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   Megan Lynch (she/her) (meganl@mas.to)'s status on Monday, 29-Jun-2026 00:06:25 JST Megan Lynch (she/her)

   🧵 When you hear something you know is going to change everything for you, you probably remember who it is that said it. But when someone plants a seed that ends up sprouting months later, especially when you initially reacted negatively to the idea, you may not remember who said it. (1/10) #Ableism #Fascism #Language

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     Megan Lynch (she/her) (meganl@mas.to)'s status on Monday, 29-Jun-2026 00:06:24 JST Megan Lynch (she/her)

     in reply to

     The journey I’ve made (and am still making) in trying to change what I use as an insult and the metaphors I use has made me really think hard about this. So even now, I’m listening to a podcast episode about revolutions (and monarchy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and fascism) where all three abled white dude hosts use words like “idiot” and “moron” to describe some rulers. (4/10) #Ableism #Fascism #Language

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     Megan Lynch (she/her) (meganl@mas.to)'s status on Monday, 29-Jun-2026 00:06:24 JST Megan Lynch (she/her)

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     There are times where they use those terms as if what was wrong with these rulers was that they weren’t “smart enough”. No, that’s not what’s wrong with evil people. It’s not as if all they’re missing is education and they’re suddenly good guys.

     Examining the ableist insults and framings I was taught to use has made me have to think about the differences between IQ (eugenics measure), intelligence, cleverness, and wisdom as concepts. (5/10) #Ableism #Fascism #Language

     Adrianna Tan repeated this.
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     Megan Lynch (she/her) (meganl@mas.to)'s status on Monday, 29-Jun-2026 00:06:24 JST Megan Lynch (she/her)

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     Something the use of ableist insults “moron” or “insane” does is reinforce the framing that good = abled/smart/sane and evil = disabled/moron/insane. This is not only reinforcing an ableist worldview but it’s not at all accurate. Any one of us can point to someone who may be intelligent, clever, and an abusive asshole all at the same time. Many of them are promoted upwards in whatever corporate workplace or educational or governmental institution we’re in. (6/10) #Ableism #Fascism #Language

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     Megan Lynch (she/her) (meganl@mas.to)'s status on Monday, 29-Jun-2026 00:06:25 JST Megan Lynch (she/her)

     in reply to

     This is the reason I don’t remember the user names of many of the folks on Twitter who changed my mind about ableist language and other things that are shifts I’ve made in the last 15 years or so. I wish I *could* remember and namecheck them to thank them. (2/10) #Ableism #Fascism #Language

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     Megan Lynch (she/her) (meganl@mas.to)'s status on Monday, 29-Jun-2026 00:06:25 JST Megan Lynch (she/her)

     in reply to

     My initial response to critiques of insults like “idiot” and “moron” or “insane” were that they were not being used literally and everyone knew that. Which is sort of besides the point - *why* is being likened to someone who’s disabled an insult is more the point. Why is it that people who do evil things are supposed to be more insulted by being likened to disabled people than by the evil deeds they do tarring them with an ignominy far more insulting?

     (3/10) #Ableism #Fascism #Language

     https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-sinister-history-of-the-word-moron-explained