A Serious Question

[alliancesjr]

I've seen this term come up in a lot of Internet arguments (Oh, Internet Drama. How I don't miss you.) and I don't know what it means.

What the hell is "ableist" and why is it derogatory? I mean, I guess I understand - from context, mostly - that it means someone who's discriminatory to disabled people, but...what is the reason for the word?

Comments

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Basically, it's saying that you as an "abled" person are discriminating against a "disabled" person, on the basis of ability (as opposed to race or sex). So you have racism, sexism, ableism. And as we all know, I am clearly ableist against crazy people.

[alliancesjr.livejournal.com]

I get that, I think. It's mostly that I see that people who use the term either use it as a way to sway opinions of people reading it or to dismiss someone by applying a nuclear label on the situation. (Well, I may have agreed with what she said but she's obviously a RACIST so I'll turn against her.)

Frankly, most people I see bandying the term about are even more offensive than the original opinion.

Why not just stick to "Total douchebag" or "Jerkasaurus"? It'll make it simpler.

[queenanthai.livejournal.com]

AS A CRAZY PERSON I FEEL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY THIS COMMENT.

PLEASE KISS MY ASS UNTIL MY BUTTHURT GOES AWAY.

[alliancesjr.livejournal.com]

BUT YOU ARE AN ABELIST.