The Search for the Generic Derogatory

In the old days, there was an infinite number of insulting names and stereotypes for every racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, or gender group.  If someone bugged you, you insulted them with the appropriate generalization, and they retorted with an insulting barb to you, your background, and the horse you rode in on. 

Spleens were vented, egos were inflated, dominance was asserted, respect was earned.  This macho version of "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me" was a stylistic peacock dance designed to save face and provide both parties a chance to sound tough and avoid physical conflict.

Political correctness has re-educated this situation from an attempt to place a group stereotype on an individual to an attempt to legitimize the stereotype on the entire group.  In other words, it makes the leap from using a word that demeans a group, to accusing you of actually believing that the group fits the stereotype.

Use the wrong word, and you're racist, or sexist, or homophobic.  This takes all the fun out of the argument.  It's not easy defending yourself from the accusation that you're attacking a group of innocent people, when all you wanted to do was insult the person you're arguing with.

So, I propose we designate a noun as the official "Generic Derogatory".  A debator would immediately recognize the usefulness of a powerful word to denigrate your opponent without opening you up to charges that you stereotype race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender.

"Loser" is such a word, except that it kind of implies that winners can't be jerks, and we all know that can't be true.  "Jerk" could be a good word, except it isn't a really strong enough word to provide the visceral high of the perfect epithet.

I propose "Asshole".  We all know an Asshole when we see or hear one.  Anyone can be an Asshole at any given time.  If you accuse someone of being an Asshole, they would be tacitly admitting their guilt by accusing you of insulting all the other Assholes.

Plus, an infinite number of adjectives would apply.  For example, a kinder, gentler, "a little bit of an A-hole".  Then, there could be a "Perfect Asshole" (perhaps a perfectionist), or, a "Dangerous Asshole" (a terrorist or a political opponent), leading up to the "Colossal Asshole" (a politician, Wall Street banker, union boss, lawyer, professor, or ex-spouse, take your choice).

I'm sure if you give this much thought, you may come up with a "Generic Derogatory" of your own.  It's a free country.  Everyone has the right to their opinion.  But only an Asshole would disagree with me.