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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Libtard" is a truly awful term that has to go away.
The people who use it really reveal their character. Using any form of "retarded" or "retard" as an insult should be a thing of the past. If a conservative uses "libtard" in a debate, they either lack the understanding to know that it's problematic, or truly don't care how offensive that is to people with special needs. I'm sure most of it is the latter.
I don't see enough said about this, and right wingers need to be called out for it.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,334 posts)othering people, so many of us grapple with putting aside go-to insults for better choices.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)We are no better than them. At least some of us. Calling others names is stupid.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,334 posts)slurs that are gendered, ableist, racist, etc. -- are what I find objectionable.
Response to WhiskeyGrinder (Reply #29)
AncientGeezer This message was self-deleted by its author.
Bradshaw3
(7,520 posts)beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)we really need to leave school yard tactics behind us. We can't call out republicans for it if we don't call out our own on it
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Thanks for making that point.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)"moron move" directed at trump....all the other crap is schoolyard shit
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)We know how concerned you always are.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)democrats can be assholes too and its no excuse
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)....with likeminded people because you cant call a co-worker who thinks every minority is living on easy street thanks to Obama an asshole!
ProfessorGAC
(65,013 posts)You'll drop the pearls you're clutching!
Fuck the moronic right!
Clear enough?
Dale Neiburg
(698 posts)That's why they do it.
ck4829
(35,071 posts)Today's so-called conservative movement is simply an exercise into doing and advocating whatever liberals don't like or if conservatives are told liberals don't like it, whatever offends the liberal or perceived to offend them, and whatever shocks people especially liberals.
We need to defy, exploit, subvert, and mock the 'libtard' label and those who use it.
GoCubsGo
(32,081 posts)They use it in an attempt to get a rise out of you. "Pissing off liberals" is their favorite past time. Those idiots would cut off their own nose if they thought it would piss off a liberal. Hell, it's the only reason many of them support Dear Leader. The only way to make them stop using that term is to not let it have the power you give to it by reacting to it in any way. Just don't respond to it. At all. The ones who use it are terrible people anyway, and you can't change that. But, only you can not let them make you angry.
TheBlackAdder
(28,189 posts).
Fascist Putin-loving Contard Cuck Snowflake
Their heads explode each and every time.
.
walkingman
(7,610 posts)in Mississippi. When I finished college I moved to Texas (late 60's) and it was such a glorious relief. Now 50 years later I see the same thing here in Texas and it is sad. Not the atmosphere I wanted during my elder years. I don't know the solution.
PatrickforO
(14,573 posts)There is real hatred. The Koch brothers and the other billionaire freaks who own the Republican party and its propaganda organ love to spew out vitriol that dehumanizes Democrats.
Why? Well, this is a slow coup. The billionaire freaks and multinational corporations are trying to make America an oligarchy where we are merely wage slaves with no rights as workers. They want to exploit us for starvation wages, work us long hours in unsafe working conditions and not provide any healthcare or old age pensions. Ideally for them, we should live in constant fear because they believe such fear motivates us to work harder longer - even if we are sick or become disabled. You want to know their vision? Read Jack London's 'People of the Abyss.' Dickens' 'Christmas Carol' alludes to it as well. Unrestrained capitalism is heaven for a few, and a life of unremitting, grinding poverty, fear, hunger, illness and wage slavery for the rest of us.
So these jokers know that if they dehumanize us, it will be easy for them, should the need arise, to send the neonazis, nazis and kluxers out into the streets with truncheons and guns to bloody us and make us run.
At least that's how I see the current situation. Fortunately we still have enough real Americans, people who put nation over party, in powerful enough positions to try and save the republic. They are disparagingly called 'deep state,' again a term the billionaire freaks have ejaculated into common lexicon through their throbbing propaganda organs of Info Wars and hate-talk radio.
