The word "moron" has a specific history involving the designation of people with intellectual disabilities as unfit for society, and rendering them subject for sterilization, incarceration, and even death. Every day I see good stalwart progressives use it and it makes me weary.
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Replying to @Lollardfish
I concur. There are a number of words like that. Idiot has a similar (not quite as nefarious) history, but it doesn’t matter to me as much. Moron does. The R-word bothers me the most.
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Replying to @tarahaelle @Lollardfish
Indeed. Imbecile is another. Idiot, moron, and imbecile were actual clinical terms used by doctors to describe different levels of mental retardation.
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Replying to @gorskon @Lollardfish
Ah, I forgot about imbecile. That one bothers me too. I can’t explain why imbecile, moron, and retarded bother me in casual use but idiot doesn’t. Maybe it’s bc idiot always felt more “harmless,” like the “village idiot” in fairytales? Idk. There’s no good reason for it.
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Replying to @tarahaelle @Lollardfish
Idiot doesn’t bother me as much, and I’ve been known to use the word on occasion, but never moron or imbecile. I don’t know why. The words all share the same history.
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I need a list of non-offensive synonyms to use as replacements. Because I’m coming up short on words to express my frustration with a large segment of humanity right now.
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Right now I’ve been liking dolt and ignoramus. 
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