As we continue to learn and grow, there’s another pattern of language that those of us trying to bring a better world into being are trying to stop and consider: casual ableism, especially as it relates to mental health.

In our communities, we often discuss heavy topics. War. Fascism. State repression. Exploitation. We talk about these topics because they’re consequential, and we use our platforms to try to hold the powerful to account.

But criticism can slide into harmful language when we reach for metaphors that diagnose cruel people with a mental illness, or equate disability with evil.

For example, calling Trump or Putin a psychopath doesn’t make your point stronger. Rather, it feeds into an ableist narrative that when people do evil things, there must be something wrong with them. It also implies that those who are diagnosed with this condition are beyond help.

When calling out people, institutions, and cultural phenomena, think twice. Get specific about what harm they’re causing, and use language that reflects those effects.

We can call fascist leaders power-hungry strongmen with blood on their hands without ascribing their actions to mental illness.

When calling out consumer culture that drives climate disaster, we can do so without invoking “addiction” or “stupidity” or “idiocy”.