The use of the word "retard"

[wednesday]

It's not so much what you say, but how you say it. I would never be offended if anyone called me gay. And i doubt many gay people would be either, but it can be hatefull without being offensive.
The word spastic is actually a lot like the word "nigger" in many ways. The problem is it's kind of a medical term, so can't be abolished in the same way.

:24::24:sorry,,,but that made me lmao...:clapty

 

[Natasha]

I'm confused...over here we use spastic to describe someone that is kinda all over the place ("bouncing off the walls" if you will). Does it mean something different in different cultures???

I'm not being a smartass...I'm asking a serious question here.

 

[wednesday]

Spastic here defines someone who is disabled...or has a medical condition i.e cerebal palsy , or even autism...
And yes im sure there are different verisons of the word all over the world...i was stating an answer to the question in general, on what i find offensive...not everybody does...my opinion, didnt expect to be pushed into a corner for disliking the word?..

 

[Zorak]

Personally I have no problem with the word, and I think people sometimes are far too touchy on the subject of offensive language.

One of my favourite words is mongoloid, a little dark edged humour is good for the soul. Keeps me sane and reasonable at least.

 

[Natasha]

Spastic here defines someone who is disabled...or has a medical condition i.e cerebal palsy , or even autism...
And yes im sure there are different verisons of the word all over the world...i was stating an answer to the question in general, on what i find offensive...not everybody does...my opinion, didnt expect to be pushed into a corner for disliking the word?..

Ahhhhhhh, okay. Thanks for explaining. Like I said, I honestly didn't know the translation between here and there. Many people are offended by different things...as human beings, most of us respect that.

 

[lumpenstein]

Personally I have no problem with the word, and I think people sometimes are far too touchy on the subject of offensive language.

One of my favourite words is mongoloid, a little dark edged humour is good for the soul. Keeps me sane and reasonable at least.

I agree with you for the most part but if anybody called my wife a fat pig I would kick his fucking arse! It's all about what you say to whom and how. It's all in the context, baby!

 

[Mystic]

...i can recall a time when we had commercials with a fella called Timmy in them and he was an exceptional person...well to this day anyone who has seen those commercials calls themself a Timmy and then twitched like the poor fella on the TV.... but we imitate just about EVERY one we see or who is made public, so does that mean twitching and talking like that (heres another word) "handy" is ok? I think it all boils down to knowing who you can or can't say or act in a certain way around certain people....OR that certain people learn to accept that their are a lot of retards out there who can be nasty and say some nasty stuff resulting in that the best resolve is to NOT give them the attention they are obviously looking for- ignore them.

 

[c00kiE]

lump is right. all about the context and group setting you're in. things like that i feel have to be used with discretion cuz ppl do get very offended...

 

[Titan]

I only use the word retard to those who act stupid, or not their age, not to those who are actually mentally challenged, since that would be offensive to them, and sometimes they don't know what they're doing. But to those who act stupid for the hell of it, trying to start something, they are retards.

 

[Jason Stayborne]

English was made from alot of languages, mainly french, "Retard" comes from the French word, "Late", which makes sense when you call someone a retard, you are calling them late, either by the pace of their brain, or if they were not on time.

 

[loumac]

I don't believe the word should be used EVER in todays conversations-it is an offensive word, however you look at it

 

[Hans]

My cousin has an IQ of less than 80, so he is infact retarded. Yet, I will still (not often) call people retards as a joke. It is just as it mean, a joke. People who get upset/angry over words, need to step back and attempt to take control over their emotions.

 

[loumac]

My cousin has an IQ of less than 80, so he is infact retarded. Yet, I will still (not often) call people retards as a joke. It is just as it mean, a joke. People who get upset/angry over words, need to step back and attempt to take control over their emotions.

Is 'retard' listed in the dictionary as a joke word? even someone who is in fact retarded should not be called a retard..they are "intellectually disabled"

 

[Hans]

People like you need to take life less seriously. I am 99% everyone of us here have said something that someone sensitive would get upset over. I call people retard, retarded, stupid ass retard, etc. etc. Do I wish to damn them to retardation? Do I want to be a retard? Do I think retardation is something to walk up to a person with a sub-80 IQ and point and laugh at them for being retarded? No, but if you are going to get your panties in a bunch over something as simple as a word, and take it out of context and apply it to a serious real life issue....Youre not the kind of person Id want to talk to anyone, and you shouldnt have been eavesdropping on me.

