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What's an equivalent replacement for the word "lame"? (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

"Cringe" is seemingly used that way in current slang, though with an added layer of thought.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago

Cringe is far too overused IMHO. Especially online.

If something is "lame" it's probably unoriginal, derivative, boring, or annoying.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

“Cringe” doesn’t have the emotional devastation that “lame” with an eyeroll does, at least according to my mother.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Only because your mom grew up with lame. If she was your age and grew up with cringe, it would hit the same way. I'm a bit in that group, I just am very attached to language so am a bit more sensitive to how it's used to see the parallels.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Oh I’m not disagreeing, cringe is 1000% worse than lame to me. I just think it’s really funny how devastated she would be every time I said something she liked was “lame”.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Your mother is wrong:

IDC lame but I'd move mountains to avoid being cringe

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

You try telling my mother she’s wrong, I’m not fighting that woman over something subjective like “cringe” lol

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

"Cringe" is still a verb to many people, and being understanding of different interpretations leads to better dialogue. Knowing how to bridge those gaps with effective language can lead to intergenerational cooperation.

Pure snark which I hope you'll see is intended to show I'm saying this as some gentle ribbing and not to put down your perspective.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Cringe is just too visceral for what I'm describing though.

Lame would be a 3/10 while cringe would be like a 5/10, using cringe in its least meaningful form. A full on cringe is like a 8/10 (and depending on who I'm talking to, it seems to sometimes hit like a 10/10)