New boss uses the word retarded. Still. In 2018. At work!

[Anonymous]

This happened to me when I was in my 20s. Not my boss but older coworker said it. I cringed and in a jokey way said he needs to be careful throwing that word around because it’s offensive. Handling it as a light hearted FYI worked well. Also I was young and didn’t know better to realize he could take offense to my correction/advice. He laughed and said I was right. Never did it again at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to bring retarded back

+ 1k

Are we to the point that we can't describe (not to their face) obese people as being fat? I understand fatazz is taboo, but I feel the days of saying "fat" are numbered. Our society is ridiculous.

So if you were on a call with clients and your boss started randomly talking about how fat someone was you wouldn’t think it was weird?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Crazy thing is that it's not even offensive to SN people; it's offensive to THEIR snowflake parents.

What makes you think that's true?

I'm a special ed teacher. Most of my students are high school students with intellectual disabilities. I can tell you this word hurts them. I see them retreat from the cafeteria when they overhear the word 2 tables away, because suddenly it doesn't feel like a safe and welcoming space. I listen to their voice crack when they tell me how they went to the mall on the weekend, and asked a question with a somewhat obvious answer and got the response "what are you retarded or something?" The other day, a student was describing a painful experience, where someone made them feel belittled and underestimated. They described it to me as "it made me feel the same way I feel when someone says 'retarded'".

So, yes, it's a highly offensive word to people with intellectual disabilities. Someone who says "I'd never say the n-word, but using the r-word is OK" is saying "I care less about the feelings of people with ID than I do about people who are black." Because it feels exactly the same way to the people it targets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What was the context of the use? The word "retarded" in and of itself is fine to use.

Example:

The blockage in the pipe will retard the flow of water. Or The blockage in the pipe retarded the low of water.

The def is: to slow up especially by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment, in addition to the disparaging one we all object to.


What you can't say is something like "that's just a retarded thing to do".

oh wow, PP. thanks for telling us that there's a non-offensive way to use the word! all of us are just way too stupid to know that.

thank GOD you're here.

NP here. I got my butt handed to me once because I referenced FAG Aerospace (pronounced as an acronym, but someone thought I was being cagey) in a conference call. Yes, some people are just that stupid.

Uh what happened when you explained the acronym?

My manager cut in and pointed out to the offended person (who had corned me and had a finger up in my face) that FAG makes bearings and I wasn't being homophobic. It took a while for my reputation to go away, though.

[Anonymous]

This is absolutely offensive, inappropriate, and unprofessional. I cannot imagine any circumstances under which this word has a place in a work environment.

If I were the client I would consider terminating the contract. At a minimum, it would make me wonder what on earth was going on with your company that they had hired a person who spoke this way, and why nobody else spoke up.

HR and the new person's manager should be involved, first because of the use of the word, and second because it could damage your company's relationships with clients.

I hope this is addressed and resolved! Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just tell har that it made you uncomfortable. My CFO assigned us “spirit animals” and had a Redskins mug and Lanyard. She is not Native American. I sent a note to HR and preato the mug and lanyard were gone and now we have “mascots”

Is she European or Indian or something?

No, White female raised in a flyover state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is absolutely offensive, inappropriate, and unprofessional. I cannot imagine any circumstances under which this word has a place in a work environment.

If I were the client I would consider terminating the contract. At a minimum, it would make me wonder what on earth was going on with your company that they had hired a person who spoke this way, and why nobody else spoke up.

HR and the new person's manager should be involved, first because of the use of the word, and second because it could damage your company's relationships with clients.

I hope this is addressed and resolved! Good luck, OP.

This ++++