Hyperbolic, derogatory terms used to instantly dismiss and ridicule individuals or ideas that deviate from mainstream scientific consensus, often without engaging their specific claims. While motivated by defense of science, these slurs (e.g., "flatard," "anti-vaxxer" used as a pure epithet, "conspiritard," "woo-woo") function as thought-terminating clichés. They replace reasoned rebuttal with tribal mockery, attacking the person's intelligence or sanity rather than their arguments. This often backfires, reinforcing the target's identity as a persecuted truth-seeker and cementing their in-group loyalty.
Example: In an online debate about GMOs, someone expresses concern about long-term ecological impacts. Instead of addressing the specific concern about monocultures or pesticide resistance, a respondent immediately calls them a "Luddite" and a "science-denier." The slur shuts down conversation. The concerned person, now insulted, retreats to communities that validate their fears, viewing the mainstream as dogmatic and abusive. The slur didn't protect science; it weaponized its label and created an enemy. Anti-Pseudoscience Slurs.
by Dumuabzu January 25, 2026
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