Poll: use of the word 'retarded'

[ace_of_something]

I use the word "Botarded" when describing an asshole/generally stupid person as opposed to someone with an actual disability. Yeah, it is thinly veiled and it might still offend someone, but it lets me sleep at night.

 

[Sh4dowSpec]

People who chose the bottom two options obviously know no family members of retarded people.

It is not okay.

They do, its just too many people lack the basic level of empathy needed to care.

Its this disturbing attitude of "they are just words, nobody really cares, people take it too seriously, your just being overly PC about everything." I hate to say it but too many people today are able to shrug off anything and because they are thick skinned to that extent think that nothing they say or do in this regard should really have a major consequence.

I agree. That whole stick and stones thing comes to mind, but speech is the biggest globalization we have. It's not harmless if it hurts people.

How, pray tell, does this word hurt people? I've yet to have one mentally or physically handicapped person yell at me for using it. It's a different story if it's being used in a negative or deragatory manner, but most people use it innocuously, only intending to describe their feelings about something. And don't just complain about it, either--why don't you suggest a word that could be used in its place?

 

[Neesa]

People who chose the bottom two options obviously know no family members of retarded people.

It is not okay.

Not to sound rude or anything, but you're just imposing your beliefs onto someone else? What if the people that voted have either 'gay' or 'retarded' people in their life but still use the words, does that make them wrong? Vernacular is exactly what it is. Vernacular. Remember in Mark Twain when the 'n' word in Huckleberry Finn? Yeah, we found it offensive due to the heaviness of the word, but how many African Americans still use it as a term of endearment amongst their culture? (I'm 1/2 so I know what I'm talking about). Most of us are desensitized by words and just let it go and move on.

I personally don't care if someone uses either of the words. If anything, you can use the proper terms on those that are handicap and those that are homosexuals.

 

[EXPLICITasian]

The way i've always viewed is kinda like this... I'll call stupid people retarded, but people with actual physical or mental incapabilities (down sydrome, or cerebral palsy, etc.) physically or mentally challenged. Kinda like how I might call someone a "fag" but yet noy call a homosexual person this... I just never really connect them, maybe that's not politically correct, but I haven't come across many people who get pissed at me for saying it.

 

[Erana]

People who chose the bottom two options obviously know no family members of retarded people.

It is not okay.

Not to sound rude or anything, but you're just imposing your beliefs onto someone else? What if the people that voted have either 'gay' or 'retarded' people in their life but still use the words, does that make them wrong? Vernacular is exactly what it is. Vernacular. Remember in Mark Twain when the 'n' word in Huckleberry Finn? Yeah, we found it offensive due to the heaviness of the word, but how many African Americans still use it as a term of endearment amongst their culture? (I'm 1/2 so I know what I'm talking about). Most of us are desensitized by words and just let it go and move on.

I personally don't care if someone uses either of the words. If anything, you can use the proper terms on those that are handicap and those that are homosexuals.

First off, I have to say that if I said the, "N" word, I would feel deep shame. However, you point out that some people use it as a term of endearment. Though that word is off limits to some groups of people, where it is most frequently used is in a positive connotation.
With using, "Gay" and "Retarded" as an insult, one implies that these things are bad aspects of the person who is being labeled as such, and that it is their own fault that they are so.

 

[Legion]

I think it is too often used, just like the word "gay" is (as an insult/in a negative manner. Having said that, I do also think that people should try not to take it personally, so I selected that option.

 

[theultimateend]

I think it is too often used, just like the word "gay" is (as an insult/in a negative manner. Having said that, I do also think that people should try not to take it personally, so I selected that option.

Originally once people stopped accepting them Homosexuals were called Queer.
Queer is the same thing as Awkward or Unusual. They were called such because the people at this period (whenever it officially was) felt that liking your same gender was weird as hell.
Gay came around whenever it did and became the new common term for homosexuals. Gay == homosexual == Queer == Awkward.

Don't get me wrong I don't agree with it since when I say Gay I mean joyous or chipper, which seems to confuse people these days.

Likewise I get annoyed when people say calling something Queer is rude. I refuse to let my language shrink because other people abuse words in it.

Retarded likewise is appropriate.
If something is hindered in working at its desired capacity it is retarded.
Period.

