My partner is playing through The Deadlock Protocol right now in preparation for playing the new update content, and I’m watching. And Eudico called Nef Anyo a narcissist. For those who aren’t plugged into disability discourse, “narcissist” is a slur for people living with NPD, or narcissistic personality disorder. It’s a crippling disability caused by having been abused as a child. I understand Granum calling Nef a slur, because Granum sucks. And there’s a cool dramatic irony in there that if Nef is a person living with NPD, it’s obviously Granum’s fault for being a deadbeat dad. Granum is insulting himself by using a slur, and that’s good writing. But Eudico using a slur is bad writing. It took both me and my partner right out of the story and made us feel disappointed that even the worker’s solidarity faction in warframe can’t avoid using mental health terms as insults. If anyone should be avoiding that behaviour, it’s Solaris United. It’s depressing.
“Narcissist” is not a slur about a group of people with a disease. The word refers to being self-centered in general, and comes from a Greek myth in which a young man (Narcissus) falls in love with his own reflection. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is not a “crippling disability,” it’s a personality disorder which can be worked around with counseling (psychotherapy) and effort. Calling it a “crippling disability” makes it seem insurmountable and that is not a healthy attitude. Also it isn’t caused by having been abused as a child. In fact, there’s no consensus about what causes it (or any other personality disorder). It’s believed to be a complex interaction between biological and social factors, but there is no specific formula for causing it.
Please educate yourself about these issues before criticizing others. The misinformation you’re spreading does more to harm those affected by mental illness than to help them. If you’re really interested in helping and defending them, this is not the way.
The word “narcissist” isn’t Greek, it’s English, and it comes from the English name of a disorder. The etymology of that disorder is no more relevant than the fact that “retardare” is a Latin word to determining whether it’s a slur.
I didn’t say NPD is insurmountable, I said it’s crippling. People with NPD can lead normal lives, just like people without legs can, so long as society is designed with their accessibility in mind. I’d be very surprised if you argued being born without legs isn’t a crippling disability. I don’t see why you’re making that argument in this similar case.
Yes, there is no consensus on what causes NPD. I’m citing the theory I believe. I’m also willing to cite my belief that the earth is round, despite what a controversial statement that is these days, somehow.
There’s no reason for you to be coming into this thread which is saying to treat disabled people with respect, and for you to be spreading misinformation and argument for argument’s sake. Why can’t you just agree “yes, Eudico shouldn’t have said that, it’s harmful”, and left it at that? You’re accusing the person with a disability of harmful behaviour and not the actual subject of the thread, which is a character that used a slur. Why do we disabled people have to deal with the “um, actually” brigade every time we ask for decent treatment?
https://www.google.com/search?q=narcissist+etymology
I am sorry that you and your partner have to deal with that, but you are also factually incorrect.
“Cripple” is widely considered a slur, moreso than “narcissist” by far. And the word “crippling” is idiomatically more directly related to “cripple” than “narcissist” is to “Narcissistic Personality Disorder.”
My point is that people use words all the time, and unfortunately not everyone can know everything about how every word makes everyone feel. If you are discomforted by the use of the word, it’s your right to be so; but also take into context that very few people are even aware that this word can be considered a slur.
I know lots of people don’t know it’s a slur. That’s why I made this post and included an explanation of how and why it’s a slur. I don’t know what your complaint is. I was very aware of what you’re saying and took action on it. Is your argument that I shouldn’t have told people it was a slur? Are you opposed to the concept of education? Or are you just arguing because you like to be contrary?