On another board I posted a comment about a guy being retarded because he was acting like an idiot.

I was stunned by the number of people that were offended by this word.

Have we become so thin skinned that a word like retarded offends the masses?  Because I can certainly think of a lot more offensive things than that to call a person.

I am more offended that you had to ask if I thought retarded was offensive. I use that word all the time.

not offended at all. we're all a little retarded every now and then

on a funny note here's a ralphie may stand up on the people that get heated about the word retard(warning not the best quality, but the audio isn't bad):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1OFSD7vnjM

After I've met a few people that are mentally retarded, I'm convinced there is no excuse for the rest of us.

Using the word descriptively is fine. Using it in a demeaning, derrogartory fashion is a slap in the face to those that are by definition, retarded.

Its not about wether you're acting like an ass for using it out of context, its about you acting like an ass and not having the capacity to insult a person with gusto and some intelligence.

"Retard" is the best you can do ? Really ? That's pretty f%$king pathetic.

I'm sitting at a pool, watching some kids swim, play, learn and thrive. Some of them may be mentally delayed, physically broken, or suffering in more ways than any of the able bodied and minded people can understand. You know what, they're f%$king owning you right now, without even having to try.

Retard indeed.

Ohgood.  Nice custom title    I thought you would like it.  It was the best I could come up with.

Personally I'm sick to death of all this political correctness, you can't say anything now days without offending someone. The whole world is becoming Chickified and overly sensitive.---get over it.

People need to buy a dictionary and actually read it.  Retarded is a descriptive word meaning slowed or delayed.  "We retarded the ignition timing."  Nothing offensive there.  You were more going for mental retardation though.  That is a gray area when you use it as an insult.  I used to work with a guy who had a retarded son that got really bent out of shape when I would use it as an insult.  So I quit using it in work situations.  I still use it in social situations.  It's just like I won't say sh!t or F@ck with a customer at work but I will use it at a bar.  Certain words for certain situations.

I'm more annoyed with people getting offended when no offense is meant.  Like the sports writer that was fired for using the phrase "chink in his armor" when talking about Jeremy Lyn.  That is a common phrase that the writer had used in many past stories.  Down the road from me in Washington D.C. a local government worker (mayor's aide if I remember correctly) was fired for using the word niggardly in relation to the budget.  Buy a dictionary people, that word has nothing to do with the N-word!  Idiocy!!!

Rant End\

-Jessie

Quote from: ojstinson on February 28, 2012, 05:39:53 PM
Personally I'm sick to death of all this political correctness, you can't say anything now days without offending someone. The whole world is becoming Chickified and overly sensitive.---get over it.

John, may I request that you remove this thread and the title for ohgood? 

While some people may or may not get offended by it is individual choice. "Who" gets offended might make a difference to the quality of this forum. What would happen to this site if for example Mister, Adidasguy, BaltimoreGS, Buddha, Twisted, Yama, TooGoofy, and so on got offended?  As a moderator yourself here, you actually do set an example for the rest of us.

Quote from: Big Rich on February 28, 2012, 07:56:23 PM
John, may I request that you remove this thread and the title for ohgood? 

While some people may or may not get offended by it is individual choice. "Who" gets offended might make a difference to the quality of this forum. What would happen to this site if for example Mister, Adidasguy, BaltimoreGS, Buddha, Twisted, Yama, TooGoofy, and so on got offended?  As a moderator yourself here, you actually do set an example for the rest of us.

Seconded.

Also, I vote Big Rich for moderator! 

No.  I don't think i'll remove this post.  I am asking if it actually offends people.  If somebody said "yes, it does offend me." I can deal with it.  I actually wanted to simply know the general consensus.  Looks like 6 or 7 no's, and two yes so far.

You people going off on a political rant need to drink a beer and chill out   

I DON"T want this to be a flame fest.  And I did update ohgood's title.  Good suggestion.

Fair enough - thank you sir.

And Shonole: Me? A moderator? No thanks for a couple reasons: first off, I can be a real Richard sometimes. Second, I would go mad with power. Third, I've never even sat on a GS500.

Quote from: Big Rich on February 28, 2012, 08:34:35 PM

I've never even sat on a GS500.

Bwhahaha

Quote from: john on February 28, 2012, 01:25:00 PM
On another board I posted a comment about a guy being retarded because he was acting like an idiot.
I was stunned by the number of people that were offended by this word.

Offended by the term retard?
No, not really...
...but it is in poor taste.

Probably like "ghey" or "alternative lifestyle man" which can be quite derogatory, regardless of what Webster's defines it as.
-Ej-

P.S. OMG Your profanity filter cuts out g a y & q u e e r but won't touch retard?
This crap is too funny.
-Ej

Quote from: Big Rich on February 28, 2012, 08:34:35 PM
Fair enough - thank you sir.

