Use of the term "Libtard"

[Archer]

Personally I think that "libtards" is an awful term. For one thing, it is extremely offensive to the mentally disabled. I have several family members who have diminished mental capacity, and I would take major umbrage if I heard someone using that term in front of me. For another, it makes us more conservative folk appear to be immature, hotheaded and downright stupid. It brings crappy New York Times political cartoons of fat camo wearing rednecks with half a brain to life. If we can't articulate ourselves properly, then our arguments and positions lose validity. Just like I stop listening when a liberal calls me a violent gun-crazed maniac and compares me to a mass murderer, I wouldn't blame one of them for not listening if I insult them like a 14 year old boy. By all means, when someone says something stupid, call them out on it and take them to task, but do it like a grown up. To me, that term seems very base and childish.

I'm not speaking directly to any one person, I have always found that term to be in very poor taste. I simply think that we, as a generally conservative bunch, do ourselves a disservice with such rhetoric. This is just one man's opinion, for the very little that it is worth.

 

[Black Cloud]

Exactly. It's not like they call us Teabaggers, or anything like that...

 

[HenryWallace]

Everyone calls me 'Henry'. I am known by no other blanketed terms.
I believe no one fits any one or two or three labels, when honestly scrutinized.
Even people that want to be called one thing or another truthfully have traits associated strongly with another.

 

[jwh20]

Exactly. It's not like they call us Teabaggers, or anything like that...

Or, of course, "hater". Since, by definition, anyone who owns a gun or supports the right to keep and bear them "hates" children and, in fact, wants to see more of them killed.

But in spite of the temptation, I try NOT to use terms like "libtard" because to do so takes me down to their level of name calling. You see it's Emotional Arguments 101 where if you have no facts, truth, or reason to defend your position, the best tactic is to belittle, disparage, or de-humanize your opponent.

 

[KellyinAvon]

Maybe we need an acronym for gun-grabbing, anti-2A, socialist leaning, no logic/all emotion individuals and groups. I tried SMAMATSA (Soccer Moms And Mayors Against The Second Amendment), but it didn't catch on. It gets tiresome having one's religious and political views bashed, impugned, minimized, marginalized, stereotyped and more things than I can think of on a daily basis for decades without having a negative reaction every now and then. Taking the high road in public or with your name attached is something we must all do on a daily basis. Here on the Interwebz? How bout that acronym!

 

[jamil]

I don't usually say anything about them when they're used, but since the topic is specifically about them...

Political name-jacking is just silly. Why not just describe what you don't like about them. Not so clever name jacking doesn't make you look as clever as you think. Furthermore, jacking a name even more out of shape that the previous jacker doesn't make you even more clever. It's not like you can jack a name so cleverly that the one word brilliantly encompasses every evil detail. I dunno. Maybe printcraft could. But we're not all printcraft. If you want that kind of one-word brevity, use a thesaurus.

Teabagger. Libtard. Obummer. Shrub. All those name jackings do is show an unimaginative contempt for a person. It's especially obvious when you repeat someone else's lack of creativity.

 

[jamil]

Maybe we need an acronym for gun-grabbing, anti-2A, socialist leaning, no logic/all emotion individuals and groups. I tried SMAMATSA (Soccer Moms And Mayors Against The Second Amendment), but it didn't catch on. It gets tiresome having one's religious and political views bashed, impugned, minimized, marginalized, stereotyped and more things than I can think of on a daily basis for decades without having a negative reaction every now and then. Taking the high road in public or with your name attached is something we must all do on a daily basis. Here on the Interwebz? How bout that acronym!

To refer to those *****es pretending to be soccer moms and political bastards how about "BABAL"?

Which stands for *****es And Bastards Against Liberty.

 

[CathyInBlue]

Liberal | Define Liberal at Dictionary.com

lib·er·al [lib-er-uh

l, lib-ruh

l]

adjective
1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
2. ( often initial capital letter ) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.
3. of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism, especially the freedom of the individual and governmental guarantees of individual rights and liberties.
4. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.
5. favoring or permitting freedom of action, especially with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.

Retard | Define Retard at Dictionary.com

re·tard [ri-tahrd, for 1–3, 5; ree-tahrd for 4]

verb (used with object)
1. to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.

verb (used without object)
2. to be delayed.

noun 3. a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.
4. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.
a. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person who cognitively impaired.
b. a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard.
5. Automotive, Machinery . an adjustment made in the setting of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine so that the spark for ignition in each cylinder is generated later in the cycle.

lib·tard [lib-tahrd]

noun
1. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. (often initial capital letter)
a deliberately obtuse person who stupidly advocates ineffective measures of progressive political reform.

Can anyone deny that people espousing Liberal ideologies are almost uniformly stupid to the point of deliberate and concerted obtuseness? Does anyone doubt the ineffectiveness of most Liberal policies to reach even their stated goals, let alone any good effect whatsoever? The word is well formed and well used.

 

[Shadow8088]

By attaching a word with negative connotation, like "libtard" or "teabagger" to someone, it makes it easier to dehumanize them and put them below yourself. Thus making it easier to feel better about one's position. The tactic is as old as time can can be explained by simply picking up a psychology book.

An example: Remember when the word "gay" meant happy? or "******" was a bundle of twigs/sticks? see, even the website's profanity filter says that it's bad... (Fah-got) in case you couldn't figure it out.

