Can someone tell me what is wrong with the word retarded?

[Anonymous]

There's nothing linguistically wrong or technically incorrect about the word. But it just has become a bad word, people use it as an insult, and so it clearly has to go

I believe this is the best answer. It's a technically correct word (like "colored," frankly) that is now used primarily as an insult.

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while I would never argue that I I ought to be allowed to use technically correct words that hurt others .... I do find it difficult to keep up with the uber fluid language used to describe people who have various physical and mental and neurological challenges. ie, crippled became handicapped became disabled became person-with-a-disability became person-experiencing-a-physical-impairment became "differently abled".

Like I said, I'll go along with whatever The Community says is the current best practice, and I will NOT argue for my right to use simple, clear language that hurts others. But at some point, as my dad would say, you're blowing sunshine up their ass. It's a euphemism treadmill that serves no one well, including those people it is intended to protect. Give it a rest, eh?

[Anonymous]

People with disabilities prefer "person first" language, and language that emphasizes the person rather than the disability. So the preferred usage is "person with mental retardation" rather than "retarded person." Similarly, "He has bipolar disorder" is preferred to, "He's bipolar."

In the south, of course, "retard" (pronounced "ree-tard") is an old and ugly insult that is, to me, similar to epithets referring to African Americans and gays.

If Rahm Emmanuel meant "stupid," he should have said that. I perceive "retarded" as an insult to the dignity of people with MR. I think most people realize this.

[Anonymous]

Nothing is wrong with that word. There are many here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMO, retarded is no worse than calling someone a moron, imbecile, or idiot, all of which had scientific definitions for a long time. I hope Sarah Palin gets all in an uproar over those terms as well.

Yes, but that's why no one in the medical profession uses those terms, either. It's because they have been coopted, and they are now just derogatory expressions. All of them are bad.

The term mental retardation is still used in the medical community.

So is "geriatric" primagravida. (sp?) And "funny looking kid syndrome"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought I read Palin herself referred to her baby with downs syndrome as her "retarded baby".

That was said in her own home about her own child. That is her business.

If she would just stay in her own home with her own child, that would solve the whole problem.

[Anonymous]

The word retard is only considered offensive or bad because its so often used out of its proper context and now has a negative connotation. It shouldn't be offensive,but because of the way its used,it is.
But then,the word lame is perfectly ok to say,even though it means psychically disabled.
The english language is always changing.

The term mentally challenged isn't considered offensive,even though I would think it would be.
I mean, you wouldn't call someone in a wheelchair psychically challenged.
That just sounds mean.

[Anonymous]

Please, please please tell me why you keep reviving these old threads? I'm really curious-why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The word retard is only considered offensive or bad because its so often used out of its proper context and now has a negative connotation. It shouldn't be offensive,but because of the way its used,it is.
But then,the word lame is perfectly ok to say,even though it means psychically disabled.
The english language is always changing.

The term mentally challenged isn't considered offensive,even though I would think it would be.
I mean, you wouldn't call someone in a wheelchair psychically challenged.
That just sounds mean.

The person in the wheelchair has a physical disability, not a psychic one. For all I know he could totally read your mind. Maybe then he would tell us why you keep reviving old threads.

[Anonymous]

I have a brother who is truly retarded. Medically speaking.
I do not find it offensive when people use "retarded" in their conversations. Sometimes I do things that make me feel "retarded".

I'm an HR person and I'm all on the PC bandwagon and all that. But while I personally have a reason to find this offensive - I don't find it so.

I think people overreact to the use of this word.

[Anonymous]

Yes, why are these old threads being resurrected?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, why are these old threads being resurrected?

A couple of days ago, Jennifer Aniston used the "R Word" on a talk show -- I think Letterman. It is all over the gossip forums.

[Anonymous]

Along with "retard" and "retarded," I wish people would stop using "spastic" as a synonym for "fucked up." I have a daughter who is actually spastic in a medical sense and I don't enjoy hearing people talk about how spastic they were acting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of like saying faggot instead of gay. But it's a great subtle way of letting people know your general education level, whether or not you were born south of the Mason Dixon and if you own a townhouse or a trailer.

My, my aren't you a font of information. The Mason Dixon line begins in Pennaylvania. Also, are you implying that people who live in trailers are "po' white trash"? You must be the exception of townhouse dwellers and are "po' townhouse white trash." Do you now feel superior because you are just one step removed from "po' white trash," yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's kind of like saying faggot instead of gay. But it's a great subtle way of letting people know your general education level, whether or not you were born south of the Mason Dixon and if you own a townhouse or a trailer.

...or if you're a big bitch that stereotypes?

[Anonymous]

I agree that the "R" word probably isn't the best choice of the many ways one can choose to describe/insult/comment on something, unless used in one of those suitable contexts (e.g., the chemical retarded the plant's growth). In a similar way, when I hear people kidding about themselves how they "must have ADD or OCD or something," yeah, funny, funny. Well, not when someone actually suffers from the condition (my sibling has OCD).