Libtard

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{{cquote|Anyone who uses the word "Libtard" has already demonstrated their level of intelligence, and it's nothing to write home about.|||The Christian Left<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.facebook.com/TheChristianLeft/posts/984031508285653 |title=The Christian Left - Facebook |date=07/02/2015 |work=[[Facebook]]}}</ref>|||}}
[[File:Libtard.jpeg|thumb|A [[Sarcasm|very intelligent]] comment from “Libturds Suck”.]]

'''Libtard''' is a ham-fisted portmanteau of the words "[[liberal]]" and "[[retard]]".<ref>[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Libtard&defid=2650711 Urban Dictionary: libtard]</ref>

It is used as a [[snarl word]] to refer to a person who identifies as a liberal and/or supports liberal causes. Or, more aptly put—to anyone not sufficiently conservative, as measured by fans of [[Fox News]] personalities or [[far right]] AM radio hosts.<ref group=note>The corresponding neologism "conservatard" is nowhere near as widely used, despite being a somewhat smoother portmanteau due to the "t" in "conservative". Perhaps this means the left at least dislikes ''overt'' [[ableism]].</ref>

The un[[ironic]] use of the term "libtard" as an insult is generally confined to [[troll]]s, [[political]] internet bots, and [[Dunning-Kruger effect|immature and ignorant people with a high opinion of their own intelligence]]. While attempting to use intellectual disability as an insult, they're proving themselves much less interesting or insightful than your average person with an intellectual disability. (Who do you think would make a better conversation partner, a rude and raging conservative or a regular person with [[Down syndrome]]?)

Those who use it seem unaware that instead of insulting their intended targets, they're mostly just alienating people with [[intellectual disability|intellectual disabilities]] and those who care about them, in the same way they would by using the word "retard" on its own.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-libtard-huppke-20161229-story.html|title=Column: Here's an offensive word we should retire right now|work=Chicago Tribune|last=Huppke|first=Rex|date=29 December 2016|accessdate=11 October 2017}}</ref><ref>Duyvis, Corinne and Kayla Whaley. [http://disabilityinkidlit.com/2016/07/08/introduction-to-disability-terminology/ Disability in Kidlit: Introduction to Disability Terminology]. Disabilityinkidlit.com, July 8, 2016.</ref> Of course, the far right has a long history of treating disabled people like dirt, so they're unlikely to care.<ref>Powell, Robin. [https://medium.com/the-establishment/steve-bannon-is-not-only-anti-semitic-racist-and-misogynistic-he-is-ableist-1616ee3e75d7 Steve Bannon Is Not Only Anti-Semitic, Racist, And Misogynistic — He Is Ableist]. Medium.</ref>

The term is best used in conjunction with an unfunny [[meme]], dubious infographic or [[fake news]] article.<ref group=note>Mix and match for best results!</ref>

In August 2017, the term was the main response [[Paul Joseph Watson]] had to offer<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/far-right-antifa-george-orwell-paul-joseph-watson-historian-alt-right-left-wing-novelist-mike-a7924491.html|title=Far-right commentator gets 'schooled' by historian over George Orwell and Antifa|work=Independent|last=Oppenheim|first=Maya|date=1 September 2017|accessdate=10 October 2017}}</ref> when his laughably ignorant speculation that militant antifascist [[George Orwell]] would hate [[Antifa]] was corrected.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/infowars-editor-gets-owned-by-historian_us_59aa6035e4b0b5e530fee6c8|work=[[Huffington Post]]|title=Twitter Users School Infowars Editor Over Claim That 'Orwell Rolls In His Grave' At Antifa|last=Moran|first=Lee|date=2 September 2017|accessdate=10 October 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Red-baiting]]
*[[Psychological projection]]
*[[Ableism]]
*[[Tribalism]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}
[[Category:Political terms]]
[[Category:Snarl words]]
[[Category:Ableism]]
[[Category:Alt-right]]
[[Category:Alt-lite]]

Categories: Political terms, Snarl words, Ableism, Alt-right, Alt-lite