Urban Dictionary: teabagger

Urban Dictionary: libtard

 

[Principal Skinr]

All sides have people that will degrade honest debate and discussion into name calling and hatred. One side calling the other out for it is folly and in and of itself takes attention off the important points and counterpoints, facts, and opinions. In fact, name calling, or pointing out name calling are a sure sign someone feels they are losing the debate.

Conversely, all sides have people who debate and discuss in a respectful and thoughtful way. I think most of us try and avoid the pitfalls that pride and passion can bring, but the media likes to shine the spotlight on those that don't. Drama sells, unfortunately.

 

[churchmouse]

Maybe we need an acronym for gun-grabbing, anti-2A, socialist leaning, no logic/all emotion individuals and groups. I tried SMAMATSA (Soccer Moms And Mayors Against The Second Amendment), but it didn't catch on. It gets tiresome having one's religious and political views bashed, impugned, minimized, marginalized, stereotyped and more things than I can think of on a daily basis for decades without having a negative reaction every now and then. Taking the high road in public or with your name attached is something we must all do on a daily basis. Here on the Interwebz? How bout that acronym!

And this is why I/we call that part of society Libtards as it fits.
OP, if you in any way think this term is aimed at a family member or anyone else of diminished capacity you are being to sensitive. It is in no way aimed at you/yours or them. Give it a rest. It is the only ammo we as a group really have to return fire on those idiots.
Name calling is childish but sometimes that is all they understand.........Jeesh.....

 

[Snapdragon]

I think it's offensive, but I think that the behavior on both sides is offensive.

 

[Principal Skinr]

Liberal | Define Liberal at Dictionary.com
Retard | Define Retard at Dictionary.com
lib·tard [lib-tahrd]

noun
1. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. (often initial capital letter)
a deliberately obtuse person who stupidly advocates ineffective measures of progressive political reform.

Can anyone deny that people espousing Liberal ideologies are almost uniformly stupid to the point of deliberate and concerted obtuseness? Does anyone doubt the ineffectiveness of most Liberal policies to reach even their stated goals, let alone any good effect whatsoever? The word is well formed and well used.

Yes, I can deny it. My mother was one of the most wonderful people in the world, IMO, and she was a liberal. She was not stupid. Far from it. I could take your quote here and substitute conservative or teabagger, or whatever, and it would work for rabid liberals just as well. My father was a staunch conservative, and was as compassionate and caring as any man I've ever met. He was quite intelligent, too. He would attest to the intelligence of my Mom. (I'm certainly not saying I'd be the poster boy for intelligent conservatives, either.)

Our capacity for hypocrisy in political discussion is amazing, and like it or not, we are ALL quite capable of it and guilty of it from time to time.

 

[jamil]

Liberal | Define Liberal at Dictionary.com
Retard | Define Retard at Dictionary.com
lib·tard [lib-tahrd]

noun
1. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. (often initial capital letter)
a deliberately obtuse person who stupidly advocates ineffective measures of progressive political reform.

Can anyone deny that people espousing Liberal ideologies are almost uniformly stupid to the point of deliberate and concerted obtuseness? Does anyone doubt the ineffectiveness of most Liberal policies to reach even their stated goals, let alone any good effect whatsoever? The word is well formed and well used.

You're doubling down on it?

"b. a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard."

I'll direct you without looking up the link to the thread about people with higher IQs tend to be liberals. So, not stupid. Ineffective? Are you kidding? They're kicking our asses with their political reform, even as ineffective as it is! Obtuse? Well, insensitive yes, but they do it for a purpose.

Tossing name jacks like that around may make you feel better, may make you seem clever to your peers, so much that a particularly clever one might get you rep for invoking it on an internet forum. Other than that, what does it accomplish? It hasn't impeded one "ineffective measure of progressive political reform".

 

[Expat]

I will certainly give the OP all of the consideration that I feel his suggestion deserves.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

I find it hard to muster up the anger or contempt it takes to call names. Not saying I never have or never do, I guess I'm just not much of a grudge-holder and I'd rather live and let live.


Here's a question:

Is it acceptable for Liberals to refer to each other as Libtards, or is any use of the word offensive. I often here them saying things like "What is up my Libtard!"

 

[jamil]

BigBoxaSwedenTard!

Ok, never mind. I just oppose name jacking because I really suck at it.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

The term basically says, "if everyone else could only be as smart as me, they'd agree with everything I say." It seems pretty prominent in both political and religious debates among the deeply entrenched. The truth is there are very intelligent, learned, and rational people on both sides of any argument. Perhaps they don't have all the facts or their world view is canted based on their own experiences and beliefs, but that certainly doesn't make them stupid.

 

[churchmouse]

The term basically says, "if everyone else could only be as smart as me, they'd agree with everything I say." It seems pretty prominent in both political and religious debates among the deeply entrenched. The truth is there are very intelligent, learned, and rational people on both sides of any argument. Perhaps they don't have all the facts or their world view is canted based on their own experiences and beliefs, but that certainly doesn't make them stupid.

Agree...well said.
I wish all discussions and arguments never went down to name calling. Just is not the case sometimes.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

BigBoxaSwedenTard!

Ok, never mind. I just oppose name jacking because I really suck at it.

Thanks a lot, I just sprayed coffee on my keyboard.