"Libtard" is a truly awful term that has to go away.

[Music Man]

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]

1. You see the -tard prefex pop up here every once in awhile, too. Our society revels in slurs and

othering people, so many of us grapple with putting aside go-to insults for better choices.

[Tipperary]

25. Yep. I see it here all the time.

We are no better than them. At least some of us. Calling others names is stupid.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

29. Oh, I don't mind calling names. Using terms that denigrate an oppressed population --

slurs that are gendered, ableist, racist, etc. -- are what I find objectionable.

[Bradshaw3]

78. This! n/t

[beachbum bob]

2. name calling on both sides is childish, we see it here in DU on daily basis with trump references,

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]

9. Couldn't agree more

Thanks for making that point.

[beachbum bob]

16. I am 65 years and my name calling of republicans is usually limited to "ignorant" or idelogue or

"moron move" directed at trump....all the other crap is schoolyard shit

[RhodeIslandOne]

65. Oh, but of course....

We know how concerned you always are.

[beachbum bob]

68. its childish behavior, some one needs to be an adult around here

democrats can be assholes too and its no excuse

[RhodeIslandOne]

71. And many use this as a place to blow off steam....

....with likeminded people because you can’t call a co-worker who thinks every minority “is living on easy street thanks to Obama” an asshole!

[ProfessorGAC]

56. Be Careful

You'll drop the pearls you're clutching!
Fuck the moronic right!
Clear enough?

[Dale Neiburg]

3. They do know and care that it's offensive.

That's why they do it.

[ck4829]

4. Yes it's awful and that is *why* it is not going away

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]

5. Calling them out won't do a thing to make it go away.

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]

35. That's why you have to go back at them with

.

Fascist Putin-loving Contard Cuck Snowflake

Their heads explode each and every time.

.

[walkingman]

6. There is real hatred in the US these days. It reminds me of my youth

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. Move north to Colorado? or west to the coast?

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]

20. Racism is everywhere.

It's not geographic, it's not limited by political party, by gender. The way to fight it is to be aware.

[hfojvt]

52. that term is a fairly mild form of hatred

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]

7. My mother called me that.

I now call her conservaturd.

I love my mother, but im now certain I was adopted

[SWBTATTReg]

32. I love it!! Hope all is going well w/ you!! I hope you don't mind if I borrow your word...

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]

38. Hiya!

I'm still looking for a part-time gig, but I'm making it alright! Wishing you a great day as well!

[PatrickforO]

8. LOL. You know, Rahm Emanuel is known for using that term - at high decibel levels,

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]

19. I only read about one instance, and the word used was the very offensive

"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]

10. Own it

Yeah, it's not cool. But if it bothers you, they win.

Own it! I'm proud to be a libtard.

[Sherman A1]

11. As it is used primarily by those with views opposing the ones that

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]

12. I did not call my landlady, Mrs. Rosenfeld, at the Daisyview Trailer Park a Libtard

I called her an un-American Democrap socialist LIEberal, like she is.

SO STOP SAYING THAT!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

45. +1

[bpj62]

13. Call them out

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]

15. They voted for a man who publicly mocked a disabled reporter. They have no shame.

[G_j]

17. it is repugnant and offensive

and that is exactly why it is used. Don’t hold your breath for it to stop.

[beaglelover]

18. The Deplorables at DI use that word and the word Retarded to describe the left all the time.

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. My right wing ex brother in law used to call me the looney liberal from San Francisco

I had no problem and told him we’ll 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 I’m a real loser and looney liberal.

[Archae]

22. It's bad enough when someone you know well is a loser yet they are like the ex...

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]

23. Saw this handy reply on Facebook

[Alea]

24. I don't like libtard but we call them nazis

[madinmaryland]

36. Don't many of them claim to be nazis?

[Initech]

44. I like the term "MAGATs" or "MAGAholes".

Simple, non offensive (except to them) and cuts right to the core.

[backscatter712]

54. If they don't want to be called Nazis, they should stop Naziing.

Right now it's impossible to distinguish between Nazi ideology and Republican ideology.

