An egregiously ableist slur repurposed as a rhetorical weapon to dismiss an argument by claiming its proponent must have a cognitive or intellectual disability. It suggests the argument is so stupid, poorly constructed, or obvious that only a person with severely diminished mental capacity could make it. This is among the most offensive and juvenile tactics, used to inflict maximum insult while offering zero counter-argument.
Example: If someone misinterprets a basic statistic in a debate, a hostile opponent might respond, "Wow, just when I thought your argument couldn't get dumber, you whip out the retardation card." This substitutes a vile insult for any attempt to correct the misinterpretation, aiming purely to humiliate and end the exchange.
by Abzugal February 3, 2026
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