We ban the word Retard but what about it in other languages such as this?

[Anonymous]

I was watching this video and noticed that the plane said retard retard while landing.

What do we do in this situation?

This is why I hate banning words that are valid and not slurs.

8:50 Retard Retard!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3HKN-FWNq0

[Anonymous]

Here is the direct link to the part it says retard

http://youtu.be/k3HKN-FWNq0?t=8m50s

[Anonymous]

There are valid uses of the word retard--for example, its use as a verb. The primary problem is people who use it as an insult.

[Anonymous]

I think it means slow.

so what.

There are words in other languages with meanings in ours that aren't the same in theirs. (In german, gift means poison). Apart from getting everyone to speak the same language, which isn't going to happen, there's nothing to be done, and no problem here. Learn foreign languages and learn about the world, is my solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are valid uses of the word retard--for example, its use as a verb. The primary problem is people who use it as an insult.

Ok well let's flip this around, what if we called someone slow? Isn't that just as bad?

[Anonymous]

To retard is a verb meaning to "slow down" in many cultures.

OP- I think you need to get a life.

[Anonymous]

It's absolutely a valid word, and continues to have valid uses in English. As someone who finds it highly offensive when used as an insult, and think it's outdated and best avoided when used to describe people with intellectual disabilities, I have no problem with a sentence such as:

"Putting the cooked chicken in the fridge will retard the growth of bacteria".

There are many other words in English that are acceptable in some contexts, but not when applied to people, such as "Oriental" or "Bitch", or not when used as a slur such as "Gay".

How is this hard to understand?

[Anonymous]

It's a generational thing and I am struggling to figure out how to teach my kids this. I work with engineers and programmers and at work we call everything retarded or this is retarded and broken. etc... Or dammit Jim who wrote this retarded function.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are valid uses of the word retard--for example, its use as a verb. The primary problem is people who use it as an insult.

Ok well let's flip this around, what if we called someone slow? Isn't that just as bad?

Not the same at all. The word "retarded" was the primary socially and medically-accepted term used to describe an entire class of people for many years, until it was co-opted as an insult. Think for a minute if people did the same with a term like autistic. Would that be acceptable to you? Do you think it would be insulting to people with autism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a generational thing and I am struggling to figure out how to teach my kids this. I work with engineers and programmers and at work we call everything retarded or this is retarded and broken. etc... Or dammit Jim who wrote this retarded function.

It's really not hard. First of all you stop using the word. Just put it out of your vocabulary. When opportunities come up to talk about it with your kids, such as when you overhear it or come across it in the media, make your feelings clear. And if your child, or another child in your care, uses it, then react the same way you would if they said "nigger" or "cunt" or "fag". Swiftly and decisively.

I've told kids point blank "You may not use that word in my house. It is offensive to me. I'll let it go this time, because I understand you might not have known, but if I hear it again I will ask you to leave." If they're younger, I give an explanation about why it's hurtful to use someone's description as an insult. A 4 year old can understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a generational thing and I am struggling to figure out how to teach my kids this. I work with engineers and programmers and at work we call everything retarded or this is retarded and broken. etc... Or dammit Jim who wrote this retarded function.

It's really not hard. First of all you stop using the word. Just put it out of your vocabulary. When opportunities come up to talk about it with your kids, such as when you overhear it or come across it in the media, make your feelings clear. And if your child, or another child in your care, uses it, then react the same way you would if they said "nigger" or "cunt" or "fag". Swiftly and decisively.

I've told kids point blank "You may not use that word in my house. It is offensive to me. I'll let it go this time, because I understand you might not have known, but if I hear it again I will ask you to leave." If they're younger, I give an explanation about why it's hurtful to use someone's description as an insult. A 4 year old can understand.

Wow, I never hear this word in the workplace. That's shocking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a generational thing and I am struggling to figure out how to teach my kids this. I work with engineers and programmers and at work we call everything retarded or this is retarded and broken. etc... Or dammit Jim who wrote this retarded function.

It's really not hard. First of all you stop using the word. Just put it out of your vocabulary. When opportunities come up to talk about it with your kids, such as when you overhear it or come across it in the media, make your feelings clear. And if your child, or another child in your care, uses it, then react the same way you would if they said "nigger" or "cunt" or "fag". Swiftly and decisively.

I've told kids point blank "You may not use that word in my house. It is offensive to me. I'll let it go this time, because I understand you might not have known, but if I hear it again I will ask you to leave." If they're younger, I give an explanation about why it's hurtful to use someone's description as an insult. A 4 year old can understand.

Wow, I never hear this word in the workplace. That's shocking.

NP here. My cousin uses the word in its derogatory manner and she's a social worker who works with...people with disabilities. I almost fell out of my chair when I hear her say it. Head-shaking, really.

[Anonymous]

I think its overreacting to a word. sticks n stones and all that ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a generational thing and I am struggling to figure out how to teach my kids this. I work with engineers and programmers and at work we call everything retarded or this is retarded and broken. etc... Or dammit Jim who wrote this retarded function.

It's really not hard. First of all you stop using the word. Just put it out of your vocabulary. When opportunities come up to talk about it with your kids, such as when you overhear it or come across it in the media, make your feelings clear. And if your child, or another child in your care, uses it, then react the same way you would if they said "nigger" or "cunt" or "fag". Swiftly and decisively.

I've told kids point blank "You may not use that word in my house. It is offensive to me. I'll let it go this time, because I understand you might not have known, but if I hear it again I will ask you to leave." If they're younger, I give an explanation about why it's hurtful to use someone's description as an insult. A 4 year old can understand.

Wow, I never hear this word in the workplace. That's shocking.

NP here. My cousin uses the word in its derogatory manner and she's a social worker who works with...people with disabilities. I almost fell out of my chair when I hear her say it. Head-shaking, really.

Is she actually using the word in a derogatory manner or stating that someone functions within the range of retardation? There's a big difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's absolutely a valid word, and continues to have valid uses in English. As someone who finds it highly offensive when used as an insult, and think it's outdated and best avoided when used to describe people with intellectual disabilities, I have no problem with a sentence such as:
"Putting the cooked chicken in the fridge will retard the growth of bacteria".

There are many other words in English that are acceptable in some contexts, but not when applied to people, such as "Oriental" or "Bitch", or not when used as a slur such as "Gay".

How is this hard to understand?

This. Also, we don't "ban" the word, we've just come to recognize that it's wrong to use it as an insult. It is a clinical term with an established meaning, and I wouldn't be offended if someone used it properly in a purely descriptive manner in that context, but most people don't use it that way. Context matters.