And, we have the press, which Trump, of course, for his own reasons is disparaging and calling an 'enemy of the people.' Because Trump is basically a shill. Like the Kruppers and IG Farbens thought Hitler would be. He wants to impose a white nationalist government, which taken in combination with the oligarchy the billionaire freaks want is a FASCIST government that will lead us to a world war as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow.
That, my friend, is why we must get the vote out in a big way in November. It may really be our last chance to avoid a long, dark, hungry, terrible and bloody ride.
mythology
(9,527 posts)It's not geographic, it's not limited by political party, by gender. The way to fight it is to be aware.
hfojvt
(37,573 posts)Not really any worse than the wypipo that I recently read here. One of my friends on FB talks about Trumptards and Trumpanzees. Another friend of a friend (who was Class President in 1979 (whereas we were class of 1980)) ended his discussion with "fucking fascists" seemingly referring to the person he was friends with.
I don't get out much, but I am not seeing the hatred in the real world, just mostly on social media.
backtoblue
(11,343 posts)I now call her conservaturd.
I love my mother, but im now certain I was adopted
SWBTATTReg
(22,114 posts)to use sometimes? How's the job search going (vs. the one you had when the guy wouldn't pay you for learning on the job hours?)
Take care of yourself!!
Word of the day: conservaturd
backtoblue
(11,343 posts)I'm still looking for a part-time gig, but I'm making it alright! Wishing you a great day as well!
PatrickforO
(14,573 posts)when he was irritated by people to the left of the Obama administration. I read an article on that somewhere a long time ago, maybe back in '09 when Obama had just taken office.
I brushed it off then, (I'm definitely one of THEM, firmly in the group that is well to the left of the Obamas), because we had bigger fish to fry than arguing whether this or that policy was too far to the center. Obama literally saved the world's economy with ARRA and his work with the Fed on quantitative easing. He just had too much to do that first term.
I worked on both his campaigns '08 and '12 as a volunteer, because I loved the man, but sometimes I'd get so irritated with him because he really is basically a centrist. To be honest, I always had a sneaking hunch that he really felt that by being the first black president, he couldn't move too far left. I suspected his actual personal politics are near mine. I know Michelle's are.
As to my own feelings in being called a 'libtard' and a 'snowflake' and a 'LIB-er-ul' and a socialist and a communist are feelings of faint amusement tinged with a small amount of pride. You want to call me that? Great. But I'm going to come back time after time after time and argue against immoral and economically unsustainable positions and just downright stupid policies. And, I will always do it with facts.
I hear what you're saying about the suffix 'tard, though. We don't use the word 'retarded' and certainly not the word 'retard' to describe someone with a developmental cognitive disability. Which is cool! I promise I will no longer use the word, even though I never did.
That said, whatever they call us, we need not EVER AGAIN apologize or tiptoe as if walking on eggs lest we offend some drooling conservative 'deplorable.' They cannot defend their positions morally or intellectually so the resort to yelling and violence. I've had enough of being fearful of that.
So, I remain a proud lib-er-ul socialist brand of Democrat - a true snowflake - a platform and set of opinions on policy for which I do NOT apologize.
lapucelle
(18,252 posts)"retarded" not "libtard". (At the time he said it in 2009, The Special Olympics had launched a campaign called "spread the word to end the word," which was aimed at eliminating the use of the word "retard" in reference to people with special needs.)
Emanuel apologized for his use of the word.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/02/emanuel-apologizes-for-retarde.html
https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/01/28/emanuel/6781/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303001.html
Mr. Emanuel was something of a loose cannon. Here he is at President Obama's first inauguration.
teach1st
(5,935 posts)Yeah, it's not cool. But if it bothers you, they win.
Own it! I'm proud to be a libtard.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)the people who frequent this and other liberal discussion groups seem to have. I really do not think there is much chance of the RW changing their patterns of use of this or other derogatory terms. It would be nice if issues could be discussed in a respectful and civil manner, but I just don't see that happening.
