In one of my classes in college (can't remember if it was Psych or Rhetoric and Communication) we discussed euphemisms in society. One of the uses of a euphemism is for what you bring up here. When a word becomes corrupted, a new one is used, attached to the original meaning. I don't know the original order, but the terms for someone who is crazy kept changing as the public's perception of the word changed. This is not entirely correct, but it went something like this.

Crazy-->insane-->5150-->certifiable-->loony

You get the picture. There were more words involved, but now they all mean the same thing.

Fer"bonkers"rick

>
> > It's interesting that you brought up the 'n' word earlier. Fifty years ago, that word was not considered derogatory by members of any race, although I could be mistaken about that. The bigotry and ignorance of many who sought to use that word in the process of expressing their bigoted and ignorant ideas was what corrupted the word.
> >
> You are correct. I recall hearing in sociology class something to the effect that: As negative connotations are attached to a group's label, the group will eventualy chose a new label to influence fresh thinking/erase old stereotypes. Hence: n--r-->colored-->Negro-->black-->Afro-american
> -->African American...I may have the order mixed up a bit, but each label was at one time considered acceptable to all. Sometimes the effort to change the labels are very conscious and overt ("Black is beautiful"); other times less directed and more subtle (I don't remember quite the same awareness when Afro- was out and African- was in, but maybe I missed something)
>
> You see the same thing with:
>
> suffragettes-->women's libbers-->feminists...
> although it's not exactly analogous.
> I believe this group is due for another label soon, any ideas?
>
> Also, as far as people equating all southern accents with stupidity; well, if Southerners aren't noted for their subtle wit, who is. A Georgian can tell you to go to hell and you'll be halfway there and enjoying the trip before you realize where you're going.