This was the top post when I checked Lemmy this morning.. Mod commented to mark the post NSFW, even though it wasn't NSFW as far as I could tell. Post was locked and had a ton of deleted comments.
this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2026
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https://lemmy.world/modlog/79185
Damn, this guy got banned 10 times!
"Holy shit dude you killed him"
"uh dude, stop shooting, he'd already dead 100 times"
Thanks, looks like the mod got in an argument with people about the word "retarded" being a slur, locked the post and deleted all their comments.
Well, that's just [mod removed comment]
I always found the "slur" argument to be stupid, by definition every insult is a slur.
The issue is that "retarded" is considered an ableist slur though, like the n-word is a racist slur.
Tap for overthinking tangential thoughts
While the Merriam Webster lists slur and insults as synonyms, I observe slur to be used describing insults based on a terminology degrading other people than the target of the insult by using a derogatory term towards these people as an insult. So retard would be a slur (and an insult) while asshole would be an insult without being a slur.You also run into the euphemism treadmill.
The what now?
Idiot - retarded - mentally disabled - differently abled
People use medicalized language to get at people. This causes words like idiot to become an insult.
Yeah, that's why "retard" especially is considered an ableist slur. I don't see the "euphemism treadmill" though.
Cycling out the old words because they are starting to feel slur-like, just to use the new medical language to harm/insult people.
Thanks for the explanation. But since I only said using the term "retard" as a slur (and made a tangent about the definition of "slur") and made no statement about other medical terms being used as slurs, I still fail to see what my initial comment has to do with the treadmill...
Retard being used as a slur and something you cannot say to retarded people is what they perceived as the treadmill in action. This line of reasoning only works if and only if they vehemently stand against people using retard as a slur.
I don't know if they have any merit.
It has no merit unless you want to change nothing to prevent the treadmill. This is basically "let them use that slur or they will use a new slur" and that's just not achieving anything.
You're right. They appear to be an idiot.
Don't use medical terms/states as slurs is my opinion but they say all slurs are equal.
You haven't seen 'autistic' used as an insult? That's the newest entry on the treadmill.
No, I haven't. But how is that relevant to my comments?
I was explaining how euphemism treadmill works.
No, you weren't. Brought a new example.
And I still don't know how the euphemism treadmill is relevant to my comment.
https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=euphemism+treadmill+
Nope. I asked you, because you brought it up in a discussion. Don't be an impolite, self-disqualifying jerk, please.
The euphemism treadmill, as far as I understand, goes like this;
Oh boy, have I got news for you, 'jerk' is an ableist slur akin to 'spaz'.
And yet you were rude to others trying to help you out by giving their understanding of the term, guess we are all impolite, jerks here.
And the places that claim to be anti-slur are actually only against some of them. I have yet to see ban "hick" or "hillbilly" or "nazi" or "pagan". The metaphor filled english language is filled with slurs.
Nazi and pagan aren't slurs. People self-identify as both due to accepting their ideologies.
You might be confused because people say "nazi" as if it were a slur due to nazis being reprehensible.
Pagans are alright though.
Pagan started as slur for non-catholics. And saying Nazi isnt a slur because there are real nazis makes no sense. All slurs refer to real demographics of people.
Pagans are referenced in the bible, long before Catholics existed. Don't say nonsense.
Do you think that Catholic is a slur? Is any descriptive word that someone might not agree with also a slur?
Do, do you think the bible was written in English? https://www.etymonline.com/word/pagan
And yes, Catholic has been used in a derogatory manner. Though shorter more catchy slurs for catholics where made up along the way too.
The fact that you spelled one out and not the other means there is clearly one of them that's worse.
And that is not an argument I made.
“[SLUR A] is a slur” and “[SLUR B] is worse than [SLUR A]” are two separate conversations.
That's because you're not thinking about everyone else. The question is what message you're sending to the listeners.
If you choose a word (like "retard") which is discriminatory, you're showing your hate for the minority group, and not just for the other person. And that has an effect on the community at large. Maybe they don't want to be surrounded by bigots. Maybe they think that's shit.
So, if you're gonna have a flame war, pick negative and non-discriminatory words like "jerk" or "fuckface". Or don't, and get banned or blocked, if the mod feels like it. Either way.
Mother fucker is discriminatory to the incestuous. Son of a bitch is discriminatory to people with shitty mothers.