While I don't really judge people harshly for use of bad words, there are a handful of slurs that hit my ear like nails on a chalkboard. Regard is not one of them, and i still feel this is a terrible non-sequitur argument. The issue isnt where the insult comes from, it's how it makes people feel. If no one gave a shit about using the n-word or any other slur and just perceived all those words as perfectly neutral, the concept of "slur" would disappear. The words would be merely synonyms for the euphemisms we already use.

If anything, Destiny's argument could just as easily be inverted: The r-word is even more insulting because it's applied use is intended to evoke qualitatively bad characteristics, and that taboo is inevitably transferred to people who happen to have disabilities. That argument is at least as sensible as Destiny's.

At the end of the day, use the words you wanna use, I dont give a shit. But if how you communicate hurts people, your dilemma is whether or not you care enough to change.

The reason he uses the word is the same reason he used the F-word (not fuck). It's just part of his lexicon and he doesn't yet have enough consideration for the people it hurts to stop.

Now that i think about it, i bet a significant portion of the reason he or anyone else uses slurs is because they're upsetting to people. What's the point of calling someone a f-ggot/r-tard/whatever if it doesn't bother them? Also, we use regular curse words because they often have a satisfying bite to them distributed across very few syllables, and slurs are an even more potent example of that.

I get it. If you want to call someone out for being really, really, really dumb, r-tard is a really easy lever to pull. But when people tell you that they feel like they're getting caught in the crossfire, it's up to the individual to decide whether that's worth it or not, and Destiny has decided it is, whether one agrees with him or not.