Using ableist language as insults is always bad, even if the words seem innocuous. Some may reference the "euphemism treadmill" to try to justify their behavior, but it's crucial to understand that the treadmill is merely a linguistic observation. It does not exist to normalize ableist behavior.

what is the euphemism treadmill for those who dont want to google

more reading if bored

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[–] Drivebyhaiku@lemmy.world 4 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

There are limited examples of this effect working in reverse. Take the word "Nice" for example. Nice back in ye old medieval times used to be a synonym for "stupid" or "simple" so saying someone was "nice" was insulting. Then there was this prolonged long fad where things being very plain and straightforward was considered a good thing and "Nice/simple" gained a positive connotation. Saying someone is "simple" or a "simpleton" retains this original sort of vibe but "Nice" now just means pleasant.

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 1 points 12 hours ago

huh TIL thank you! 😊

[–] agent_nycto@lemmy.world 9 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Can't wait till neurodivergent becomes the new slur and we invent a new word to describe it so people use that instead of a slur which then becomes the new slur so we invent another new word to describe it so people use that instead of a slur which then ...

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 3 points 15 hours ago

i hope instead the cycle could be broken in some way. :/ other folks in the thread are pointing out that ND is a term created by its own community, which could add to its resilience. i hope they are right!

[–] riodoro1@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago

Who are you to tell me which words I can and cannot use? You can judge my intent, not my vocabulary. Im asking for permission to smoke and swear.

[–] absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Just about any term that refers to someone else can be used as an insult!

So as the old saying goes "offense is taken, not given". If you want to be insulted, you will be.

I find, people who insult others are saying more about their own character, than that of the target.

[–] Klear@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

You would think that, you pencil...

[–] inv3r5ion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 61 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Neurodivergent isn’t an insult…

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not YET!

[–] inv3r5ion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

With that theory, any word could become an insult.

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Bingo. I assumed more people understood this, so I apologize for not communicating clearly. Any word can become an insult—with the right people in control. What’s particularly hurtful is seeing words that marginalized or oppressed groups use to describe their own experiences being co-opted and turned into insults, reinforcing their otherness.

It happened with “retard,” as with “idiot,” and so many others. Recently, I’ve seen it happen with more niche phrases (look up “is X acoustic” if you’re unfamiliar). Just the other day, I made a comment that I could see two perspectives on a matter. Instead of simply calling me wrong, someone said, “You must be neurodivergent, you’re so gullible.” In that context, “neurodivergent” was clearly being used as a stand-in for the r-slur.

To be clear, I am not against any language. I’m against the weaponizing of language.

[–] inv3r5ion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago (3 children)

👍🏻

What’s interesting about the word retard specifically is it’s still used as a technical term that has nothing to do with developmental disabilities - for example, fire retardant - to slow/stop something.

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[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

That's the attitude one would expect from such a high class individual.

[–] CommanderCloon@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago

Correct

[–] knightly@pawb.social 36 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

"Cisgender" isn't an insult either, but that doesn't stop Elon Musk and his flunkies from treating it as such.

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[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 14 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (15 children)

correct, it’s not (or shouldn’t be), but it’s being used as one, especially recently!

precontext: i said i could see both sides of some non-important debate. something about whether a community mod should be heavy or light with bans, and i was like, “well it depends on what the motivations and needs are.”

their response to that?

in this post i hope to call attention to the same destructive processes happening to “neurodiverse” as to all the other terms. particularly i want to call out the ableist motivations behind it.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 40 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's an insult because of intent, not because of the word itself, though.

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[–] RandomVideos@programming.dev 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You can use gay, homosexual, homo habilis as insults

That doesnt make these words bad

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 11 points 2 days ago

precisely? never said otherwise :) to quote another person right in this thread whom i agree with:

It’s an insult because of intent, not because of the word itself, though.

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[–] Squorlple@lemmy.world 35 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I’ve been thinking about how we call people “right-handed” and “left-handed” instead of “handedness-typical” and “handedness-divergent”

[–] CubbyTustard@reddthat.com 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

sinister used to just mean left handed!

[–] Obi@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 day ago

Didn't know that one, it's a nice one.

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 13 points 2 days ago

actually GOATED INSIGHT my friend keep it up

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[–] Sivecano@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Idk man, a good chunk of these are just sorta not that associated with their origins anymore. A lot of insults are historically demeaning towards certain groups (especially poor people).

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 12 points 2 days ago (2 children)

as always, act everything considering the window of present you are in. “idiot” means a lot less offense today than it did back in the day.

[–] Sivecano@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

Reasonable.

[–] anothercatgirl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 day ago

I agree. "idiot-proof" is a common term in the design industry and it's somewhat synonymous with accessibility, fault tolerance, and resilience.

[–] SaltyIceteaMaker@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

du hast doch lack gesoffen "idiot", "neurodivergent" & "lame" als abelism zu bezeichnen.

was so angry/disappointed in that post that i couldn't get the message across with English.

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[–] krimsonbun@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

how is special needs ableist?

[–] Draconic_NEO@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 1 day ago

Anything is ableist if that's the intention is to be ableist. "Cognitive impairment" or "Brain damage" are clinical terms, but if one decides they can also be ableist insults.

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[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 44 points 2 days ago (7 children)

If one of the words needs an asterisk instead of a letter, I don't think all of them are equal...

[–] VerdantSporeSeasoning@lemmy.ca 16 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I have an older family member who is severely mentally disabled and always has been. His medical records diagnosed him as r*tarded. The adults diagnosing him at the time didn't understand enough about mental conditions and their differences when he was a child. So kids like him were diagnosed with that. It did have more 'legitimate' uses than it does in our current context. Doesn't make it good or right, doesn't mean they shouldn't have tried to be more specific either. That legacy leads to now where we have the nuance and resources to do better. I am glad it's more and more relagated to the past as it's consistently been used to dehumanize people.

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[–] sunbather@beehaw.org 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

seeing as ableist terms are always rooted in previously uncontroversial medical terms i propose the term "the swag ones"

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 8 points 2 days ago

just got diagnosed with cool guy syndrom so now i take.. adderall

[–] juliebean@lemm.ee 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

today i learned that 'cretin' has ableist origins. just hearing the word, and being completely unaware of its origins, i assumed it had racist origins and was somehow related to the isle of crete.

apparently 'cretinism' is an old-timey word for congenital iodine deficiency syndrome.

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[–] BearGun@ttrpg.network 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Idiot is ableist?

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 2 points 1 day ago

it isn’t necessarily, unless it’s used with ableist intent. good explanation someone made

[–] julianh@lemm.ee 26 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Interesting. Feels like there's a bit of a paradox, where we need a term to address a group of people who are being "othered," but while that's the case, there will be people who use that term as an insult.

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