• over_clox@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    And if I called Google AI as dumb as a box of rocks, isn’t that also just about as insulting?

    My own computer is a piece of shit by modern day standards. Is my computer offended when I call it a piece of shit? Nope.

    Again, I’m not insulting a person, so I don’t see how anyone would take it personally or get offended. Totally different context.

    • BossDj@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      The problem is the conflation. You’re expressing your disgust or dislike toward something. So when you use bigoted language or slurs toward anyone or anything, it’s akin to saying “I hate this as much as I hate mentally challenged people” or “this AI is as stupid as a mentally challenged person.” You’re creating a comparison/analogy to express lack of intelligence rather than just saying “dumb as a box of rocks”.

      Maybe in your mind you mean ‘retarded’ in the mechanical sense, but unfortunately it already has a connotation with our society. You can’t, for example, put a swastika on something and expect people to be ok with it when you explain that you mean it in the “peace” sense.