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

[Anonymous]

I know that it is no longer PC to say retarded, but the actual definition is: slow or limited intellectual development or academic progress.

Disabled means: incapacitated by illness or injury; or physically or mentally impaired in such a way that substantially limits activity especially in relation to employment or education.

Can someone pick at these definitions and explain why the latter is preferred?

[Anonymous]

The latter is preferred because, as you said, it is no longer PC to say retarded.

[Anonymous]

I think it's because so many people use the term "retarded" as an epithet, so it no longer just a neutral description of a health condition.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I use the word, but only with "mentally" in front of it. It is a medical term that many people use as a derogatory term.

[Anonymous]

OMG - are you my husband asking this question? I really hate it when my husband says the 'R' word! I don't like it, don't think it is PC and think it is inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

The people who are saying that you may not say "retarded" because it's "not PC" are not answering the question.

*Why* is it not PC? ie, If I told you emphatically that the word 'sunshine' is "not PC," would you just stop using the word 'sunshine'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people who are saying that you may not say "retarded" because it's "not PC" are not answering the question.

*Why* is it not PC? ie, If I told you emphatically that the word 'sunshine' is "not PC," would you just stop using the word 'sunshine'?

Language is not static. Connotations change over time. Retarded is not a particularly nice word to say about someone who's not retarded.

[Anonymous]

The 21:49 poster offers the best explanation. The word has acquired negative connotations due to negative use. You can't say senile anymore either - now people suffer from dementia.

[Anonymous]

We don't say it in our house- I told DD its just not a word that we use. My BIL always uses it. I just tell DD he doesn't know not to use it- that she will hear it a lot b/c many adults don't.

Didn't read too much about the Palin reaction- but its my understanding that the general consensus that Rahm is a pottymouth and not PC. Its only news b/c she wants to get airtime.

[Anonymous]

It also depends on whether you are using it as an adjective or a noun.

The chemical fertilizer has retarded the plant's growth. -- adjective. Perfectly acceptable.

That $(&$)#&@ is retarded and clearly needs to learn that the long pedal on the right makes the vehicle move forward. -- noun. Me, in snow or heavy traffic. Neither PC nor accepatable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It also depends on whether you are using it as an adjective or a noun.

The chemical fertilizer has retarded the plant's growth. -- adjective. Perfectly acceptable.

That $(&$)#&@ is retarded and clearly needs to learn that the long pedal on the right makes the vehicle move forward. -- noun. Me, in snow or heavy traffic. Neither PC nor accepatable.

Verb. Which kind I can't tell you, but I know it's a verb.

[Anonymous]

Michael Berube has written on this occasionally. Here's an old post--

http://www.michaelberube.com/index.php/weblog/a_stupid_proposal/

[Anonymous]

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.