Poll: use of the word 'retarded'

[Nation.Skull]

Yes just what I was trying to say (s0denone) and please dont take ofense to it Nation.Skull. People just mean really stupid as in "that game is retarded (at least thats how i use it.)

See, as I said, inanimate objects like videogames I don't take offense to. As I said in the original post.

Okay I gotchya. But i do say it to people (are you retarded) but I say it to people i know arnen't mentally handi capped in any way. So as long as you arn't saying it to someone like seriously (calling a "special" Person retarded) I dont see the big deal (not saying you have a big deal im just saying about others)

Really, I'm fine with people using it other than using stereotypes and taking it to an abrupt level.
Calling someone retarded is just anoyying.

 

[barryween]

Nation.skull I got ti now. Yeah that just discusts me when people take it to high levels and yeah it kind of slips out, like fuck. So I hope everything is cleared up.

 

[barryween]

It's a euphemism for "stupid" like gay is a euphemism for "lame".

I thought a Euphemisim is a substatute for a harsh word, not a harsher word for something!

Note: My quote screwed up, I was quoting s0denone

 

[MagnetoHydroDynamics]

Retarded - works best when said in conjunction with "Pants-on-head-"

 

[Nation.Skull]

Ignoring the fact that not all decisions are based on logical thinking, not all decisions at all; Let's continue.

If what you say is true, you move from my "Euphemism" perspective: You need to check up on the word I used, as you don't seem to know what it means. Excuse me for sounding condescending. A euphemism is a substitute word, exchanging a harsh word with an arguably less harsh one, with the overall same overall meaning.

"You're stupid."
"You're retarded."

I never claimed that retarded was used correctly in such context, I merely stated that it had become a euphemism.

If we move ahead from this standpoint, that retarded means stupid, then retarded is subjective. To you, the girl in your class might be stupid, but to someone else she might seem smart and thus not be retarded. If this was true, everyone would be retarded, since at this point everyone is, by subjective definition, stupid.

This would deprive all meaning from the word, and as such make it obsolete. You claim to be offended by the word, and as such it is not obsolete. For you it represents values other than "stupid", and as such it is a poorly-chosen/failed euphemism. Much like "gay" is a ridiculous euphemism for "lame".

I am aware of the term euphemism, I was stating that saying "get over it" it offensive in itself.
When it is used in such a matter that someone who made a stupid mistake is called retarded, then it can be offensive.

Last paragraph: Okay,
I'm not sure if I understand this post,
but to me you are saying that you understand where I'm coming from, correct?

 

[barryween]

Retarded - works best when said in conjunction with "Pants-on-head-"

I know, I should start saying that!

 

[s0denone]

It's a euphemism for "stupid" like gay is a euphemism for "lame".

I thought a Euphemisim is a substatute for a harsh word, not a harsher word for something!

Note: My quote screwed up, I was quoting s0denone

It is, but internet lingo is all over the place. I didn't make the rules, the 12-year olds of counter-strike and World of Warcraft did, and they made it spread.

Retarded - works best when said in conjunction with "Pants-on-head-"

I am aware of the term euphemism, I was stating that saying "get over it" it offensive in itself.
When it is used in such a matter that someone who made a stupid mistake is called retarded, then it can be offensive.

Last paragraph: Okay,
I'm not sure if I understand this post,
but to me you are saying that you understand where I'm coming from, correct?

Correct! I think we may very well agree on this subject, regardless of whether or not you're sure you understand my post

 

[barryween]

It's a euphemism for "stupid" like gay is a euphemism for "lame".

I thought a Euphemisim is a substatute for a harsh word, not a harsher word for something!

Note: My quote screwed up, I was quoting s0denone

It is, but internet lingo is all over the place. I didn't make the rules, the 12-year olds of counter-strike and World of Warcraft did, and they made it spread.

I know! I hate those kids!

 

[barryween]

I hate people useing ur mom excesivley. I use it sometimes but COME ON!

 

[BuggyBY]

Only if it's overused, and excessively applied to inanimate objects and/or abstract concepts. I plead guilty to using it myself to describe people (mainly of the Young-Earth Creationist persuasion and others who persist in self-delusion and ignoring the evidence in front of their own fucking corneas), but I think I'm on top of it, and can stop any time I want to.

 

[TerraMGP]

Snipped for total lack of understanding and some frightening ignorance of history.

Yeah, we won't debate that. Go get help kid.

Seriously, go get help.

My point exactly, you seem to lack the ability to look past the humanity aspect and actually debate the pros and cons of something.

It seems like you are the one who actually needs help my friend. Glad you don't run the country, we'd be commies within 5 seconds if you did it seems.

First of all, that is not what this thread is about so we are not debating it anyways.

Second I could easily debate it, but there are no pros. Killing people indiscriminately at birth on arbitrary criteria that is becoming more moot as time goes on and having such a callous view of human life is wrong. Fact is that this forum is not the place to debate your twisted little opinion on the subject and especially not this thread.

