Talk:Dumb

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redirects to speech disorder???

Why does this article redirect to speech disorder? As a person with a speech impediment, I am irritated by this. --Der Sporkmeister 18:08, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

I fixed it. Redirection to idiot is more appropriate. --Der Sporkmeister 18:11, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

Umm, no "idiot" is not more appropriate. Dumb was initially a term for people who could not speak, and only later took on any relation to a general insult (similar to the term "Gay" I believe). I went searching for this article because I wanted to look up origins of the term, and make sure I have facts straight (since I've never done any real research on the topic). Redirecting me to idiot doesn't help me at all. On the other hand, if I was searching for something about stupidity, I could search for "idiot" "stupid" "moron" and so forth--it's incredibly unlikely that a reader would not know any synonyms. --metroid composite 23 August, 2005

Dumb was originally the term for people who could not speak? Could you give me your source of that information? If this is true, I think the most appropriate thing would be to turn this into a disambiguation page with a link to speech disorder and one to idiot. --Der Sporkmeister 20:15, 25 August 2005 (UTC)

Scratch providing the source. I did a quick look in the dictionary and you are correct, dumb is a word for people incapable of speaking. Muteness is a speech disorder.

I am going to turn this into a disambiguation page. If you object to this, let's discuss it here before reverting the article. --Der Sporkmeister 20:25, 25 August 2005 (UTC)

Editing comment about "dumb" being derogatory. In the UK, "dumb" for those who cannot speak is in common use. Chris talk back 23:40, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] offensive?

i just cut "This use is considered politically incorrect and often offensive in the U.S., though this usage is generally accepted in the UK." does anyone have a source for this? because i, and all my friends i've asked (i know this is hardly a conclusive poll), have never heard any inkling that it might be an offensive word. i always thought it was just the word for not being able to speak. if someone has a source i have no problem with it going back, of course, but it seems suspect to me right now. --dan 08:49, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Dumb may be in use in the UK, and may, in fact, be used in the US, but if anyone thinks being called "dumb" for any reason is not offensive, then that person is one who has never been called dumb for a reason. It is a bad word. Doug

Dumb as an insult means "stupid". It's a childish insult, usually, in the US. Blastedt•(talk•contribs) 19:41, 31 March 2007 (UTC)