Yeah, this is the sort of thing I was angling at.

Using slurs in a dehumanising way is obviously never good, and should be combatted.

The question is whether the model for the N word (where it becomes taboo to even use the word) is preferable to reclamation, de-stigmatisation, or disassociation.

‘Idiot’ and ‘moron’ are good examples of that latter model. They’ve been thoroughly de-stigmatised, to the point where if you directed them at someone with a learning disorder, it wouldn’t even make sense.

On the other hand, banning entire words is a pretty good way of signalling society-wide that certain approaches and views aren’t acceptable.

I don’t have strong views one way or another here. I’d just like to see this discussed in left spaces from a strategic perspective, as usually when it’s discussed outside of left spaces it becomes a shitshow of litigating the basic existence of the targets.