Retard

https://barryhisblog.blogspot.com/p/retard.html

In the pseudo-religio-politically fraught social media groups I frequent, I've seen the words "evotard" and "libtard", and "creotard" being used. "Globetard is used by the flat-earthers, or "flerfers". "Trumptard" is used as well, (but that one is pretty  justifiable and maybe we can make an exception with it.😉)

The terms bring me to a point that annoys me. I'm a retired teacher. Back in the day, "retarded" simply meant late in development, rather like being retarded by traffic when you are on the way to a rendezvous or appointment, making you tardy. There were no judgemental connotations to the word. Indeed, the intention of the use of the word "retarded" was to try to avoid such connotations.

The last school I taught in created two "streams" for older high schoolers, one providing courses in academic subjects for those likely to go on to higher academic education, and one to cater for those who would benefit more from practical training for more immediate employability. What to call the two streams? The "A" stream and the "B" stream? "1" and "2"? It was decided that these designations would most easily become labels to - well - label people with. So we named them after two local rivers running through the town, the Wessex, and the Loddon. Nice and neutral, eh?

It took less than a week before the kids to start using the expressions "Loddy" or "Loddy lugs" to disparagingly label the Loddoners as thick - stupid. Retards.

One point to consider is that it is not the words you use to put people down, but the intention you have behind how you use them. "Spastic" and "Cretin" used to be perfectly precise, correct medical terms. Not any more.

The use of the "tard" suffix should become just as socially unacceptable as the "N" word. It reflects back on the users more than their targets.