They're Nazis.

[Alea]

63. Yep

[LenaBaby61]

55. "I don't like libtard but we call them nazis."

+1,000

[RocRizzo55]

26. I have gotten over it

When they call me a "libtard," I call them a RapeubliKKKcon CONservative.

[Loki Liesmith]

27. The point is to offend you

That’s why they use it as an insult. Telling them you’re offended is, as far as the people using the term are concerned, “mission accomplished”. You’re not going to shame them.

[vercetti2021]

28. I just see the irony in all of that word

I mean they know they are conservative right? So calling someone else a retard seems contradictive.

[3catwoman3]

30. A friend from childhood, to whom I was close thru...

...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]

31. calling out won't work, please don't bother with that

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]

33. And their leader needs to be called out the most! RUMP needs to have his mouth washed out, and

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]

34. "You claimed you're mature..."

[roamer65]

37. As long as I don't hafta give up MAGAt.

Fuck all MAGAt Dump humpers. Russian loving scumbags.

[pwb]

39. Fight fire with fire. contard, puketard, repubtard.

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]

43. No. Absolutely not.

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]

76. agree w/you 100%

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]

40. The one time I always use a nickname is when someone talks to me about the "Democrat Party"

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]

42. I love correcting people when they say it.

[yellowdogintexas]

74. Try this: SnacilbupeR. (props to Juanita Jean)

Quite useful.

[Initech]

41. Absolutely!

It's not funny at all to use it. It's hate speech.

[fescuerescue]

46. I've always felt that using childish names to describe those you don't agree with

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]

48. Dotard.....

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]

53. At least "Dotard" is a word used as far back as the 14th Century. Does it offend

folks on the Discussionist? I guess they burned their copy of the Canterbury Tales decades ago.

[AncientGeezer]

57. Has what to do with it being used here?

Beancan do even try anymore?

[Hoyt]

58. Just thought it was odd you are showing your offense with "Dotard" like the rest of Discussionist

crowd. Still think it odd, but I'm sure they will appreciate your posting it on DU.

[AncientGeezer]

61. See beancan..I do NOT have a problem with Dotard in ANY way...

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]

72. That word does not use -tard as a suffix.

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]

49. From my experience, the people that use the term are angry and full of hate.

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]

50. Right wingers called on it?

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]

60. I thought the specific term Libtard started with Ann Coulter

So much other nastiness started with her - why not that?

[former9thward]

62. Did she copy Rahm?

His comments were in 2010. When was her's?

[RhodeIslandOne]

64. He never said "libtard", period.

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]

73. So calling out a privatizing centrist hit a nerve, eh?

[RhodeIslandOne]

77. The next time you say a positive thing....

....about a Democrat or a Democratic position will be the first.

[former9thward]

81. Wow, someone who has followed 20,000 posts!

Amazing and thank you!

[kysrsoze]

51. Picture this...

[link:|

[Algernon Moncrieff]

59. That's exactly why they use it

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]

66. It does not show up here. Why bring it here?

[Dave Starsky]

70. Can't believe I had to go through 66 posts to see this.

I call shenanigans.

[Music Man]

79. For the same reason anyone brings anything here.

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]

67. "My dear conservative, I must protest your use of the term, 'libtard.'

”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]

80. Yes, as if *that's* the manner in which I'm suggesting approaching it.

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]

83. You're tilting at the wrong windmill, Sir Knight.

Obviously, this is a Democratic/progressive/liberal message board. We don’t 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 you’re really dedicated to bring enlightenment and civility to the internet, go to Breitbart or Free Republic and make your stand. You’ll find what offends you in mere seconds. You must be aware of the vituperative downpour you’ll be in for, but if you’re 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 what’s 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]

69. We don't use that term much, here in this Democrat Party.

I got a phone call, a political poll that seemed fairly neutral in phrasing until a question used the words "Democrat Party".

Click.

[jambo101]

75. With a demographic that is ok with

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]

82. Conservatives don't use it. Republicans do.

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.