Society changes. Life moves on. Language shifts. Whole list of words I wouldn't apply to people in conversation anymore. Retard is one of those words.

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.

Wouldn't the student actually be retarding?

Quote from: Big Rich on February 28, 2012, 08:34:35 PM
In short, I can be offended, or not, based on the context and motives of the word's use. 

I was thinking along this line, too, but you said it much better than I could have. I think we could probably use this line of thinking, " Do you think that the word ___________ is offensive?"  We could all fill that blank in with something we feel is offensive (or that we feel others are overreacting to).

I think in our day-to-day lives, we use terms that hold little or no meaning for us while being loaded terms for someone else. If one of my rider buddies calls me something (for example, b***h), then I know the term is used with deep affection, love, and respect. However, if a stranger calls me that....well..that's different.. 

Quote from: pandy on February 28, 2012, 10:52:39 PM

Quote from: Big Rich on February 28, 2012, 08:34:35 PM
In short, I can be offended, or not, based on the context and motives of the word's use. 

I was thinking along this line, too, but you said it much better than I could have. I think we could probably use this line of thinking, " Do you think that the word ___________ is offensive?"  We could all fill that blank in with something we feel is offensive (or that we feel others are overreacting to).

I think in our day-to-day lives, we use terms that hold little or no meaning for us while being loaded terms for someone else. If one of my rider buddies calls me something (for example, b***h), then I know the term is used with deep affection, love, and respect. However, if a stranger calls me that....well..that's different.. 

I used to work as a Police Officer (I'm white) and my partner (and best friend) was a black guy.  We went to a call one night where a black guy had gotten into a fight with a white guy because he called him the n-word.  My partner looked at him and said, "Well are you?".  The guy looked flabbergasted.  He said, "well.. no".  And my partner said, "Then what do you care?". 

It's like old mantra, "Sticks and stones.."

The new politically correct term is 'intellectual disability'....and in a few years, when 'disability' becomes too risque to say, it will be changed again to something like 'scholarly delay'. 

I work with the multiply disabled population and had used the term 'mentally retarded' regularly, professionally.  I am not offended by this word used appropriately and respectfully at work.  I am not offended by the way people use this word outside of my work.  However, I know that I would be thrown into a fit of extreme rage if somebody ever teased one of my students/clients with the intent to demean using this (or really any word for that matter).  A bit of a double standard, I know.



But, as said in other posts...it's all about intent and perception.  Any word can potentially be changed/used as an insult.  One thing is for sure....'retard/ed' is quickly going out, like it or not.

My rule of thumb when speaking with people I do not intimately know is "If it comes across my mind as potentially being wrong then don't even think about saying it". I know I've had bad days where someone says something or looks at me the wrong way sets me off. So, why even chance ruining someone else's day.

I can see where people would get upset if mental retardation had permeated their life. Personally, though as a disabled person I get a bit aggravated when people tip toe around the issue. Or use things like handicapable yes I've heard some people at my past jobs use that phrase. If anything I believe disabled is such a misnomer for those of us who have physical or mental issues. I am far from unable to do things. Ask those that know me I'm more of an able person than those that have no physical impairments. I just use my brains where my body doesn't always work.

Mary

I am not offended, and I have a son with autism. Sadly I think some people/situations are bad enough to warrant it and heck they would give the mentally retarded among us a bad name.

I mean I know of one fool who has had something like 10 DUI's, been to jail for it, and still cant stay home when he's hammered or ride a moped to the store get more beer.

Cool.
Buddha.

When people tell you they are offended, give them this pic...



And if they are offended by that, then throw this one at them...





BTW, down here in Australia, we tell each other to HTFU all the time. We tell people to pull their heads in, stop whining, here's 50 cents go call some khunt who cares, and so on and so forth. Soft chicken also gets a mention. As does skirt, girls blouse and so on. We have pretty thick skin down here. So calling someone a retard is like water off a duck's back. It's about as lame an insult as you can make. Noone will tell you they are offended, but they'll probably blast you back for having such a pissy insult as retard. Even if you add some adjectives like mega retard, full-on retard, etc.,  it is really a nothing thing.

We take the piss out of each other so much down here, you'd actually think there was something wrong if some kind of name was not coming at you. Retard doesn't even register on the give a dam ometer...



Michael

Quote from: pandy on February 28, 2012, 10:52:39 PM

Quote from: Big Rich on February 28, 2012, 08:34:35 PM
In short, I can be offended, or not, based on the context and motives of the word's use. 

