Wikepedia states

“Much like today’s socially acceptable terms idiot and moron, which are also defined as some sort of mental disability, when the term retard is being used in its pejorative form, it is usually not being directed at people with mental disabilities. Instead, people use the term when teasing their friends or as a general insult.”

Is it only a slur if directed at soneone with mental disabilities? Is it a slur if durected at onself?

Whats lemmies take on this?

  • norimee@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    It is always a slur, even directed to someone mentally healthy, because it reinforces ableist and hateful stereotypes.

    The same way calling men and boys female slurs like bitch or pussy is mysogonistic and puts women down.

    You don’t call a person a “retard” in a complimentary way. You compare them to a mentally disabled person to convey how dumb or stupid they are. Putting other people down at the same time.