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?

    • InverseParallax@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      2 months ago

      So, actually in the south the term was ‘retargeted’ by the (sub) - urban elite to mean yeoman farmers who worked the fields and had suntan on their necks.

      I respect the original term, but the colloquial has reverted to ‘ignorant, racist southerner’, for good or ill.

      If you have a better term for it I’m all ears, but it’s not like there isn’t a need for a category given their behavior.