[Robert Adam Gilmour]

Quote Originally Posted by Druidic

The average person can tell if something is meant in an insulting way or not.

I'm not sure about that. You have to consider immigrants and foreign audiences who're not as familiar with the language. Sarcasm or irony might not read as easily to them.
Sometimes people are really sly and subtle with their bigotry and keep things purposefully ambiguous.

Words like "midget" are still quite commonly used and it surprises me but I don't assume everyone hears it the same way.

I recently learned "oriental" has a big history of being used to bully. I recently noticed Walter in The Big Lebowski talking about that. It's a tricky one.