 

[loumac]

People like you need to take life less seriously. I am 99% everyone of us here have said something that someone sensitive would get upset over. I call people retard, retarded, stupid ass retard, etc. etc. Do I wish to damn them to retardation? Do I want to be a retard? Do I think retardation is something to walk up to a person with a sub-80 IQ and point and laugh at them for being retarded? No, but if you are going to get your panties in a bunch over something as simple as a word, and take it out of context and apply it to a serious real life issue....Youre not the kind of person Id want to talk to anyone, and you shouldnt have been eavesdropping on me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset and I wasn't eavesdropping..I was trying to get involved in a type of debate.....am I only allowed to answer threads if I am personally invited:24::24::24:

 

[wednesday]

My cousin has an IQ of less than 80, so he is infact retarded. Yet, I will still (not often) call people retards as a joke. It is just as it mean, a joke. People who get upset/angry over words, need to step back and attempt to take control over their emotions.

Um...because you cousin has n IQ of less than 80...he does not receive the status "retard".

And people who get angry and upset over the use of the word...i.e me!! is because we have spent the majority of our lives with children with disabilities...and fighting to ignore stupid ass comments like yours!!!

Nuff said.

 

[Hans]

I suggest you look up how mental retardation is calculated before calling someone correct or incorrect. Mental retardation has various scales, going from mild to sevre, ALL BASED ON IQs.

My sister is schizophrenic, as is my grandpa. My cousin is mentally retarded. My uncle ODd on heroin and killed himself at 40.

Does this mean I am going to be overly sensitive when someone says "YOURE CRAZY!". Have you ever called someone crazy? How is that ANY less different than calling someone a retard? Atleast when youre retarded you are unaware of how low your intelligent level actually is, auditory and visual hallucinations on the other hand...Most of you are simply being hypocritical. I dont come onto the debate forums to be nice or lie to make the world seem like a happy place, life is what it is. I dont get upset when anyone calls someone crazy, when anyone makes a drug/pothead crack, when anyone calls anyone a retard, why? Because its a waste of fucking time and its a joke.

Would I get upset if someone said, "HEY YOUR SISTERS A FUCKING CRAZY FAT BITCH AHAHA!"? Yes, I would be offended by that. If someone ws talking about a random girl and said, "fuck that girl is CRAZY!!", would I get offended? No. Its a waste of time, effort, and life to care about such silly things.

 

[wednesday]

Um...wow. i really dont know how 2 answer that Hans.....

Maybe you right..maybe im one of the selected few that actually give a shit...and wtf are you talking about

Atleast when youre retarded you are unaware of how low your intelligent level actually is,

^^^ Thats just plain ignorant.

 

[Hans]

Um...wow. i really dont know how 2 answer that Hans.....

Maybe you right..maybe im one of the selected few that actually give a shit...and wtf are you talking about
^^^ Thats just plain ignorant.

You arent getting it at all, and it isnt ignorant.

To point 1, just because I dont care about words, doesnt mean Im a heartless Nazi Darwinist who believes in purifying the human race. Mental retardation sucks, I am sorry for those who have it. However, I still dont see you telling me the difference in you calling someone crazy, and me calling someone a retard. They are both diseases, but you obviously feel one is more important than the other. I believe they are just words, and used in a joking context its not a big deal. If it offends you, honestly, I wouldnt talk to you in a casual situation anyways, so you wouldnt need to worry.

As for that being "ignorant", I suggest you go READ about mental retardation. Although I SHOULD have specified what level of retardation I was talking about. Its sad, but its also the truth. Depending on the level of retardation that a person is suffering from, it WILL affect their perception on life. Some of more mentally challenged people are not aware of many things, such as us pittying them, or them not being able to enjoy thing we do. Does that mean they cant be happy? They cant be angry or frustrated? No, it just means they dont see themselves, or many other things the way we do.

Seriously though, please refrain from calling people incorrect or ignorant unless you have something to reinforce you =\ I am willing to reference anything Ive posted about mental retardation. Also, if you are angry I do not feel regret for saying "retard", I am sorry. However, you should atleast attempt to understand my point of view, as I understand and respect yours.

 

[wednesday]

Dear Hans...please, i am not angry at all.
And i was merely pointing out that you called your cousin a "retard"...why?...because he is mentally disabled?
You have the right to use any words you like, freedom of speech...i find it morally incorrect to call someone a name.
As you yourself have stated..."retard" and "crazy" and "fat" are all names you call people in jk/hostile manner?

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