![](/static/790fef6/assets/icons/icon-96x96.png)
![](https://lemm.ee/api/v3/image_proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Flemmy.world%2Fpictrs%2Fimage%2Fc47230a8-134c-4dc9-89e8-75c6ea875d36.png)
I already said that I don’t speak for all disabled people, though, anecdotally, in groups that I’m in (I volunteer with a disability support group), the terms special and special needs are often highlighted as ableist terms that disabled people find offensive or get used against them as slurs. Some research online also bears that out, a number of reputable sources online have recommended avoiding the use of the terms special and special needs.
It doesn’t really particularly matter whether you’re disabled or not. This isn’t about identity, it’s about using a slur. If you had used the n-word as part of a joke and got backlash I think you’d understand this a bit better.
You’re being pretty callous around the fact that you genuinely emotionally hurt me, I’ve been as respectful, kind and considerate of you and your feelings as I can be. How do you expect to build a people-led movement to dismantle the exploitation of the working class if you can’t bring yourself to even care for one other person? On just a human level, I’m not trying to have an argument where I one-up you or something like that, this isn’t some debate to win or lose, I’m just talking to you, human to human, and trying to help you to understand that you’re unintentionally hurting people who are one of the most vulnerable minorities in society.
I truly hope that you’re just being a bit edgy and that in future you really will think twice about this kind of thing, regardless of what you write now.
It’s in the nature of the far-right to co-opt the language and aesthetics of others, especially the left. That’s why the nazi party called themselves national socialists.
But ultimately, they’re right - if we remain placid in the face of the erasure of the rights of minorities, they will have their way. The media and electoral politics have been fully captured by the ruling elite, who would rather have an authoritarian theocratic dictatorship than an equitable world. Our only option is a revolution at this point - as peaceful as we can make it, by withholding the working class’s labour from the elite while supporting one-another - but it is almost entirely impossible that they would allow our revolution to remain peaceful. Therefore, those of us who can must be ready and willing to fight on the behalf of those who can not.
I am going to continue to use the phrase because it contains a powerful truth, my hope is that people who see it and hear it will move even slightly more towards accepting the reality of the situation that we’re all in, and start working on building solidarity, mutual aid, and getting involved in activism outside the realm of electoral politics.