I don't care if your entire family is mentally handicapped, it doesn't change how the word actually works.

That's just how I see it of course. Many people out there are very thin skinned and get very upset over words, I find it to be a pretty childish annoyance (Last time I cared about what I was called was in Elementary school for instance).

As for the "N" word.

Be it the fact that its a Latin word or the fact that it most recently became a mispronunciation of an ACTUAL COUNTRY that leaves me very uneven on my feelings towards it.

Plus I refuse to accept any word as off limits if 'some people' can say it. It's all or nothing on language.

 

[EXPLICITasian]

First off, I have to say that if I said the, "N" word, I would feel deep shame. However, you point out that some people use it as a term of endearment. Though that word is off limits to some groups of people, where it is most frequently used is in a positive connotation.
With using, "Gay" and "Retarded" as an insult, one implies that these things are bad aspects of the person who is being labeled as such, and that it is their own fault that they are so.

The problem with this is generally how scared people feel for saying something, Many people won't say the "N" word because they're scared a black person will get pissed off at them, but not that many people are scared of gays or mentally/physically challenged people, so they don't feel the repurcussions of saying "gay" or "retarded". For instance, most of friends are black, and sometimes a white guy will talk to all of us... He will not say N***** for being afraid that a black man will kick the shit outta him, yet they feel perfectly ok with calling me "*****" or "gook" because they simply aren't afraid of the repurcussions of calling an asian man such.

 

[Jerious1154]

I have much less of a problem with the use of the word "retarded" then i do with the use of the word "gay", but I would never use either as an insult simply because I believe it's wrong to use a characteristic that someone is born with as an insult.

 

[Erana]

He will not say N***** for being afraid that a black man will kick the shit outta him, yet they feel perfectly ok with calling me "*****" or "gook" because they simply aren't afraid of the repurcussions of calling an asian man such.

I find such derogatory terms cruel towards the target and shameful for the person who uses them. As for me, using such a term would emphasize the few differences between me and a black person in a demeaning manner. I consciously try to judge people only by a consistent series of behavior. After all, I could just be meeting someone on an off day. There's no need for me to jump to any conclusions.

 

[Neesa]

The whole deal with freedom of speech is the freedom part which we know isn't free at all. Rules and regulations seems to creep up when people feel the need to express what's on their mind. Pity.

I personally would never use the 'n' word due to the simple fact that it's just stupid to say, especially amongst the African American community. I say, if no one else can say it us, no one can. Why take a word that was used to chain our race down and make it alright to say amongst ourselves? I don't see Hispanic people calling each other "spics" (I'm 1/2 Puerto Rican too, lulz), or Asians calling each other "chinks". Derogatory words as such are made for the ignorant, not for the intellectual.

While stating that, there is a time and place for everything. Many young people, including myself have been heard to have said that something was "retarded" or "gay" numerous times, simply because we've intertwined it with our everyday speech. Depending on the crowd you're around depends on the lexicon you choose to use. Why pull out a 12-letter SAT word to your friends? Unless you're in one of those debate clubs and constantly have to show off who's ePenor is bigger... That's straying off the subject. Anyway, it's all a matter of conversational speech. Most people when you use the words "gay" or "retarded" feel a general sense of what you're talking about. I know when I hear someone say them, a homosexual man and a physically/mentally handicap person is far from my mind.

I've had many homosexual friends that would say they would rather be called "gay" than "queer". They know they're sexual preferences and if they're comfortable in it, don't get offended as most would assume. As for retarded, there's different degrees of retardation. As my mom would tell me, being she's a speech pathologist, they had to come up with different classifications for the different levels of retardation and handicaps in order to coo the parents over from not hearing that their kid is a complete rock in the head. Unless you are a spineless twit that'll call someone retarded to their face because you have no tact. Most people with common sense know when to say it and when not to.

As most was stated in previous post, a lot of people have become so soft and thin skinned that they take everything that everyone says to heart. How in the world do you expect to better yourself if you're crying over someone calling you "gay" when you know damn well you're heterosexual? I mean, honestly now. Get over yourself and move on to something that is more offensive like having someone else's beliefs shoved down your throats.

 

[sirtunic]

People who chose the bottom two options obviously know no family members of retarded people.

It is not okay.

They do, its just too many people lack the basic level of empathy needed to care.