 

[Evilbunny]

I never really used retarded to describe stuff but I did go through a phase where i used gay a lot (I was 14, give me a break). I think both make you look uneducated and insensitive to others but I'm really not all that offended if somebody uses it. I just look down upon them when they do. Then again it's hard to offend me since I grew up on the internet.

 

[BlueMage]

The way I see it the word "Retarded", in my book at least, is used to describe someone either monumentally stupid/lacking common sense, or simply someone who can't use their brain to its full average potential.

Which is why I get to use it a LOT when I'm gaming. Seriously, how hard is it to remember not to stand in the fire...?

And thats the problem. That is not what it means, people get used to thinking of it meaning that. Do you really want to make a genetic flaw that cannot be helped synonymous with people who are just either willfully stupid or lack common sense? Not only is it a bad president, its a bad insult.

using the word retarded incorrectly is retarded

Using "President" instead of "precedent" is worse.

 

[WeedWorm]

I was hoping this would just die out already, but, I guess that was a little hopeful (and pessimistic). It's been around since I was in grade school.

Am I the only one who doesn't like hearing or using the word 'retarded' to describe anything stupid?
It's probably because I've been around my dad's cousin. He's blind, paralyzed, and has a horrible impediment on his speech.

But regardless of that. Am I accomplishing nothing but being a tight ass, should I just leave the whole thing alone?

~edit~
Okay, edit. I know my dad's cousin isn't retarded, but seeing him in such a paralyzed state made me think about it.

I have two autistic(sp?) cousins and i say it more than any of my friends. Srsly, dont take it personally.

 

[koselarian]

I feel the same way about disability-related slurs as I do about ones against other groups... It boils down to respect, and unless we did something to earn it, we should all get it, not just the "normal" people. In using an impairment term to slam someone, a person is saying that members of the group are the ultimate examples of whatever bad attribute they're referring to (even though the group often doesn't have it), like "retard" implying that folks with Down Syndrome are mindlessly violent.

Thing is, for people that actually have the disability or care about someone that does, it IS personal. It's heard over-and-over by kids being bullied viciously day after day for having a detectable impairment, then relatives get to hear it when they come home in tears saying they hate themselves, the parents then bring it to adults they've met online that have their kid's impairment, hoping we can help. You can't tell if anybody in that big mess is stuck overhearing and cringing inside.

Think up a few traits that makes you think instantly of a person you really care about... Imagine hearing people use those things to refer to all kinds of horrible behavior; they'd effectively be saying, each time, that your beloved person is the absolute epitome of them. After hearing your mother or partner essentially called a wide variety of deeply insulting things, you probably wouldn't feel it was "impersonal" anymore. In other words, before deciding how other people should feel about words, stop viewing it from your perspective, and consider it from theirs.

 

[sirtunic]

I feel the same way about disability-related slurs as I do about ones against other groups... It boils down to respect, and unless we did something to earn it, we should all get it, not just the "normal" people. In using an impairment term to slam someone, a person is saying that members of the group are the ultimate examples of whatever bad attribute they're referring to (even though the group often doesn't have it), like "retard" implying that folks with Down Syndrome are mindlessly violent.

Thing is, for people that actually have the disability or care about someone that does, it IS personal. It's heard over-and-over by kids being bullied viciously day after day for having a detectable impairment, then relatives get to hear it when they come home in tears saying they hate themselves, the parents then bring it to adults they've met online that have their kid's impairment, hoping we can help. You can't tell if anybody in that big mess is stuck overhearing and cringing inside.

Think up a few traits that makes you think instantly of a person you really care about... Imagine hearing people use those things to refer to all kinds of horrible behavior; they'd effectively be saying, each time, that your beloved person is the absolute epitome of them. After hearing your mother or partner essentially called a wide variety of deeply insulting things, you probably wouldn't feel it was "impersonal" anymore. In other words, before deciding how other people should feel about words, stop viewing it from your perspective, and consider it from theirs.

Thank you.

 

[sirtunic]

I was hoping this would just die out already, but, I guess that was a little hopeful (and pessimistic). It's been around since I was in grade school.

Am I the only one who doesn't like hearing or using the word 'retarded' to describe anything stupid?
It's probably because I've been around my dad's cousin. He's blind, paralyzed, and has a horrible impediment on his speech.

But regardless of that. Am I accomplishing nothing but being a tight ass, should I just leave the whole thing alone?

~edit~
Okay, edit. I know my dad's cousin isn't retarded, but seeing him in such a paralyzed state made me think about it.

I have two autistic(sp?) cousins and i say it more than any of my friends. Srsly, dont take it personally.

Personally, I don't think that's okay.

 

[BuggyBY]

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

Holy stupid generalisation, Batman! Thanks to my mother's involvement in social psychiatry, I know no less than five such families. I still happily use the word, just not around them. Why should I censor myself?