Pretty sure we've already done this, and the outcome was that we're still using both those words, which I'm personally fine with tbh. You have to draw a line somewhere.

That said, if you're not comfortable with using them "clown/clownish" is a good substitute as no one was ever born a clown.

"Stupid" is not ableist in etymology. "Stupid" was never a medical terminology like ableist terms, the r-slur as example was a medical terminology. "Stupid" comes from latin, "stupidus", which means to be struck senseless with astonishment. "Stupid" is the base word of "stupefied", which means a temporary state of mental numbness from shock.

To say that "stupid" is ableist is overcorrective. "Stupid" does not describe a disability. Anyone can be "stupid". "Stupid" describes a person who is in a state of confusion from being surprised.

I think "stupid" and "dumb" fall into a category where they're ableist in etymology but in use they are just a common way to say bad or without sense. A lot of derogatory words have that effect, but they create a problem by associating a group of people with being bad (I'm thinking of the homophobic use of the term "gay" in particular). In this case, I think that's rarely the case, I think they've basically shed their associations.

I do sometimes try to avoid them. I'll try to remember what I say instead:

• [X] doesn't make sense
• Silly
• [X] is a bad idea
• I'm not a fan of [X]
• Absurd
• Ridiculous
• [A more specific criticism]
• [X] sucks
• Liberal

I teach 2cd grade so take this w some salt, but Silly Billy has been pretty damning and effective.

Whatever you do don't fall into the trap of inventing your own ones in the fly like "fuckscribble", makes you seem like a certified dandycorn.

Regardless of those two terms being harmful, it’s good to use more incisive terms that point toward the problems with their thinking or attitudes.

Incurious, small-minded, duped, bereft of imagination, ill-informed, whatever. If it’s framed as a specific thing that someone is being rather than something they are intrinsically, maybe there’s a chance that someone listening identifies that in themselves and sees a chance to get better.

Or maybe this is just an excuse to have more fun with words, iunno

I've pretty much eliminated those terms from my vocabulary, but it should be acknowledged that it isn't easy.

there's "lib" of course, or dipshit or rube.

i try to remind myself that generally someone's ideology derives from their material interests, not some cognitive impairment, so calling someone stupid for thinking lib thoughts isn't very meaningful or useful. we're all subject to motivated reasoning, and motivated libs can be quite clever in their own way when devising post hoc rationalizations for supporting genocide or whatever else. our political opponents are not stupid, even when they allow their ideological convictions to lead them to incorrect conclusions. we can't really afford complacency and the patience to wait for capitalists to simply make enough mistakes that we win by default, because that won't happen. those terms aren't just ableist, they're self-defeating.

Hadn’t really thought about it, but words other than “stupid” or “dumb” make you sound more self-aware

Archaic, insipid, dull, tired, weak, backwards, incoherent are all much better

If you're trying to express that someone has bad ideas, mean-spirited, incoherent, backwards, small-minded, spineless and disingenuous all convey different aspects of "stupid"

I try to use "ridiculous" whenever I can. Or maybe just lay out what is irrational or illogical and let people conclude their own judgement on the thing

Also since I am really fruity I have started post-ironically calling straight people and their ideas 'gay as hell' which has thrown a lot of people for a loop in a way that has let me deescalate or reescalate on my own terrain.

you can always call someone a dipshit

but as for pure adjectives idk

Do we have a word for "deliberately ignorant"? Is "rube" a slur?

I've been trying to slip "fucko" into conversation but no luck so far. I feel like "jabroni" should make a comeback too.

The real answer that only like 2 people figured out in this 150+ comment thread is to call them a Redditor. Seriously. If you call someone a Redditor, everybody understands everything. Being called a Redditor is so bad even calling someone a Redditor is an insult on Reddit.

Just call someone "bud"

silly, fool, ignorant, closed-minded.

it's still ableist but I really like fuckwit

I wanna bring up that people are still trying to find words for someone who is not intelligent. Intelligence being a single thing that can only increase or decrease is an inherently ableist concept. It’s pseudoscientific and has been used to justify mass murder and sterilization among other things. The fact that it’s such a widespread idea that almost everyone believes is irrelevant to the fact that it’s ableist and incorrect.

Personally I really love ‘muppet’ as an insult. Only good thing to come out of It England

https://nosweatshakespeare.com/resources/shakespeare-insults/

Gotta go old-school.

https://iris.haverford.edu/scrinium/files/2016/09/InsultsHandout.pdf

There are thousands of years of insults to draw on.

STERCULINUM PUBLICUM!

Just straight up calling someone a public toilet.

Yiddish has insults. Like you can insult people in any language, and then you can insult people in Yiddish.

https://yiddishradioproject.org/exhibits/stutchkoff/curses.php3

Of course you've got your looney toons

https://forum.cosmoquest.org/forum/general-interest/small-media-at-large/106401-

You just can't go wrong reaching back a few decades, centuries, or millenia.

Edit: "More of your conversation would infect my brain." Shakespeare talking abut brainworms in 1297 or whatever.