this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2023
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What's an equivalent replacement for the word "lame"? (beehaw.org)
submitted 1 year ago by FlickOfTheBean@beehaw.org to c/chat@beehaw.org
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I don't know if I'm just becoming overly sensitive to my own language or if this is an actual issue, so feel free to let me know if it seems that I just need to grow thicker skin, but still.

I keep getting this uneasy feeling whenever I use the word "lame" and I think it's because I'm starting to realize it's technically ableist. However, there's no single non-profane word that I know of that fits the niche that I use it in.

For example, I wrote out something earlier about a behavior I do that I don't like that I do because I think it's kind of shitty behavior, but it's overall harmless. I use lame to describe it casually. I could also call it kind of shitty, as I did before, but not to audiences that I don't want to use profanity around.

Anyone know of a word I can replace "lame" with?

I'd say maybe weak, but that's got its own baggage that I'm not sure I'm ok with switching to. Annoying is too strong of a word for what I'm going for. Maybe lame is a short word for "this makes me feel slightly sad"?

Idk, so I open it up to the public: Is this even an issue or am I being too sensitive? Could this be solved in a single replacement word or do I need a whole ass phrase to express this?

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[–] VoxAdActa@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Maybe use “sucks”?

"Sucks" has homophobic/misogynist roots, though, and they're much more recent than the ableist usage of "lame". Even the 1950's version of "sucks eggs" wasn't actually talking about the things that come from a chicken.

[–] liv@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah if I say something sucks, I find myself often adding "and not in a good way".

[–] mom@nom.mom 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks, I didn't realize that, either. I always thought it literal eggs, or literal lemons, or literal donkey-balls.... (none of which sound pleasant to me)

This whole thread is enlightening to me, so thanks for asking and making your language more inclusive, OP!