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Originally Posted by jwb
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.
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That's exactly why I made that distinction about disability before.
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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.
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I actually think I would, if they meant the same thing as I do. It depends on what you mean by a person's worth though; I won't pretend I never look down on stupid people. I do agree with your general point, there isn't a clear line, it's more subtle than my posts here give credit for.