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Why do people have to use the word “retarded” when they wish to express their obviously unintelligent opinion about something? Seriously, it’s tacky and pretty offensive. Grow up, please!
—That’s So Raven
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2009.
16 Comments
Why do you THINK people use the term retarded for retards?
re⋅tard⋅ed
–adjective
1. characterized by retardation: a retarded child.
–noun
2. (used with a plural verb) mentally retarded persons collectively (usually prec. by the): new schools for the retarded.
Get it now? Would you prefer “dimwitted” or “idiot”? English is such a versatile language even the retards have options.
Have at’r bitches.
I couldn’t agree more, it’s absolutely retar-… It’s bad.
I feel like I’m the only person in the entire world who doesn’t use the word “retarded”. It’s so unnecessary and pretty offensive.
Nope not offensive. It is not the same word as we once used to describe a person with intellectual deficits…ummm well when I put it that way I guess it does. Okay we are not referring to brain damaged children with helmuts on here. I suppose if you were to refer to a brain damaged child that way I would think you were retarded.
Why do people love getting offended on behalf of other groups of people, even when said group has nothing to do with them? ‘Retarded’ people don’t need your phoney and condescending sympathy. Does it make you feel like your a better person? Seriously, lighten up… and stop using other peoples’ problems to feel better about yourself. Selfish pricks.
I grew up with a family member and a friend of the family who was mentally disabled and the word “retarded” to express someone’s dumbness or the dumbness of a situation was kind of a no no because it would offend the kids’ parents and immediate family…so I just grew up with the feeling that it was offensive.
Not a lot offends me (I’m as laid back as they come with shit like that), but using the word “retarded” like people use it today sort of strikes a nerve. I don’t use the word myself.
Your offense is sincere as you have something to do with the group in question.
It’s the phony attention whores that annoy me, you know the kind of people that leech off problems that have nothing to do with them for attention, or to feel better about themselves in general.
Like when my friend died in high school and all of a sudden people who he had never spoken to before started talking about how they knew him and how sad they were. Some skipped class to ‘grieve’.
Todd asks, “Why do people love getting offended on behalf of other groups of people, even when said group has nothing to do with them?”
Todd, fierce compassion is part what makes human beings different from most animals and that’s supposed to be a good thing. Sympathy and empathy are part of this behavior even if we express it badly. It’s the thought that counts. I think we also realize there’s strength in numbers. Finally, human beings are social creatures so we all crave attention in one form or another… especially those of us who feel the impulse to “rescue” others. Go easy on your classmates. They’re only human, after all.
I do think it’s offensive, but it seems to be used casually these days which means I slip it out now and again.
I don’t think Rtard is any better either since it’s implying the same thing.
Also Kay, thanks for that inspirational explanation!
Being a human (as most are that are reading the bitch board) I was totally unaware sympathy and empathy are part of compassion. How utterly insightful.
There’s strength in numbers? really?
we all crave attention? surely not!
wow.
someone call Dr. Phil and tell him there’s competition on its way.
Hahaha. I hardly think using someones tragedy so you can skip class and go vandalize the dumpsters while you ‘grieve’ is “fierce compassion”, kay. Especially considering that all of the people who’ve truly lost something in the tragedy have to watch their friends memory being abused in this way, I’d say that’s the opposite of compassion. People in these types of situations don’t want or need “rescuing”. Half the population shitting themselves every time someone says the word ‘retarded’ isn’t going to help anyone, it’s just going to stink up the place.
My brother is in this sort of situation, Todd. If someone calls him a retard I get offended, that’s just rude. But if someone uses it in casual conversation I don’t find it offensive at all. I don’t want people to act differently around me because of his condition, because it’s really not that big of a deal. He doesn’t need any special social treatment, he is happiest when people are acting normally around him. People being too sensitive and nice to him have done more damage than his actual condition. They’ve spoiled him and taught him that he can get away with things. Oh and kay, my brother doesn’t need you to rescue him.
We don’t live in a politicaly correct world!!!! interpretation is key here. It is so easy to offend someone these days. people have to get thicker skin and stop crying over silly words
It must really burn you up when fire-fighters use flame retardant foam.
I agree with Nanners, calling someone like your brother retarded to their face is just plain rude, like telling a woman she is a bitch. You’re directing it at them as an insult, rather than using it in casual conversation.
If we stopped using every word that could offend someone of have negative implications I think we’d be more or less cutting the English language in half.
Agreed, and using the word gay as a replacement for stupid makes you look like an ape too.
Politically Correctness has ruined many things, this is just another. Not every one that says ‘Retarded’ or ‘Retard’ is referring to ones mental ability.
Retard can also mean:
To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede.
Using Politically Correct words can RETARD the development of mankind.
I find this kind of funny. People seem to be hung up on Politically Correctness. But they will, not hold a door open, not say please or thank you, or tell off a complete stranger or cut in front of some while driving/in a line-up. Oh, but don’t say the word retarded it is wrong. Society is pretty fucked up, eh ?
Gay still does mean happy, well as an adjective, at least.