Gordon Freeman is mentally disabled

[GodofCider]

Well, Gordon Freeman is your representation in the game, so err...

... LOL?

After having read through the comment section, this is the same conclusion that I've come to as well.

Aren't most intelligent people mentally disabled anyway?
Many past geniuses had Dyslexia or ADD.

Whoa whoa hoss......

they are not disabilities.

Of course not. Writing things opposite to how you intended is perfectly normal; and in no way restricts oneself.

 

[GrimHeaper]

How could a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?

Better question why can't a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?

Stephen Hawking isn't retarded his body is just crapping out on him.

"re·tard·ed

adjective /riˈtärdid/ 

Less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age "
Physical notice that? Apparently the people who call other people retarded don't even know what it means to be retarded.

How could a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?

Better question why can't a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?

Uh, How exactly is Stephen Hawking's disease comparable to mental retardation?

He asked "How could a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?" I gave him the answer.
Physical retardation can also lead to mental retardation as well and I never said anything about mental and neither did he. He only said "retarded"

 

[Hawk eye1466]

Chell is the mentally disabled one here, remember?

Woman can't say anything, just jumps around.

Actually I read somewhere maybe in the wiki that she can talk but doesn't so she won't give Glad0s any satisfaction.

 

[GodofCider]

How could a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?

Better question why can't a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?

Stephen Hawking isn't retarded his body is just crapping out on him.

"re·tard·ed

adjective /riˈtärdid/ 

Less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age "
Physical notice that? Apparently the people who call other people retarded don't even know what it means to be retarded.

That's kind of a stretch I think.

Your leg broke in a car crash. You are now retarded.

 

[Konaerix]

...Isn't he like, a theoretical physicist who went to MIT?

Well, I guess all the physical stress the mans gone though makes it o.k. for him to be a little loopy.
I mean, this is a man who drew giant bullet hole penises and offensive messages all over the walls of Nova Prospect...What? Why are you looking at me like that? Am I the only one who did that?

 

[GrimHeaper]

How could a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?

Better question why can't a theoretical/quantum physicist be retarded?

Stephen Hawking isn't retarded his body is just crapping out on him.

"re·tard·ed

adjective /riˈtärdid/ 

Less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age "
Physical notice that? Apparently the people who call other people retarded don't even know what it means to be retarded.

That's kind of a stretch I think.

Your leg broke in a car crash. You are now retarded.

Your leg heals you are now not retarded and you can break your leg at any age.
Things that can't be cured physically are a form of disability meaning retardation.
Now tell me that this 16 year old girl isn't retarded.

 

[Enkidu88]

*MEGA SNIP*

adjective /riˈtärdid/ 

Less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age "
Physical notice that? Apparently the people who call other people retarded don't even know what it means to be retarded.

[/quote]

Off-topic: That was a very cool, and very interesting video. Thank you.

Off-topic #2: Retard/ed/ation refers to someone who has never been up to speed or had normal development. Stephen Hawkings once had full control of his body, he only developed ALS later in life. A chronic illness does not count as retardation, unless it occurs before adulthood and thus retards (to slow or impede) normal development.

On topic (finally): Gordon Freeman as the character envisioned by Valve isn't retarded. The fact that we, the player, can make him ACT retarded is just one of the great things about the game.

 

[SIXVI06-M]

Well he couldn't be fully mentally disabled. Like a wise man once said "You never go full retard".

*High five for the reference*

I don't get it...

Watch Tropic Thunder.

 

[repeating integers]

On topic (finally): Gordon Freeman as the character envisioned by Valve isn't retarded. The fact that we, the player, can make him ACT retarded is just one of the great things about the game.

It would be, if you could make him act anything other than either "retarded" or "quiet and submissive".

 

[octafish]

'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

Empty vessels make the most sound.

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we say.

He who guards is voice guards his soul.

My Gordon is a stoic silent man of action who prefers that his deeds speak for him. He checks and rechecks his weapons while people speak to him.

 

[GrimHeaper]

*MEGA SNIP*

adjective /riˈtärdid/ 

Less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age "
Physical notice that? Apparently the people who call other people retarded don't even know what it means to be retarded.

Off-topic: That was a very cool, and very interesting video. Thank you.

Off-topic #2: Retard/ed/ation refers to someone who has never been up to speed or had normal development. Stephen Hawkings once had full control of his body, he only developed ALS later in life. A chronic illness does not count as retardation, unless it occurs before adulthood and thus retards (to slow or impede) normal development.

On topic (finally): Gordon Freeman as the character envisioned by Valve isn't retarded. The fact that we, the player, can make him ACT retarded is just one of the great things about the game.

We all have our own definitions of things it's just best to be off with it.
Though if you want a better idea of what I mean

 

[SoopaSte123]

After playing Half-Life 2, I noted several things about my Gordon Freeman:


1-He jumps on top of tables and other things that would be considered socially deviant
2-He throws peoples' things (like computers) around like a madman
3-He runs around hitting everything with a crowbar to see if it will break or not
4-He is never certain whether an object will break or not when he hits said object
5-He hits people in the head with a crowbar if he gets bored with what they're saying
-He is talked down to by other scientists
-He is referred to as "Mister Freeman" and sarcastically as "Doctor Freeman"
-He is complimented on throwing a switch and has a scientist act like he was actually contributing
-He never speaks

I count 5 things you are doing, and 4 things he is doing. You just claimed that 4/9 is your doing. A person who can't count to 5 is accusing someone of being a retard? By your logic more than half of the points that make him a retard is your doing.

