There is never a point in time where slurs are not offensive, unless the following conditions are met:
a) it's being used by the marginalized group it describes
and
b) they're attempting to reclaim it.
It may stop being a slur entirely after it's reclaimed. "Queer" is a good example. It used to be a deadly insult to homosexual people, but now it's used commonly by just about everyone as a short-form word to describe the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.
"Dyke" is another one that's in the final stages of reclamation and is losing its slur status. I actually like the idea of trying to reclaim the word "slut" and strip away its negative connotations.
But until that's done, "slut" is still a derogatory term to describe a woman who has "too much" sex. Also, what the hell does that even mean? I mean, that's like saying "too much money" or "too much chocolate" or "too much GPU power." Is there even such a thing?
a) it's being used by the marginalized group it describes
and
b) they're attempting to reclaim it.
It may stop being a slur entirely after it's reclaimed. "Queer" is a good example. It used to be a deadly insult to homosexual people, but now it's used commonly by just about everyone as a short-form word to describe the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.
"Dyke" is another one that's in the final stages of reclamation and is losing its slur status. I actually like the idea of trying to reclaim the word "slut" and strip away its negative connotations.
But until that's done, "slut" is still a derogatory term to describe a woman who has "too much" sex. Also, what the hell does that even mean? I mean, that's like saying "too much money" or "too much chocolate" or "too much GPU power." Is there even such a thing?
attractive enmity device