Its this disturbing attitude of "they are just words, nobody really cares, people take it too seriously, your just being overly PC about everything." I hate to say it but too many people today are able to shrug off anything and because they are thick skinned to that extent think that nothing they say or do in this regard should really have a major consequence.

I agree. That whole stick and stones thing comes to mind, but speech is the biggest globalization we have. It's not harmless if it hurts people.

How, pray tell, does this word hurt people? I've yet to have one mentally or physically handicapped person yell at me for using it. It's a different story if it's being used in a negative or deragatory manner, but most people use it innocuously, only intending to describe their feelings about something. And don't just complain about it, either--why don't you suggest a word that could be used in its place?

No.

I don't want to find a better word, or find a softer way of saying it. If something is what it is, words won't change the fact.
This thread was not made for people to *****. I don't like it, no, but I made this thread because I want to hear opinions of other people.
It hurts me.

First off, I have to say that if I said the, "N" word, I would feel deep shame. However, you point out that some people use it as a term of endearment. Though that word is off limits to some groups of people, where it is most frequently used is in a positive connotation.
With using, "Gay" and "Retarded" as an insult, one implies that these things are bad aspects of the person who is being labeled as such, and that it is their own fault that they are so.

The problem with this is generally how scared people feel for saying something, Many people won't say the "N" word because they're scared a black person will get pissed off at them, but not that many people are scared of gays or mentally/physically challenged people, so they don't feel the repurcussions of saying "gay" or "retarded". For instance, most of friends are black, and sometimes a white guy will talk to all of us... He will not say N***** for being afraid that a black man will kick the shit outta him, yet they feel perfectly ok with calling me "*****" or "gook" because they simply aren't afraid of the repurcussions of calling an asian man such.

Well, regarding the use of ****** in general. The problem is that there's simply no universal agreement on what is right or wrong. (nor would, or should, there ever be)

snipped.
The whole deal with freedom of speech is the freedom part which we know isn't free at all. Rules and regulations seems to creep up when people feel the need to express what's on their mind. Pity.

As most was stated in previous post, a lot of people have become so soft and thin skinned that they take everything that everyone says to heart. How in the world do you expect to better yourself if you're crying over someone calling you "gay" when you know damn well you're heterosexual? I mean, honestly now. Get over yourself and move on to something that is more offensive like having someone else's beliefs shoved down your throats.

Well yea, the problem with the concept of freedom of speech is that it rightfully applies to everyone. If someone says, hey, 'you can't say ******!' and, an easy response would be, 'freedom of speech, *****! you're impeding on it' But then, the first person could say they have the freedom of speech to speak up against them.

I'm going to point out, you're close to contradicting yourself.

 

[sirtunic]

Okay, let me remind everyone again. I did not create this with the intention of stating, 'i'm right, you're fucking wrong.' I expressed my opinion, which is what I want anyone here to do.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.84013#1186035

 

[Neesa]

I would respond but, I'm really not in the mood to think deep and try to defend myself. It's not even worth defending. I'm done with this topic. Good day.

 

[minoes]

Freedom of speech doesn´t mean you can go offending people. You can say "I don´t like retarded people", or even "I find retards disgusting" (since it´s an opinion, no one can censor it no matter how hateful it is) , but you can go saying the word "retard" with the sole purpose of making another person feel less or different. It´s a matter of "civility", not of "freedom of speech".

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

I hate it when people try to re-brand words and shriek "I AM OFFENDED" the second they hear something that they feel guilty for subconsciously agreeing with.

It seems that we, as a society, just have a raging hard-on for changing labels to remove all impact. It's ironic that we'll go to such great lengths to remove words from peoples' vocabularies on the grounds that it's somehow offensive, but immediately drop all support of the people "targeted by the hate speech".

I believe that we generally want to distance ourselves as far as we can from the notion of ourselves being insensitive in any way, but don't actually care about the people themselves.

 

[New Troll]

I call people retarded because if I used more politically correct words. it would all just go over thier heads.

By the way, not only do I have mentally handicapped individuals (plural) in my family, but I also work with several mentally challenged people every day. I don't treat any of them differently than I do any of my other friends. I don't ever want to belittle them because they mean just as much to me as everyone else I like. And to me, that would just be wrong.