Using autism and cancer in comments and as a derogatory term...

[Vercinotrix]

There are some who say in the age of the Internet you need to grow a thick skin - that may be a bit true but it also should not be used as an excuse to allow people to say or do things are are quite frankly offensive to reasonable people.

However - they need to be told that it is offensive or they will never know better. That means you need to stand up and politely let them know (in a private IM also so as to not attract undue drama). If they decide to take it the wrong way then so be it - blacklist them and be on your way. If they then harass or incite other harass you (as you have blacklisted them) then report them for said harassment.

Most of the time people use these words because they incorrectly think it is cool and the adoring masses find them amusing - most people will react kindly to a "hey can you throttle back on the cancer stuff as my mum is has cancer and may not live - it's no joke" those that do not are most likely not the sort of people you will want to be around anyway.

I really hate when people try to wrap up their inane word-policing with holier-than-thou morality and this definitely falls under that umbrella.

It'd be one thing if someone was getting called names or outright bullied, but cancer has been used for the better half of a decade as a quick way to associate immense negativity with something in games and other activities.

The people who use it know cancer is a bad thing, so much so that they compare the negative experience they are having to it. But that's not the point, and all of you know that.

What truly is going on under the all of this is people who dislike certain decade old subcultures walking into them and demanding them change and conform for the people not involved, it's similar to people who don't play FF yelling at square to make the game less "weaboo" and then they'll come play it but you all wrap it up into a morality thing, accusing those who don't conform of being immoral when all they're doing is participating in a subculture that's been around for ages.

Not to mention all of the implications someone is ignorant, that's sure not condescending or anything.