Brother Buzz
(36,423 posts)I called her an un-American Democrap socialist LIEberal, like she is.
SO STOP SAYING THAT!
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,835 posts)bpj62
(999 posts)Whenevrr that word comes up and it is usually by some RWNJ in a Facebook post I immediately ask them what does that word mean. It stops them in thier tracks because either they have no clue what it means or the hamster wheel in thier brain is trying to think of an alternative answer that doesn't involve mocking the disabled. Challenge them when they use words like libtard, challenge them when they tell you that you hate America because you want Trump out of office. Make them defend every nonsensical word or phrase that they utter. I long ago gave up on trying to talk sense into Trump Supporters. However that doesn't mean that I won't engage them and do my best to completely upend thier talking points and rhetoric.
yardwork
(61,599 posts)G_j
(40,367 posts)and that is exactly why it is used. Dont hold your breath for it to stop.
beaglelover
(3,469 posts)Or as they call the left, Lefty. If you call them out on it, your post is hidden. DI really should be shut down, it's infested with disgusting deplorable assholes now.
kimbutgar
(21,137 posts)I had no problem and told him well find out who the real looney person is.
He ended up almost going bankrupt on a bogus business he brought, had to short sell his home and move to a cheaper cost of living place after he remarried. He barely gets by every month. While I worked, saved, went back to school and got a teaching credential and made myself marketable. Yeah Im a real loser and looney liberal.
Archae
(46,327 posts)Try when someone you know well is doing great, they are filthy (as in dirty) rich and convinced of their "superiority."
I had one uncle who failed miserably at everything he tried, he even failed at running a bar, here in Wisconsin.
Constantly knew more than everyone else, gave out advice that was always worthless.
And it was always the fault of "The Jews" for his failures.
Even when he DIED he screwed us over, he died on Christmas Eve, so Christmas Day was his funeral.
Had another uncle who was just as bad, and he was really rich.
Years after he died, the IRS had to go through major bookkeeping to sort out the finances of his golf course company, turns out he was corrupt as hell, using land that wasn't his, and so on.
The guy made even Trump look honest and trustworthy.
ThoughtCriminal
(14,047 posts)Alea
(706 posts)madinmaryland
(64,931 posts)Initech
(100,068 posts)Simple, non offensive (except to them) and cuts right to the core.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Right now it's impossible to distinguish between Nazi ideology and Republican ideology.
They're Nazis.
LenaBaby61
(6,974 posts)+1,000
RocRizzo55
(980 posts)When they call me a "libtard," I call them a RapeubliKKKcon CONservative.
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)Thats why they use it as an insult. Telling them youre offended is, as far as the people using the term are concerned, mission accomplished. Youre not going to shame them.
vercetti2021
(10,156 posts)I mean they know they are conservative right? So calling someone else a retard seems contradictive.
3catwoman3
(23,975 posts)...high school and several years beyond, uses this term in her Facebook posts. We've not lived near each other for the last 40 years, but have seen each other at high school reunions. Many high school classmates comment on her posts with support and enthusiasm.
I'm guessing she has no clue she is talking about me. Next year will be the 50th reunion. This open hostility to liberals is new since the last reunion. I'm not sure I would feel welcome there this time. We apparently have nothing in common anymore. I rehearse various scenarios of quietly letting her know that I am a "libtard," just to see what sort of reaction I would get.
0rganism
(23,945 posts)the goal of using such slurs in online argument is to distract from some substantive topic while simultaneously putting their opposition on the defensive. from what i've seen it hardly ever happens in 1-on-1 conversation, only with an audience present. they want to show liberals as weak and volatile in front of others, especially in on-line forums.
they would like nothing more than to see their insults getting under our skins. you may have a solid case that the person calling you that is one of the rudest assholes on the planet, but calling them out on it won't change anything. doing so will only shift the grounds of a debate to "politically correct speech restrictions" and other such bullshit which probably wasn't the topic you wanted to discuss in the first place, and where (oddly enough) the insulter has some high ground.
my advice is DON'T TAKE THE BAIT. ignore it entirely and focus like a laser on the substance of the original topic. since you're probably having this talk in front of an audience, if you can, just talk past the asshole directly to the audience. they hate that. if you like, use their ad-hom as an aside to discredit the right wing asshole to the audience.