And Shonole: Me? A moderator? No thanks for a couple reasons: first off, I can be a real Richard sometimes. Second, I would go mad with power. Third, I've never even sat on a GS500.

Occasional nastiness?  Check.
Wanton power trip? Check.
No personal experience with the principle item at hand? Check.

Sounds like the making of a great mod to me.   

Also, derogatory use of the term "retarded" is offensive and ignorant.   

But then, it all depends on perception and reception.  Take the Family Guy episode "Extra Large Medium" where they sang "Down Syndrome Girl".  Sarah Palin was upset because she has a child who suffers from Down Syndrome.  However, Andrea Fay Friedman (the actress that played the character with Down Syndrome) herself suffers from the affliction, and had no problem with them singing the song. 

Her quote?  "In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life."

Quote from: john on February 28, 2012, 08:13:02 PM
No.  I don't think i'll remove this post.  I am asking if it actually offends people.  If somebody said "yes, it does offend me." I can deal with it.  I actually wanted to simply know the general consensus.

Quote from: john on February 28, 2012, 01:25:00 PM
Have we become so thin skinned that a word like retarded offends the masses?  Because I can certainly think of a lot more offensive things than that to call a person.

While I'm personally not offended by the word at all, I definitely understand why people are, and have no idea why people(supposed grown ups especially) have such a hard time taking into consideration the people who are forced to be around them on a daily basis. I also don't feel like you were asking out of genuine curiosity. Your original post definitely sounded more like a semi-rant at the fact that someone questioned something you said, and really didn't leave an un-biased feeling to the post for anyone to really want to jump out and admit that they're offended by it, because they'd automatically already be labeled as thin skinned and easily offended.

I'm sure you can think of a lot of things that would be MORE offensive, but how is that any gauge for what's actually acceptable or not? I could punch a stranger in the face, and say "are you really gonna complain about that? I certainly could've hit you harder", it's a pretty weak argument.

If it's that much of a thought in your head that it might offend someone, then yes, it probably does offend someone, and I would hope that you have the ability to think of a word to replace one that we all started using in 3rd grade to make fun of some kid that we thought was slightly mentally unstable. There are groups in society that I think are beyond ridiculous and pathetic, but they're all around me, I deal with them on a regular basis, and don't really feel the need to walk around using phrases that would obviously make them feel uncomfortable just because I don't feel like considering someone else's feelings. It's a shared forum, and unless you happen to know that nobody here has a sibling/child with some mental barriers, I don't know why it even needs to be discussed. To be honest it sounds like YOU were offended that someone took the time out of their day to tell you they didn't like something you said. Again, I'm not offended by the word, but I understand why other people could be, and I have a general hope that living in a civilized community would at least afford me the convenience of being around other adults that can take the time to consider some of the things other people go through in their daily lives that you may not have to deal with, yeah?

Quote from: shonole on February 28, 2012, 08:59:11 PM

But then, it all depends on perception and reception.  Take the Family Guy episode "Extra Large Medium" where they sang "Down Syndrome Girl". 

This I definitely agree with. There's a time and a place for things too. I listen to a lot of comedians who say things that would be incredibly offensive to other people, and would probably make my own mother cringe in horror, same thing goes for TV shows like Family Guy or Peep Show(way funnier), but if you're listening to those things it's because that's the humor you're looking for. I even hear them making fun of things that I am and things that I do, and I accept it because that's the entertainment I chose. It's different when you're involved in unrelated activities like a motorcycle forum or are at work. Those are completely unrelated activities.

Retard, as defined by Webster, means:

1: to slow up especially by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment : impede

2: to delay academic progress by failure to promote

Synonyms: brake, decelerate, slow, slacken

As a teacher, I actually use the word in class to describe student behavior or progress...if for no other reason than to remove the negative connotation.  To lable someone 'mentally retarded' is a misnomer.  The actual term is mentally disabled.  Now the disability does, in fact, cause retarded (slowed) learning, but any person can be retarded at any time regardless of their mental faculties.

A student that is disrupting class can be acurately labeled as being 'retarded' because they are slowing their own learning,and/or the learning of the class.  The word 'retarded' and its perceived definition is merely an issue of semantics.  It really depends on the intent behind its use, and the way it is perceived.

In short, I can be offended, or not, based on the context and motives of the word's use.  I do believe that people generally get too worked up about the word.

Quote from: oramac on February 28, 2012, 09:43:33 PM

A student that is disrupting class can be acurately labeled as being 'retarded' because they are slowing their own learning,and/or the learning of the class.  The word 'retarded' and its perceived definition is merely an issue of semantics.  It really depends on the intent behind its use, and the way it is perceived.

In short, I can be offended, or not, based on the context and motives of the word's use.  I do believe that people generally get too worked up about the word.

YES  Hammer - nail - head