Alright folks I don't want this to be a struggle session so let's operate from "'stupid' and 'dumb' are ableist terms, now what?" I would like people to offer up alternative insults/negative remarks.
While I said I don't want it to be a struggle session, cool headed good faith discussion is also appreciated. This just came up with some comrades of mine and I couldn't find the last post about it so if anyone has the link that would be great too.
Why do you think practically all insults are based on race, gender, and disability? Because insults principally serve to mock those different from us. There isn't much to improve on insults because its purpose is to belittle those who are different from us.
I think you're mostly coming at this from the same place I am, and asking how can we do this better.
Call it an insult, a critique, roasting, etc.
It is something I sought to develop through posing the question. And as I said, people are never going to stop doing any of that so lets make it better.
The insult is a verbal slap. It sets the tone as confrontational. Its not necessary but it is effective. Only more effective when directed and precise. It is often hierarchical, used to inform the recipient of which subgroup the deliverer considers they belong but not necessarily ableist. Consider