However, if a stranger calls me that....well..that's different.. 

I like this line of thinking.

Quote from: mister on February 29, 2012, 04:00:30 AM

BTW, down here in Australia, we tell each other to HTFU all the time. We tell people to pull their heads in, stop whining, here's 50 cents go call some khunt who cares, and so on and so forth. Soft chicken also gets a mention. As does skirt, girls blouse and so on. We have pretty thick skin down here. So calling someone a retard is like water off a duck's back. It's about as lame an insult as you can make. Noone will tell you they are offended, but they'll probably blast you back for having such a pissy insult as retard. Even if you add some adjectives like mega retard, full-on retard, etc.,  it is really a nothing thing.

We take the piss out of each other so much down here, you'd actually think there was something wrong if some kind of name was not coming at you. Retard doesn't even register on the give a dam ometer...



Michael

I think I would like it in Australia. 

My three thoughts:

1.  The demeaned group should be the one to determine if a word is too hurtful. Otherwise its like asking a bunch of NBA centers if epithets aimed at short people offend them.

2.  When in doubt, I try to refrain from piling on minority groups that have a hard lot in life. 

3.  Everything is context and intent.  If my audience knows my intent and context, I may use words that are considered offensive.  That said, there are maybe 50 people on the planet who know me well enough to understand my intent.

  to mister

Quote from: Juan1 on February 29, 2012, 10:58:59 AM
My three thoughts:

1.  The demeaned group should be the one to determine if a word is too hurtful. Otherwise its like asking a bunch of NBA centers if epithets aimed at short people offend them.

2.  When in doubt, I try to refrain from piling on minority groups that have a hard lot in life. 

3.  Everything is context and intent.  If my audience knows my intent and context, I may use words that are considered offensive.  That said, there are maybe 50 people on the planet who know me well enough to understand my intent.

1.) I love "list" posts!

2.) I agree with your premise on all three items.

3.) Not being a minority in any facet of my existence; race, religion, income, intellect, physical attributes, etc... (I'm just a very generic kinda' guy), so I would have to refer to someone that IS a minority to better understand the "hurtful" part of the issue.

Being one of the generic majorities of the planet, I have to rely on common sense; i.e. don't call a fat guy fat, he already knows it!
Thanks for posting your list. They're all good points.
-Ej-

You see thankfully, no one calls a mentally retarded person a "retard". Its the people who are for lack of a better term "normal" who decide they are better than everyone else usually that start acting retarded.

Cool.
Buddha.

And there goes mister being a retard again

Quote from: ohgood on February 28, 2012, 04:02:29 PM
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.

exactly. if its used in a demeaning way then i would be. however, as some said we all act a lil retarded. like idiots. if i were to do such a hting. i couldnt get offended if someone called me out on it. however if that werent the case, then more than likely i would be

As a person who works with the mentally retarded, I actually find the term "intellectual disability" more offensive than the word retarded; mostly because the people trying to make the change seem to think that adding syllables to its name will change the condition.  They also think I am insensitive for using the old terminology.  I just prefer sticking to words and phrases that don't require a subsequent explanation. 

"I work with people with intellectual disabilities." 

"Oh, what does that mean?"

"I work with the mentally retarded."

"Oh, ok."

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on February 29, 2012, 06:35:21 PM
exactly. if its used in a demeaning way then i would be. however, as some said we all act a lil retarded. like idiots. if i were to do such a hting. i couldnt get offended if someone called me out on it. however if that werent the case, then more than likely i would be

You could say that only a "retard" would not understand that using the word is in poor taste.
Its crude and to be honest about it, it makes me a tad uncomfortable too.
But back to the point. . .
You can use the term retard in a derogatory manner if you like. That's your prerogative. What's more important is that it's my responsibility to harden the fck up!
This is an internet forum, not Mrs. Puff's 5th grade English class.

I see a lot of crude and disrespectful items posted here that I am uncomfortable with, but it's 100 times better here than on some of those other motorcycle forums that boot you out at the first sign of making a ripple on the pond.

Bless you GStwins forum.
At least we can have an open discussion here without getting slammed by a bunch of greater-than-thou moderators.
-Ej-

thats like saying  " i work with horizontally challenged people" Eh?, " i work wiht fat people "

Yama, wouldn't it be "horizontally endowed"?