There’s a clear campaign against the mentally ill with the global rise of fascism. Lots of it shows up in anti homeless rhetoric, but you can see it in the MAHA and anti vaccination movements.

There’s no reason to use the word “r-tarded” to describe someone. As someone who’s worked with the intellectually challenged, it’s an insult to them to compare them with people who are willfully ignorant.

  • deegeese@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    29·
    4 days ago

    What’s the next euphemism we should switch to?

    For a while there in the 90’s, “differently abled” looked like it was next on the treadmill.

    Words for stupid or crazy are always going to be used as insults.

    • JackbyDev@programming.devEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      The fact that it’s still currently used as a euphemism for people with actual conditions like down syndrome is precisely why it’s problematic to use it as an insult. Previous words used in decades past are only insults now and no longer used as a euphemism for the condition.

    • sem@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      58·
      3 days ago

      The *r slur is intentionally cruel in a way that stupid can’t match, since stupid is more generic and versatile.

      Maybe the *r slur doesn’t need a replacement, we can just hold ourselves to a higher standard, and drag things without comparing them to someone with a disability.

      • PiraHxCx@lemmy.mlEnglish
        121·
        4 days ago

        The “r” word used to be the correct medical term used to avoid words like stupid and idiot that were considered cruel slurs, now the “r” is considered a slur, and the cycle goes on and on.