Thanks for that reminder. That is how I've been trying to approach it when he talks about someone with a mental illness, or someone who is homeless. In this case, he thinks he's merely using shorter, simpler words. If we're talking about our cat, for example, we would say "cat" rather than "feline household companion," because there is nothing wrong with being a cat. Likewise, "homeless person" is four syllables, while "bum" is only one. As he sees it, those are just different ways to say the same thing, so what does it matter?

One thing he says often is, "I won't bow to being politically correct." And that's frustrating to me because what he calls "being politically correct" I see as being polite and respectful. I do sympathize with him on how it seems the rules keep changing, though. He has trouble keeping up with what is still considered polite, and what has become a slur. The connotations of language is a complicated matter.

So if he comes home and tells me about something this "crazy drunk" did today, I'll rephrase it and repeat it back to him. "So the guy was yelling and cussing at people that weren't actually there, and then he passed out and peed on the seat." Here I'm describing behavior but not putting any labels on the man himself, and I'm hoping it serves as an example.