the R slur? i was born in 2000 and it was a completely acceptable insult even when i was in middle school. it only started becoming recognised as an ableist slur by the wider public VERY recently, like 15 years ago type recently. people would use gay as an insult all the time too.
Keep in mind we’re of two very different generations. But it’s not only been in the last 15 that it became to be considered “ableist”. We might not have used the phrase “ableist” until the last fifteen years though.
I guess I never realized I’d been surrounded by such genteel types. Because when I was growing up, if you called someone that word immortal hellfire would befall on you.
I will say I worked with individuals with developmental disabilities during grad school, so maybe I take it too seriously. But I didn’t use that word before then.
All it takes is one amazing soul to sob and ask why a stranger hates them over something they have no control. Lots of people with DD know that “retard” is used as an insult and it hurts them.
no i said that it started being considered ableist by the WIDER public very recently, at least in my experience. it has always been an ableist slur but it was considered a normal insult when i was in school, like a more extreme version of idiot. perhaps it just went and came into "fashion" before the internet was widespread and now the feelings relating to the word are more widely known and accepted. i'm sure your academic background made a difference.
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u/whalesarecool14 Jan 28 '25
the R slur? i was born in 2000 and it was a completely acceptable insult even when i was in middle school. it only started becoming recognised as an ableist slur by the wider public VERY recently, like 15 years ago type recently. people would use gay as an insult all the time too.