The Newest Addition to the “Inclusive Language Guide” Saga…

Words… who needs ’em, ammiright?

I’m thinking we do need them… even though we’re trying to be convinced that none of these changes really matter in the grand scheme of things.

These master lists of “no-no” words really drive me up a wall, so I figured I’d share…

From The College Fix:

The latest “inclusive language” guide offering comes from Michigan State University where now even words like “bunny,” “gift” and “nickname” are considered offensive.

The guide, courtesy of the school’s Brand Studio, states that “in alignment with strategic efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion […] Michigan State University values communications practices that support belonging for all Spartans.”

Under the guide’s Gender and Sexuality section, officials recommend avoiding terms like “female” (“reduces women to their assumed biological anatomy”), “sex change” (“gender transition” is better) and “nickname.” In this age of gender fluidity and gender pronouns, using “nickname” could “imply that a person’s name is a substitute for their legal name.”

In the Race and Ethnicity section, terms to avoid include “Blacks” (allegedly derogatory), “Caucasian” and “racial minority” (reasons not explained), and “at-risk.” The latter supposedly puts the onus of responsibility on the individual rather than “structural” factors.

The section on disability deems all of the following terms “ableist”: “crazy,” “insane,” “bonkers,” “nuts,” “psycho,” “demented,” “senile,” “loony,” “lunatic,” “psychotic,” “addict,” “invalid,” “vegetable,” “paralyzed,” “lame,” “madhouse,” “tone-deaf,” “spazzing out,” “braindead” and “blindly.”

One should also skip “special” when referencing a person who’s intellectually underdeveloped. (Tell that to the Special Olympics.)

But it’s the guide’s section on Global Identity that’s arguably the biggest head-scratcher. Deep-thinking Michigan State DEI officials believe the following “references to majority imagery” should be bypassed: “merry,” “Christmas trees,” “wreaths,” “holly,” “bells,” “gifts,” “reindeer,” “bunnies,” “eggs” and “chicks.” (And don’t forget “America” too as, after all, Central and South Americans also, technically, are “Americans.”)

I honestly feel like we’re running out of words to find offensive here… I mean, you’ve got your obviously offensive use of the word “female.” Old news.

Then you’ve got “sex change,” and “racial minority.” Yawn.

But now you’ve got stuff like “bells,” “bunnies,” “eggs,” “chicks,” “wreaths,” and “gifts” because they might be affiliated with a holiday someone chooses to ignore? Seriously?

I had eggs for breakfast this morning, so what am I supposed to say?? The unfertilized potential offspring of a being that identifies as a domesticated junglefowl? Sunny side up.

GTF outta here with this bullsh*t… This honestly gets more and more ridiculous as time goes on.

If you really buy into the  “inclusivity” mirage on a level that’s this extreme, you are absolutely getting played like a cheap kazoo by people who couldn’t care less about you. Just sayin’…