retard and retarded

[Professor James]

Do you use these words, what are your feelings about them, do you have a mental disability, how do you feel about efforts to stop these words. I don't use the words often but they occasionally slip out. I'm not exactly sure about to think about retard and retarded, I don't use them often but I'm don't care who else uses them. I don't have a mental disability. Like I said: I don't really care.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I'll use them. If they exist, they you can use it. Whether its right or not is another matter entirely though.

i've tried to cut back when using them to describe something that isnt actually retarded, but I'll still mutter it under my breath at people who feel compelled to act like total dicks and do something profoundly stupid.

ANd no, I dont have a mental disability. though I would imagine most here dont or wont admit to it that is on the level of Mental retardation.

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

Interesting to post about something you don't care about.

Let's sum it up like this- anyone that gets annoyed about using a word in a different context than what it typically used for is gay and retarded.

 

[Broady Brio]

I say "You're retarded." Rather than "You're a retard."

The first one is more behaviour related than the 2nd one depicting them as a retard.

At least that's how I use those words.

 

[Booze Zombie]

More often than not, I simply say "idiot" or "moron", but "retard" is used when I'm in quite a sour mood.

Offending someone is the point of insulting them, anyway...

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Only when meaning "slow" or "to slow down" or "slowed" as that's the literal meaning of the word.

 

[Ridley the Violator]

Trying to ban the use of a word is nothing more than a feeble attempt to correct the underlying problem, that is that many people are intolerant of retarded people and and some even take advantage of them.

This will not be fixed by trying to stop people from saying a word. Personally I think a better idea would be to try a bit harder to teach the mentally retarded not to take five minutes to pay their fair when they get on the bus and then try to talk to me when I'm trying to read.

 

[Drakmeire]

I never use it. I think I would sound less intelligent if I did. I don't call things "gay" either, it makes me sound like I'm 11.
I prefer using more high-brow insults that pertain directly to what the other person is doing. If someone does something stupid instead of saying "you're retarded" I will say "what did you expect to happen?"
I do make fun of myself for talking like that as well and will try to sound overly-pompous when I insult someone.

 

[sunpop]

I don't take offense so I use the words all the time I never got the idea that a word can annoying someone so much. The idea that saying a simple word can upset someone so much is childish to me.

 

[EmperorSubcutaneous]

I knew someone who had a poster titled "Words That Hurt, and Why." One of the (many) gems on it was "Retarded and Lame: these words hurt because they refer to someone who is disabled but they are used to denote that something is bad or dumb." Yes, dumb. I really wish it were a joke, but it was completely serious.

Anyway, I don't use "retarded" or "gay" in that way because I don't like to. But I don't get offended that other people do. Language changes, always has and always will.

 

[Winthrop]

Let's sum it up like this- anyone that gets annoyed about using a word in a different context than what it typically used for is gay and retarded.

This is the best thing Ive ever read anywhere

OT: I don't have a problem with it because it just means slow technically. I know that isn't the common meaning but that is what it means even when describing someone with a learning disability. I don't have a disability and I say it occasionally but not often.

 

[MurderousToaster]

I wouldn't call someone actually retarded a retard. I don't really use it in normal conversation, but when frustrated many, many words come out of my mouth. Most of them offensive to many, many people.

 

[DustyDrB]

I pretty much use retarded for every possible use except for when referring to a mental handicap. Only in that context does the word feel taboo to me. Weird.

 

[Mittens The Kitten]

Only when meaning "slow" or "to slow down" or "slowed" as that's the literal meaning of the word.

no, that's the etymology of the word, close though.

 

[WolfThomas]

I don't use them, but that's probably because I about five weeks of straight placement at a centre for intellectualy disability. They kind of drill it out of you.

But I think the real reason I don't use them is because it's inaccurate to simply call someone retarded. What has been slowed down? I'm fine with saying someones "emotionally retarded" or "socially retarded" because that confirms the area where the shortcoming has arisen. But I prefer intellectual, mental and physical disability, that I find is more accurate. You can be intellectually disabled by having autism, you can be mentally disabled by being bi-polar, you can be physically disabled by being deaf. You can be one, two, all or none of those things.

 

[jackpipsam]

why yes I do use them and I think people who give super offend by it are retarded

 

[WolfEdge]

Interesting to post about something you don't care about.

Let's sum it up like this- anyone that gets annoyed about using a word in a different context than what it typically used for is gay and retarded.

Oh my goodness that made me laugh...

I... I can't breath...

 

[Agayek]

Do you use these words, what are your feelings about them, do you have a mental disability, how do you feel about efforts to stop these words. I don't use the words often but they occasionally slip out. I'm not exactly sure about to think about retard and retarded, I don't use them often but I'm don't care who else uses them. I don't have a mental disability. Like I said: I don't really care.

I use it semi-frequently, and I feel no shame. Retard/-ed means, literally, stupid. Thus, I will call things that are stupid "retarded".

It's rather ridiculous to be upset about the usage of it. Just as it is to be upset over the usage of whatever racial, gender, or other slur you can think of.

It's either used as a direct personal insult, or it's not; and if it's not a personal insult, there's no excuse to be offended by it.

 

[BanthaFodder]

I use them occasionally, but only among friends, as we all know that none of us mean any offense towards the mentally impaired. I don't really use it in anonymous situations (forums, Youtube comments, etc.), as I don't know who I could be talking to.

 

[That_One_Ska_Kid]

For me these words have always bother me a bit. You see i grew up with an older brother with autism while i was growing up kids use to come up to me and ask why is your brother so retarded(I hated a lot of the kids where i was growing up) and it always pissed me off. That they would only look skin deep and not try to understand him. I even had a friend who did think it was a hateful word even after explaining to him that it was hurtful to me he did stop. So to me these words tick me off a bit. So I never use the words and when i did i felt bad afterward.