# Why do people think they sound smart when they misspell "liberal" as "librul"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034 "2011-11-15T18:20:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/21 "2011-11-15T21:23:52Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > Of course they realize it. That’s why you never hear anyone say it–it’s always written, since the similarities are visually playing off of the two words, not doing so aurally. > > Ha–you said stupider. :rolleyes: If I recall correctly from my childhood, girls go to Jupiter to get more stupider while boys go to mars to get more candy bars. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/22 "2011-11-16T00:27:35Z")
People who say “democrat party” sure sound stupid too. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/23 "2011-11-16T00:35:22Z")
Moved from Gerneral Questions to IMHO. **samclem** , Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/24 "2011-11-16T01:06:35Z")
It’d be terrific if liberals and conservatives could agree on a moratorium on dumb-ass gotcha terms for the 2012 campaign. The Dope is the obvious place to start. No more “libruls” or “pubbies”\*; in return right-wingers need to stop referring to the “Democrat” Party and acting all innocent when called on it\*\*. Furthermore, dear Democratic friends, please stop mailing me push poll literature in which you claim that the Republicans have “voted to end Medicare”. It’s [a bullshit claim](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/apr/20/democratic-congressional-campaign-committee/democrats-say-republicans-voted-end-medicare-and-c/) that makes you look stupid. It would also help if you didn’t stamp (on the outside of the envelope) “Do Not Tamper” (there’s a Pubbie Conspiracy to censor all Democratic Party mailings, dontcha know). :rolleyes: At least they’ve stopped (for now) referring to “Leader Pelosi” (how 1984) in favor of Democratic Leader, which is somewhat accurate (actually saying House Minority Leader sounds too, well, minority-ish). \*I’d tolerate either idiocy, if promised that never again on this board would I see anyone refer to the police as “po-po’s”, which makes the poster sound like a stunted five-year-old. \*\*Mustn’t ever say “Democratic”, then you give credence to the other side believing in Democratic principles, which of course they don’t because they are Evil. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/25 "2011-11-16T01:08:37Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I always wonder if the people doing this realize that “Faux” does not rhyme with “Fox.” I can’t decide if it makes them stupider if they do or if they don’t. I agree that “Fucks News” would be a more accurate description of what the Fox News Channel does but there’d be censorship issues. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/26 "2011-11-16T01:10:21Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It’d be terrific if liberals and conservatives could agree on a moratorium on dumb-ass gotcha terms for the 2012 campaign. The Dope is the obvious place to start. No more “libruls” or “pubbies”\*; in return right-wingers need to stop referring to the “Democrat” Party and acting all innocent when called on it\*\*. Let’s stop using fundies too. I’m an atheist but I still find it patronizing. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/27 "2011-11-16T01:14:55Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It’d be terrific if liberals and conservatives could agree on a moratorium on dumb-ass gotcha terms … It’d be nice, but I think you’re asking too much. On a level, it may simply be an abbreviation, to save some typing. And if people feel strongly on a topic, they might as well wear their hearts on their sleeves, instead of hiding it, and getting snarky in the content. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/28 "2011-11-16T01:58:23Z")
> [@Snow\_Pea](#): > > Do liberals also do this kind of thing? Okay, I’ll admit it. I do. I prefer to use the term “mouth breather.” ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/29 "2011-11-16T01:59:55Z")
Why are all of these smart Dopers saying the word ‘stupider’? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/30 "2011-11-16T02:00:14Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > It’d be nice, but I think you’re asking too much. On a level, it may simply be an abbreviation, to save some typing. And if people feel strongly on a topic, they might as well wear their hearts on their sleeves, instead of hiding it, and getting snarky in the content. Oh, I know. If we couldn’t use our childish pet terms of derision, we would just _burst_. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/31 "2011-11-16T02:43:16Z")
And what is wrong with “stupider”? Once all adjectives were made comparative that way. It might be a bit archaic, but then so am I. “Gubmint” reminds me of my then 5 year old cousin (he just turned 60) who announced one day that “No damn gubmint is gonna make me go to school.” Five is about the mental age of those who use it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/32 "2011-11-16T03:09:13Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > And what is wrong with “stupider”? Once all adjectives were made comparative that way. It might be a bit archaic, but then so am I. Somehow I was never aware that there was even an issue over this. I’ve always figured that stupider was a word just like dumber or smarter or taller or bigger. I’m not necessarily disputed the point - I’ll concede there is no such word as intelligenter so there are presumably other exceptions like that. But what is the supposed basis for stupid not be usable with the -er suffix? What’s the rule for when -er can’t be used? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/33 "2011-11-16T03:42:09Z")
Curiously, the word ‘stupidest’ IS a word. If the superlative then why not the comparative? > **[Stupid Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/stupid)** > > Stupid definition, lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; slow-witted. See more. This linked article indicates that -er and -est are the correct suffixes. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/34 "2011-11-16T03:52:52Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > And what is wrong with “stupider”? Once all adjectives were made comparative that way. It might be a bit archaic, but then so am I. > > “Gubmint” reminds me of my then 5 year old cousin (he just turned 60) who announced one day that “No damn gubmint is gonna make me go to school.” Five is about the mental age of those who use it. Then again, Cecil himself has used “[gummint](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/783/how-do-i-go-about-starting-my-own-country)” at least once. I don’t quite get that same right-wing vibe from “gummint” or “gubmint” as I would from “libtard” for example; instead they strike me more as expressing how you feel about your inevitable interactions with the bureaucracy, like having to go to the DMV to get your license renewed. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/35 "2011-11-16T03:54:04Z")
Why wouldn’t you be able to add -er to stupid? The general rule is if the word’s less than 3 syllables, you add -er, and if not it gets a “more” before it. The notable exception being “fun,” of course. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/36 "2011-11-16T04:37:20Z")
Then there are the many folks who think it sounds clever to type Jeebus and Babtist. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/37 "2011-11-16T04:42:09Z")
> [@Snow\_Pea](#): > > My understand is that is a direct insult at ex-president Bush, since that’s the way he pronounced it. It was very common when LBJ was President. He used to begin speeches with “Mah fellow Merkins . . . .” Must be a Texan thing. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/38 "2011-11-16T06:18:18Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > If I recall correctly from my childhood, girls go to Jupiter to get more stupider while boys go to mars to get more candy bars. No no no, it’s _boys_ that go to Jupiter. Girls go to college to get more knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/39 "2011-11-16T06:54:13Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > People who say “democrat party” sure sound stupid too. Cain used that during his press conference. My thought was “Really, Cain? _Really?_” I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt that wasn’t really using such a childish “insult” during his major press event but rather he just doesn’t know the names of the two major political parties in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034/40 "2011-11-16T07:13:20Z")
> [@Snow\_Pea](#): > > Do liberals also do this kind of thing? I really don’t pay much attention to political bickering on the internet, this “librul” thing just seems to be all over the web lately. It’s silly and makes it hard to take people seriously when they intentionally type something like that. Some folks used to spell Clinton as “Klinton” and others used to call Bush Jr. “Shrub.” It’s right up there with “lame stream media” I think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-they-sound-smart-when-they-misspell-liberal-as-librul/603034.md?page=3)