The use of the word "retard"

[Hans]

It makes sense that is is based off of hindered, since retardation is governed by IQ.

 

[HRSA After 10]

I have never seen how bad the word 'retard' is, to be perfectly honest. If someone does something stupid or whatever, I don't think there's a problem with saying, "Ha, you're being a retard!". Now that would be someone who ISN'T really retarded. You know, just playing around, but calling someone who's actually handicapped a retard...not cool. Now I could care less about political correctness, but it's just plain rude in my eyes. As far as I'm concerned, there is a difference between thinking something is unacceptable and not saying what you want to say because society says it's bad.

 

[Minor Axis]

E.G. "I was retarded from going into the fourth grade"

I agree "retard" does mean "hindered". However while in Australia it may be used that way in a sentence, I've never heard it used that way in the States, not that the States has the corner on proper English usage.

In every day usage, "retard" in the U.S. is slang and always always means mentally challenged and it's always some form of an insult or a disparaging remark. Politically correct usage would be "mentally challenged" or "handicapped".

 

[jassilem]

I have used to word retard in my science classes in high school when describing stunted growth.

Retard means lots of things. Most people use it the wrong why or the use to as a put down.