" :: What I'm about to say is by no means a personal attack. I don't believe you personally engage in the behavior I am about to discuss. ::Deadbeat itself is a slur. It's why it's not used in the article on Bankruptcy, even though it is synonymous with someone who is bankrupt. It is not benign. ::Moreover, other than being scurrilous in its own right, ""deadbeat dad"" and the construct ""deadbeat parent"" are right up there with ""welfare queen"" as code words for racial, ethnic and class based bigotry. You will notice that my tone has been strident to the point of indignation. This is why. The term is very often used to make certain underhanded and vile racist
" :: What I'm about to say is by no means a personal attack. I don't believe you personally engage in the behavior I am about to discuss. ::Deadbeat itself is a slur. It's why it's not used in the article on Bankruptcy, even though it is synonymous with someone who is bankrupt. It is not benign. ::Moreover, other than being scurrilous in its own right, ""deadbeat dad"" and the construct ""deadbeat parent"" are right up there with ""welfare queen"" as code words for racial, ethnic and class based bigotry. You will notice that my tone has been strident to the point of indignation. This is why. The term is very often used to make certain underhanded and vile racist behavior