There’s a clear campaign against the mentally ill with the global rise of fascism. Lots of it shows up in anti homeless rhetoric, but you can see it in the MAHA and anti vaccination movements.

There’s no reason to use the word “r-tarded” to describe someone. As someone who’s worked with the intellectually challenged, it’s an insult to them to compare them with people who are willfully ignorant.

  • brucethemoose@lemmy.worldEnglish
    51·
    2 days ago

    +1

    Maybe y’all haven’t experienced it as a slur. I grew up around jerks that did, and it leaves a nasty taste. I’ve caught myself using it, and felt awful afterwards.

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      11·
      2 days ago

      Meh, where I grew up everyone got called all sorts on names - it was the Playground Way.

      So yea, call me names, I really just don’t care, and may even laugh when someone does it, because it takes me back to my childhood days, reminds me only children behave like that. Now I know who someone is, and how to manipulate them.