DON'T TAKE THE BAIT.
SWBTATTReg
(22,114 posts)he needs to understand that all of us are Americans, not just that tiny slice that he seems to fell in love w/.
He started this whole mess by coming up w/ these so called nicknames in his tweets for his competitors when he started running for office and thought it was cute...
It's a joke that has run its course for far too long...and most Americans are sick of it.
Different Drummer
(7,614 posts)roamer65
(36,745 posts)Fuck all MAGAt Dump humpers. Russian loving scumbags.
pwb
(11,261 posts)These assholes think they are so clever with their slogans. We have to give it back to them even if we think it's wrong. Being nice makes us lose.
Initech
(100,068 posts)The use of the word "tard" is completely offensive and it is hate speech. If we use it, it makes us no better than them. I veto this.
yellowdogintexas
(22,252 posts)I ran across a post somewhere and I couldn't tell you if it was here, Facebook or the comments section of an article I read but it was from a very angry liberal who had used every possible descriptive word for a TeaParty RWNJ with the 'tard' stuck on the end. I don't know if it was supposed to be a parody or what. When we do these sorts of things we put ourselves on their level.
unitedwethrive
(1,997 posts)I will respond, making sure to include their party name shortened. For example, "Well, the Repub Party seems to think that if they can't win on the issues, they will find ways to manipulate the vote."
Initech
(100,068 posts)yellowdogintexas
(22,252 posts)Quite useful.
Initech
(100,068 posts)It's not funny at all to use it. It's hate speech.
fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)to be very childish.
It's extremely common though. The average thread probably has about 1 per post. This is true on both right and left forums.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)Do you object to Dotard? Used here on occasion. I call him Dumpster..
That's a cheap shot at garbage collection devices.
Type it into the site search above.....lot of examples of Dotard.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)folks on the Discussionist? I guess they burned their copy of the Canterbury Tales decades ago.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)Beancan do even try anymore?
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)crowd. Still think it odd, but I'm sure they will appreciate your posting it on DU.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)Or the other.....I have thick skin and call it Dumpster or Trumpanzee
I asked a question...you of course went.....typically bean can.
I can always count on you
MineralMan
(146,288 posts)The root word is "dote." It's a very old word. Related to it is the word "dotage," as used in "In my dotage, I find my self forgetting things more and more often."
It is the use as a suffix that is deplorable, since it relates to the word retard. That word, used as a noun, is extremely offensive and cruel, which is why the suffix -tard is added to other words as an insult.
Dotard is not such a word.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Do you really want to get in the face of an angry gunhumper over a word? They won't take a chance fighting man to man without their store bought courage to make up the difference.
former9thward
(32,002 posts)Right wingers didn't start it. It was started by Obama's Chief of Staff and now Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel. He said liberals were "fucking retarded".
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's verbal indiscretion -- referring to some liberal activists as "f**king retarded" -- has shined a spotlight on just how pervasive the R-word is in American conversation, and how offensive it can be for millions of Americans.
https://abcnews.go.com/WN/rahm-emanuel-retarded-comment-puts-offensiveness-spotlight/story?id=9738134
Algernon Moncrieff
(5,790 posts)So much other nastiness started with her - why not that?
former9thward
(32,002 posts)His comments were in 2010. When was her's?
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)He said "liberals are fucking retarded" which is certainly offensive and stupid. But he wasn't even clever to come up with "libtard".
And it doesn't mean we can't call right wingers out for using it constantly.
