within the gender binary, which doesn’t include everyone.”

The term “African American” should also stop being used. “Black” is listed as a “possible alternative” as “not all Black people are from Africa and/or America.”

Even a more generic term such as “people of color” is considered “oppressive,” as the center said: “If you are talking about a specific racial group, name the group you are talking about.”

Similarly, “transsexual” is a word people “outside of that group should not use.” Instead, the school recommends people simply refer to them as “trans and gender non-conforming folk.”

The word "picnic" also made the list because it is "often associated with lynchings of Black people in the United States, during which White spectators were said to have watched while eating, referring to them as picnics or other terms involving racial slurs against Black people."

The university also encourages people to stop using words such as “crazy," "insane," "wild," "lame," or "walk-in,” as in a walk-in appointment, because they are “ableist.”

Brandeis’s PARC discouraged the use of euphemisms, vagueness, or any “language that doesn't say what we mean.”

The “oppressive” list also discourages the use of “victim,” “survivor,” “addict,” “prostitute,” or “homeless person.”

In April 2015, Brandeis University launched an effort to raise awareness of microaggressions against Asian students. At the time, the school installed a display that recognized microaggressive phrases, including, “Aren’t you supposed to be good at math?” and “I’m colorblind! I don’t see race.”

The display was controversial, and after backlash from the Asian students it attempted to help, who said the display was a microaggression, it was removed.

The association and its president apologized to the student body and to anyone who was “triggered or hurt by the content of the microaggressions.”


Seems to me that the College should be TEACHING Students the skills needed for their EDUCATION , so that they can get good jobs. Who came up with all this "don't say anything that might offend someone", nonsense???

Well thats retarded.
I can say that cause it's not on the list.

I have to agree with this one. Can't remember the last time I met a proper gentleman or a lady.

Well I have a few words for them to add to the list and I plan to keep using them.

Heard at work that “they” want to start calling us journeypersons instead of journeyman and also not calling ourself power lineman anymore. What a joke. Wonder if my license will ever say journeyperson lineperson.

This country is going to hadies in a handbasket.

These doodle heads (not on the list) don't seem to realize what human history has taught. They missed that class I guess.
You can't legalize righteous behavior. The self-righteous always think they can. They never, ever stop being self-righteous and they are dim-wits (not on the list).
Words matter of course. It's one of the ways we humans communicate, but if they think that not saying a word(s) will change someone's heart, they are either;
A. Ignorant or B. Foolish.

Change of heart starts with a person own heart, not the words someone else casts at it.

What they propose is 100% worthless. Maybe more.

Blessings,
Mark

The bigger question is when the individual was explaining all of that why didn’t someone punch them in the mouth?

That someone didn’t, is a much bigger concern.

I doubt punching will prove any point to the dudes and dudettes who think the word "picnic" might be offensive.
They'll just want to outlaw knuckles after an upper cut.

Been going on for years on various iterations. Y'all need better news sources.

The left side of the equation doesn't care about American history or equality. It's all about getting what they want. And having a puppet in charge that repeats what he's told isn't helping.

I disagree. When I was a kid growing up a quick hand stalled stupidity.

Didnt do that sorta thing in my college. All we did was study, drink beer, and chase girls.

I'm not a pacifist HT, but you won't be able to convince me a knuckle sandwich changes the person getting smacked at their core. Maybe make them afraid of you, or stop them for that moment.

You didn't ever have after school fights turn into bigger after school fights the day after?
If not, then you didn't grow up with the kiddos around me.
They loved a good fight those Irish kids or the tough dudes from the "Boy's Farm"... as it was called then.
It's probably called something pretty now, if it's still there.

An eye for an eye is the polar opposite of the True meaning of that verse but we sure like to think we have license for revenge.

Blessings,
Mark

It was going on in the 70's already with the hippie counterculture. Negro, Afro-American, African American, Black and People of Color is one example of the progression. Ever since Vietnam the colleges have become a haven for the perpetually offended.

HT,
I gotta be honest. If there's not a couple auto spell check errors in this sentence, I can't make a heads or a tails from your post.
I'm not sure but you may be calling me stupid for not believing as you do?
I think you're proud of T-shirts?
You consider eye for eye education?
And PBUY? <<< I don't speak that language.
Did you get popped a bunch by the other kids growing up?
If so, they may have been educatin' you.

Hobbie talks big. I'm still waiting for him to start his civil war, armed resistance or whatever.

I doubt he's ever punched anyone. Punched by others? Very likely.

Back to the actual topic...colleges are screwed up but raise kids right and they'll get an education and come out just fine.

Agreed Blaine County > universities as a whole have changed even in our lifetime. They are heavily staffed by progressives as we know, and since our culture is a culture that gravitates towards those we admire.... young brains can fall for something if they don't stand for anything.

Isn't there a song about that?

Blessings,
Mark