I guess it's how you view it, I suppose. I consider the one you labeled as #4 to be part of Gordon's mental unbalance, as in the game some radios (as an example) will break when hit by a crowbar the first time while other radios are seemingly indestructible. Some may view that as my fault I SUPPOSE, but I view that in the game as part of Gordon's insanity, since we are playing through his eyes. Oh wait, that was far too kind a response and wasn't rude enough. Let me try again...
"I count 4, as #4 doesn't count. So someone who counts 5 things when there are 4 is accusing someone of not being able to count to 5? Riiiiiight..."

It's quite possible that he's just unable to talk, or maybe he would talk if the superior being taking control of his body weren't making him hit someone with a crowbar? Also there's the good old saying. "It's better to keep your mouth shut and be assumed to be an idiot rather than opening it obliterating all doubt". Metroid Other M proved this to a perfection.
Still, I think Gordon Freeman doesn't talk for the same reason Link doesn't:
<youtube=6zg_WE7N3p4&NR=1>

Yeah, the trauma caused by witnessing this game made many game characters unable to talk, the worst case was Animal Crossing where they had to rely on subtitles to be understood while they made sounds they only thought were words. A tragedy indeed...

Whatever fanon you use to magic away his lack of voice is fine. His mental handicap is mine.

 

[SoopaSte123]

The Idle Thumbs podcast and their listeners (long live the Idle Thumbs) had a take on this subject. They reached the conclusion that Gordon Freeman is actually just a mute sociopathic killer. He crawls around in airducts and sewers filled with radioactive alien goo, bashing skulls in with his crowbar. He's propably always covered in blood, brains and guts, and carries weapons all the time, and when people see him walking around they just act all cool and friendly to not piss this intimidating person off and cause him to go on another killing spree.

For example, a regular person might see the importance of telling other people about the mysterious omnipresent businessman who seems to have not only interest in the survival of Gordon, Alyx and other people, but who surely has a deeper agenda as well.

Or, another example, in Episode 2 when the player, Gordon, sees one of those Hunter alien killer robots and Alyx asks something along the lines "What was that? Did you hear that?", a person who has interest in the well-being of other people near him maybe should've said "I saw a killer robot stalking us, be careful". Instead, Gordon says nothing and

Spoiler: Episode 2 spoiler, hah!

Alyx gets stabbed

They speculated that in Episode 3 with the inevitable Source engine updates you can see the beads of nervous sweat on the other characters' face and the fear in their eyes when you're around. Also, in a turning point of the story, Gordon takes control and the player can only watch as his gloved hands reach forward and commit an unimaginable act of violence on one of the familiar characters.

Hahaha a mute sociopath killer. THAT... also makes perfect sense. I like it.

 

[Imp_Emissary]

Chell is the mentally disabled one here, remember?

Woman can't say anything, just jumps around.

But Chell can make it through the Portal puzzles. All by herself!

 

[Hamish Durie]

when i saw the thread was like (deploying flame catapault) but you make some good and funny points so my hat is off to you

 

[Yopaz]

After playing Half-Life 2, I noted several things about my Gordon Freeman:


1-He jumps on top of tables and other things that would be considered socially deviant
2-He throws peoples' things (like computers) around like a madman
3-He runs around hitting everything with a crowbar to see if it will break or not
4-He is never certain whether an object will break or not when he hits said object
5-He hits people in the head with a crowbar if he gets bored with what they're saying
-He is talked down to by other scientists
-He is referred to as "Mister Freeman" and sarcastically as "Doctor Freeman"
-He is complimented on throwing a switch and has a scientist act like he was actually contributing
-He never speaks

I count 5 things you are doing, and 4 things he is doing. You just claimed that 4/9 is your doing. A person who can't count to 5 is accusing someone of being a retard? By your logic more than half of the points that make him a retard is your doing.

I guess it's how you view it, I suppose. I consider the one you labeled as #4 to be part of Gordon's mental unbalance, as in the game some radios (as an example) will break when hit by a crowbar the first time while other radios are seemingly indestructible. Some may view that as my fault I SUPPOSE, but I view that in the game as part of Gordon's insanity, since we are playing through his eyes. Oh wait, that was far too kind a response and wasn't rude enough. Let me try again...
"I count 4, as #4 doesn't count. So someone who counts 5 things when there are 4 is accusing someone of not being able to count to 5? Riiiiiight..."

It's quite possible that he's just unable to talk, or maybe he would talk if the superior being taking control of his body weren't making him hit someone with a crowbar? Also there's the good old saying. "It's better to keep your mouth shut and be assumed to be an idiot rather than opening it obliterating all doubt". Metroid Other M proved this to a perfection.
Still, I think Gordon Freeman doesn't talk for the same reason Link doesn't:
<youtube=6zg_WE7N3p4&NR=1>

Yeah, the trauma caused by witnessing this game made many game characters unable to talk, the worst case was Animal Crossing where they had to rely on subtitles to be understood while they made sounds they only thought were words. A tragedy indeed...

Whatever fanon you use to magic away his lack of voice is fine. His mental handicap is mine.

I've played Half-Life 2 and I know how the things that can be broken looks like, so #4 counts. It's actually pretty obvious what can and can't be broken to be honest...

Also the video wasn't meant as an explanation of why Valve decided he shouldn't talk. What I meant with it was that he lost the ability to talk because he was scarred from the talking Link. If we leave the topic about him being retarded or simply a mute, that game is to blame. If not for these crappy games Gordon Freeman would still be able to talk, and those in Animal Crossing wouldn't have to rely on subtitles.

 

[GodofCider]

snip.

Yes, however using the definition in the manner that you had allows me to state such a thing.

Now stop being so gay. No, not homosexually inclined; happy.

The implications of words can change regardless of their standard definitions; living languages are organic like that.

 

[Caligulust]

It explains that terrible Rat-tail in the first Half Life.