So, I’ve been having some thoughts recently about being sensitive to other people when writing fiction. If you were here to remember that discrimination post I made a while back, it’s kind of related.
Maybe I’m suddenly overthinking, but you know how we use the words “blind” or “deaf” to mean someone who isn’t facing the situation or not listening? Maybe we shouldn’t be using those words at all? I’m not talking about dialogue in fiction, but the narration parts.
Warning: I need to give examples because otherwise, you won’t know what I’m referring to. But I will be blurring these words because they are offensive. View at your own discretion. I might delete them later if even blurring them makes people uncomfortable. So, if you don’t even want to see their existence, let me know and I will delete them. I want this to be a positive discussion space after all
Remember when we might have once said “cripple” or “dwarf” (or midget, even worse) to someone with a physical disability? It might have been the norm then, but then we grow and learn that it’s offensive and hurts people.
I remember a time where people used the r word “retard” freely (You may or may not remember this time). But we have since learned that it is not a nice word to use. Extremely offensive. Do not use it. There might be people in here who used to use it but have since stopped because they learned. And that’s wonderful. Awesome.
Also saying someone is a “psycho” if they were acting “crazy” or did or said something extreme was a normal insult as well, but we have learned how offensive it is. If I remember correctly, it was even considered “cool” to use words like that. Oh my gosh.
That got me thinking about “blind” and “deaf”. Can we really claim those words if we’re not part of the community? Are those words not offensive? Should we stop using them like we have other words?
“Turn a blind eye” shouldn’t be used at all, perhaps? “His words fell on deaf ears” could be offensive? What about saying “It was like he was paranoid”? or “she couldn’t fall asleep like an insomniac” or “she was insane/crazy/mad to think of that” or “there was a method to their madness”?
What’s okay? What’s not? Where do we draw the line for words we can or cannot use? Is there even a line?
Or am I overthinking this whole thing and should relax about it. “Turn a blind eye” “fall on deaf ears” are idioms. It’s fine. Or is it?
You know how bad I am at keeping up discussions? I’m always like “ooh! good point” “ooh! another good point” “oooh! interesting” and take such a long time to form my own thoughts and ask additional questions. So, I might not respond right away, but I am reading the responses. And I might ask some people questions but not everyone. Just so you know.