Rightfully so, many formerly marginalised and discriminated against people now have laws and movements to give them equality. Most prominent in recent times has been support for the rights of gay and transgendered people.

Along with such progresses has been laws and/or public shame addresses words that can be used in hateful ways. I don’t need to mention them, you know the words you cannot and should not say.

One that was common when I was a kid, and is totally forbidden today, is retard – even though that word became a common way of not saying offensive words like “moron”, “idiot”, “cretin” and “imbecile”.

Now we are meant to say disabled, or some version of that. Which is all fine, I’m disputing this at all. I am a futurist, and so I am wondering what happens next.

Intelligence is a spectrum, and it is a luck of the draw (plus genetics) that decides where each of us are on that spectrum, from genius to mentally disabled.

I think next up will be the removal of the word stupid. And the word crazy. Both are used casually to describe not just people but also situations and activities. That was a stupid decision, based on a crazy idea. When stupid or crazy people hear such words, even when not directed at them, it is hurtful.

Instead we will say that was an unwise decision, based on a misguided idea.

Expect this before 2030, and happening this or next year wouldn’t surprise me at all.