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Originally Posted by Marie Monday
I don't think anyone here would argue what you're saying about a merit-based system.
Regarding the worth thing: using stupidity as an insult just implies that it's something negative. I don't think that implies it makes someone worth less as a human being. For instance I think you're a deluded bigot about Muslims, which is definitely a negative thing, but I don't think you're worth less because of it. What does that even mean? People's worth shouldn't be measured in any way.
Saying that stupid people have had it harder than black people is just ridiculous to the point of being disrespectful. Wtf. Dumb people were never dehumanised to the extent of being made slaves. They were never lynched on trees. Seriously. That's exactly my point though (re:diswashing comment), why racial slurs are much worse than saying idiot: being less intelligent than average is a disadvantage, of course, but it's just not comparable (unless you really have a disability)
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I think there's a difference between saying they're not equivalent and saying they're not comparable.
I agree with you racial slurs are far worse because of not only the history but the tangible affects of that history on the modern context. While stupid people were never enslaved as a group, if you get into the realm of actual disability, I'm sure they weren't treated any better than a slave. Probably were just left to die at birth. That just doesn't have the same impact on our modern culture that slavery did.
But they are comparable in that both rely on group stigmas and stereotypes. I think it's a bit disingenuous to say I see stupidity as a negative thing but it doesn't make you worth less as a person. Would you take the same approach if someone said I see a man who isn't masculine enough as a negative thing but it doesn't make him worth less as a person?
I can tell you want this sort of distinction to be easy to draw but I believe it's more complicated than you assume.