I used a Word and Someone Complained it was an Ableist Slur: The FAQ

*Does everyone hate me now?*
no!

*What was bad about the word I said?*
A lot of words and phrases in common use are based on the premise that people with physical or mental disabilities are not worthy of love or support. Many insults even originated as medical terms for disabilities. By repeating these ideas, you will do more to hurt those around you than anyone you're trying to target.

This applies especially to insults about intellgence. Often deliberate harmful actions are blamed on unintelligence, illnesses and disabilities. People are made feel lesser because skills in areas where employees are highly profitable like math or programming are synonymous with intelligence, while skills at caretaking or teaching are not. This also corresponds with the eugenicist idea that any lack of success in society is not only a sign of moral failure, but also biological inadequacy.

*What word should I use instead?*
While slurs often have horrible origins, it is not that helpful to just swap one word for another with the same intent ("Euphemism Treadmill"). There's no easy answer, but here's some things you can try:

- Think about what you're trying to achieve in the first place. Insults can be useful. They can unite people's shared complaints behind one word, as "Karen", "neckbeard" and others have. But their brevity can also hide the deliberate motives of people doing harm. Other times, solidarity with affected people is far more powerful than an insult could ever be.

- Pick words that describe the behaviour. If someone is letting people die to save profits, say they're "letting people die to save profits". Or if you're feeling colorful "pushing people into woodchippers". Perhaps a "death cult". Yes this is usually longer but as a bonus you'll probably make your point better.

This has been a tiny service announcement
https://redd.it/ix1bmq
by @get_happiness

[ The Gay ]

The flavor of the gay is fried avocado sushi rolls.

The sound of the gay is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i7qZxICwgQ.

The texture of the gay is bass strings.

Dang, I lost the game. And now you did.

[ The Spooky Gay ]

The spooky flavor of the gay is pumpkin strawberry soup. (It had to be spooky!)

The sound of the spooky gay is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVSpfQHEsNY.

The spooky texture of the gay is the feeling when your clothes don't sit right.

Off topic, but yesterday I got my speakers to work with new sound hardware I have and got it to sound good without buzzing.

[spooky music starts playing]

BooooOOOOOOooooo!

Also, this is ur irregular reminder that I'm gay in case someone forgot. lol

Trans women are women, pass it on.

Gender is dead, eat your keyboard, smash your boss

[ The Gay ]

The flavor of the gay is lychee juice.

The sound of the gay is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0. I am not sorry.

The texture of the gay is fluffy socks sitting just perfect.

Morgen findet eine Demo für geschlechtliche Selbstbestimmung anlässlich der Lesung der Entwürfe im Innenausschuss des Bundestages statt.
Achtet auf Maske und Abstand halten! TSG abschaffen.
Morgen - 12:00 - Platz der Republik

[ The Gay ]

The flavor of the gay is vegan pizza "salami".

The sound of the gay is slow steady breathing.

The texture of the gay is a soft fuzzy blanket bringing your body to just the right temperature.