For years there was this disparaging word being thrown about my school. "Ginger". Pronounced with a hard "g" at the start to rhyme with "ringer". It took me years to realise that this had anything to do with the word "ginger" with two soft "g"s, even though it was only ever applied to red-haired students (it only ever conjured in my mind the similar sounding insult "minger").
But there was no doubt that it was cruel. The point is the intent, not the word itself. The intent is clear from the tone, social situation and accompanying jeers. It's not the word itself that has the effect, it is the outright statement that you are rejected by your fellow students for nothing more than the genetically-determined colour of your hair, and that they are gleefully pointing out this fact and reinforcing the imposed social status.
It doesn't matter what the word is. It could be "Jabberwocky" for all it matters, but no bully is going to come up with that, they're going to focus on the particular trait that they deem makes one a worthy target. There is nothing inherently offensive about the word "mucus," but that did not make it hurt any less when I was reminded of they name my classmates had given me.
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