See also Moron, imbecile, and cretin.
All Originally medical terms, that then entered comon usage as insults, fell out of favor medically because of that, were rejected by polite society, then after a refractory period and enough replacements, became lower grade insults that were more acceptable for common use.
Itâs based on usage. R word is tainted now, this might change in the future or not. Language doesnât care about etymology, only about usage. If the usage is generally negative and implies inferiority of a minority itâs a slur.
Calling someone an idiot doesnât imply that disabled people are inferior, which makes it ok to use.
EvilBit@lemmy.world âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Itâs demeaning to an entire population. Pretty much the definition of a slur.
Larry@lemmy.zip âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
But âidiotâ has the same origin and isnât a slur?
axexrx@lemmy.world âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
See also Moron, imbecile, and cretin.
All Originally medical terms, that then entered comon usage as insults, fell out of favor medically because of that, were rejected by polite society, then after a refractory period and enough replacements, became lower grade insults that were more acceptable for common use.
olafurp@lemmy.world âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
Itâs based on usage. R word is tainted now, this might change in the future or not. Language doesnât care about etymology, only about usage. If the usage is generally negative and implies inferiority of a minority itâs a slur.
Calling someone an idiot doesnât imply that disabled people are inferior, which makes it ok to use.
Larry@lemmy.zip âš3â© âšweeksâ© ago
They are both used the same