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AIBU?

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Original poster

If you use the word 'idiot' you can't get offended by the word 'moron'

85 replies

ImMoId · 05/07/2024 06:45

Moron IQ 51-70
Imbecile IQ 25-50
Idiot IQ under 25

The hypocrisy is hilarious!

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 05/07/2024 11:39

Hollowvoice · 05/07/2024 11:30

Eejit is obviously the correct term but numpty is also good

Numpty is the fave in this house

ShortColdandGrey · 05/07/2024 11:39

Eejit, numpty, plum, trumpet depending on how much I like them 😁

Hollowvoice · 05/07/2024 11:30

Eejit is obviously the correct term but numpty is also good

EilonwyWithRedGoldHair · 05/07/2024 11:06

I'm welsh and like twp.

I would say idiot. Wouldn't say moron, imbecile or retard though. As someone else pointed out idiot is much more embedded in the english language.

SiobhanSharpe · 05/07/2024 11:06

What's wrong with twat? Can be used for men and women these days.
Or how about bell-end, dickhead, (for men) arsehole, tit (either sex) and many more.
They may be rude and insulting but they focus on behaviour and not intelligence.

StormingNorman · 05/07/2024 11:01

Apparently cretin is really bad in a professional setting 🤷‍♀️

Dita73 · 05/07/2024 10:59

I’m a “Fuckwit” fan myself

HungryLittleCrocodile · 05/07/2024 10:57

ThatsMsAtomicBob · 05/07/2024 10:53

The Irish pronunciation of idiot is idiot. Eejit is a more affectionate term.

Eejit doesn't sound so rude does it? Smile

HungryLittleCrocodile · 05/07/2024 10:56

BiscuitsForever · 05/07/2024 06:53

When I'm being polite I like to go for the term 'donut'.

😆

My go-to insult for people is 'smeghead.'

ThatsMsAtomicBob · 05/07/2024 10:53

The Irish pronunciation of idiot is idiot. Eejit is a more affectionate term.

Blackcats7 · 05/07/2024 10:40

Well I am a retired learning disability nurse and if someone is being thick in an annoying or offensive manner I will “mock” their intelligence as a pp has defined it if the situation warrants it.
There is a world of difference in having a cognitive impairment such as the people I worked with and just somebody being thick.
I am not mocking a health condition by calling someone idiotic etc so I will continue to do so. I am partial to twat too though.

Projectme · 05/07/2024 10:31

We use divvy, donut, plank, tool or melt.

I particularly like 'don't be such a melt'

Hoppinggreen · 05/07/2024 10:22

How about Doofus?
We also use Div and Muppet

Fifthtimelucky · 05/07/2024 10:22

I'm in my 60s and have used all in the past, without realising they were offensive.

I try not to these days, but occasionally one slips out (usually idiot) usually when describing myself. I also use "nitwit" and "fool".

ColinMyWifeBridgerton · 05/07/2024 10:19

I hate the word moron when used seriously to someone. Also don't like idiot.

Eejit is better because imo it's used differently. I tend to use "fool".

KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 05/07/2024 10:09

I like ‘moronic’ as it applies to policies, practices, rather than people.

We should probably avoid insulting people based on their innate intelligence rather than their behaviour.

I’m a fan of muppet for daft behaviour.

And daft is underrated and underused these days.

Carouselfish · 05/07/2024 10:02

I use them all liberally. Especially like imbecile as it has a campy Wildean flavour about it.

fedupdontknowwheretoputmyself · 05/07/2024 09:51

I objected to the term 'moron' on another thread. I'm a retired RN and do know what the terms historically meant.

I tend to use the term 'bloody fool'.

Coatsoff42 · 05/07/2024 09:50

Idiot seems mild to me, not as aggressive as stupid, moronic, retard all of which are quite nasty.
You could use idiot affectionately I feel, ‘oh you idiot, of course I love you’ etc etc.

CatsArentFansOfFans · 05/07/2024 09:43

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

timetobegin · 05/07/2024 09:29

Realistically shaming someone for their lack of intelligence isn’t great but to me idiot is less offensive than the other offerings up thread

sanityisamyth · 05/07/2024 09:26

Pillock?

MonsteraMama · 05/07/2024 09:23

whiteroseredrose · 05/07/2024 08:18

Something popped up on Facebook recently. They reckoned in English we can use nearly every noun as an insult if it is preceded by 'absolute'. Seems to work.

You absolute coat hanger
You absolute cushion
You absolute coffee cup.

This isn't new, it did the rounds on Tumblr about a decade ago and probably comes from further back than that in the sludge of the internet's history.

It's now considered very cringe, apparently, to insult people in this way. According to my 16yo anyway. Internet language usage is like carbon dating for humans.

TruthThatsHardAsSteel · 05/07/2024 09:14

Sondheimisademigod · 05/07/2024 08:37

I thought that - used in same way as we may endearingly call someone an idiot (rather than passing judgement on their mental competence!). however, if 'idiot' is an offensive term, it remains offensive whichever way it is pronounced, or the meaning behind it.
Someone will always be offended! Mind you, some will be offended about anything, so...

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Oh absolutely agree, the intent doesn't change the origin. Just have to find a different harmless way to insult people affectionately 😂.

whiteroseredrose · 05/07/2024 08:45

@Thepeopleversuswork that's why it was nearly every noun! But it is fun trying them out.

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