So why did right wingers getting singled out hit a nerve, eh?
former9thward
(32,002 posts)RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)....about a Democrat or a Democratic position will be the first.
former9thward
(32,002 posts)Amazing and thank you!
kysrsoze
(6,019 posts)[link:|
Algernon Moncrieff
(5,790 posts)If memory serves, it's an Ann Coulterism.
Conservatives decry what they consider to be the culture of political correctness - and to many, that culture is epitomized by the attacks on the "R" word. So Libtard functions as an insult to liberalism and an attack on PC culture. It's ironic, since the all-preborn-lives matter crowd goes to great lengths to lecture on why you shouldn't abort your baby with DS. (By the way - many people with DS are amazing - it's not a great sole reason to terminate a pregnancy, imho).
So riddle me this Batman. "Retarded" is a clinical term that has entered the vernacular to mean "really stupid." We've decided it's not cool to use in polite conversation. Fair enough. So why is it OK to use "Idiot" and "Moron" and "Cretin", all of which are clinical terms - two of which entered the vernacular to mean "really stupid" and one meaning "super creepy?"
Hekate
(90,674 posts)Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)I call shenanigans.
Music Man
(1,184 posts)To call attention to something and discuss it.
I don't see a lot of Trump supporters at DU. Should we not bring him up at all?
VOX
(22,976 posts)I trust that, since you are now properly informed, you will refrain from employing this (and all other) distressing terms involving such highly partisan language that sadly impugns certain unfortunate members of our society.
Stop press, stop press! Those good folks on the right have just been thoroughly schooled on their use of inflammatory, politically incorrect language!
Music Man
(1,184 posts)There are plenty of people in this thread who have made legitimate posts about ignoring it or strategies for making the point, without resorting to some parody of a wilting flower.
I'm not saying that the word "libtard" is the problem but a symptom of the problem of lack of empathy and humanity. It's an egregious one, and people should be shamed for it specifically.
Why? Because others view words like that on social media, conversations at work, etc., and people need to see that *we* know the difference. We're the good guys, and it's perfectly acceptable to shame people who would use such a word. Letting the N-word fly in a debate would be game over, and so should using any form of "-tard." Special needs children often can't stick up for themselves, and "libtard" is simply an example I am giving of something that shouldn't be normalized or allowed to seep into our culture.
VOX
(22,976 posts)Obviously, this is a Democratic/progressive/liberal message board. We dont use the pejorative libtard term here. Why on earth would we?
I urge you to take your battle to the unenlightened backwaters of the internet, where the term (and far, far worse) are used quite dare I say liberally. If youre really dedicated to bring enlightenment and civility to the internet, go to Breitbart or Free Republic and make your stand. Youll find what offends you in mere seconds. You must be aware of the vituperative downpour youll be in for, but if youre truly sincere, then ride like the Light Horse at Beersheba.
In the meantime, our country has been attacked by a hostile foreign power and likely has a puppet in the White House. Our democracy is hanging by a very slender thread. THAT is whats concerning us here at DU, not the use of certain language, as well-intentioned as your issue is.
I wish you luck in taming the feral creatures that have been emboldened by their crude and overtly racist death-cult figurehead.
Vaya con Dios.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,339 posts)I got a phone call, a political poll that seemed fairly neutral in phrasing until a question used the words "Democrat Party".
Click.
jambo101
(797 posts)Mocking the handicapped.
treating women as just pussys to be grabbed.
thinking all immigrants are criminals
hijacking babies and putting them in internment camps
Etc.etc etc
Calling people vile names is the nature of a Republican,we had 8 years of it directed at Obama,if they think it bothers you they will just do it more as they enjoy being vindictive little children.
DFW
(54,370 posts)The reason they use it is precisely BECAUSE it is a truly awful term. Most things Republicans do these days are truly awful. Why should anyone expect their terminology to be any different?
Republicans like to call themselves "conservative." They are anything but. Like the saying goes, going into a church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going into a garage makes you a car.