Political correctness

[Talking Hands]

Yes, thank you, but I am well aware of the difference as I have dealt with deaf people and the varying degrees of deafness most of my life (my brother just being one example...and we actually got my son's name from another deaf guy we know). I do tend to say deaf more than hearing impaired (just a personal preference thing) but I personally do not know a deaf person that has a problem with either term...in my area at least. And believe me, they would tell me if they prefer one term over the other since I've known them for a very long time. I think people are too hung up on labels in general though. It's hard to know whom you might offend as one person may prefer one term and another might prefer the other.

I thought you would know that but so many others have no clue about the two.
I had a blind friend who heard someone call him visually impaired to which he answered "No, I am blind. I have absolutely no sight.

 

[joyjoy]

Actually is a very acceptable term that was created as a "political correct" way of eliminating the derogatory other N word. Like I said earlier all things become offensive to someone at sometime.

This is completely incorrect. The offensive "N" word is actually a mutation of the word Negro.

The thing I don't get is these giant arguments with dozens of reasons to NOT be politically correct. Who is it hurting to just be nice to people? Who are you to decide if something should or shouldn't offend someone else? If they don't like it, don't do it! Easy.

 

[C.Ann]

I always use "respectful" terms, but I don't buy into all of the "PC" stuff and never will..

That's right up there with my pet peeves in terms of "special interest" groups - who want to shove their ideas down everyones throats..

 

[tasha99]

This is completely incorrect. The offensive "N" word is actually a mutation of the word Negro.

The thing I don't get is these giant arguments with dozens of reasons to NOT be politically correct. Who is it hurting to just be nice to people? Who are you to decide if something should or shouldn't offend someone else? If they don't like it, don't do it! Easy.

It hurts society as a whole when we are so sensitive that we have to be on our toes all the time to get the right word out. I notice it's especially hard for older folk. I've tried to tell my dad 100 times that we don't say "colored" anymore, but that used to be a polite term and that's what he learned. I still say "black," and I imagine since it's out of fashion now, in 20 years it will be just as beyond the pale as "colored".

(Note, I just noticed how "the Pale" sounds in this context, but a pale has nothing to do with colors. A pale is an enclosed or controlled area, like the Pale from where the English attempted to control Ireland.) Actually, my having to explain this preemptively because surely someone will take offense is an example of what a waste of time political correctness is. . .

 

[Goofyluver]

We can and do. It is only bad when used in a derogatory sense. Take any word and apply the same meanness and bigotry to it and it becomes offense.

I'm going to disagree with your statement here. We do not refer to people with intellectual disabilities as "retards". It's not acceptable. As I have stated in this thread, my son, in fact, is mentally ********. But we should never EVER refer to this population as "retards." Ever. Period. End of debate.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, lets just set this straight...
We are talking about two very different things here.

'Retard' is not a noun, nor is it an adjective.
I believe that Goofyernmost refered to the words 'mentally ********'. ( Not 'retard')
'mentally ********' are valid words which express a basic fact... and therefore are correct....
Therefore, the term 'retard' is NOT a part of this political correctness debate.
Just as 'the N word' is not a correct and valid word, and is not a part of this debate...

"Retard" is in fact a negative slang word when directed towards others...
It is never acceptable to use negative slang words with the intent to be hurtful...
This has NOTHING to do with political correctness.

To use these negative slang words to try to defend 'political correctness' is not not a valid defense. Not applicable at all.

There is a HUGE difference between fighting 'hate speech' and defending political correctness.

The fact that some words such as 'retard' and 'the N word' are negative slang terms that are often used as hate-speech (and are never acceptable) has NO bearing on the fact that the political correctness police want to control and censor others and practically infringe on our basic freedom of speech.

 

[Goofyluver]

My response above was to this:

A PP said:

why don't we just shorten it to "retard"

when referencing people being referred to as "mentally ********."

The poster I responded to said in response to the above post:

We can and do. It is only bad when used in a derogatory sense. Take any word and apply the same meanness and bigotry to it and it becomes offense.

I'm saying: Calling someone a "retard" is unacceptable. We cannot use "retard" to refer to anyone. I don't think it's acceptable and you're right. It has nothing to do with political correctedness.

Like I've said before, my son is in fact "mentally ********." But, don't you (not you personally) EVER refer to him as a "retard". Or anyone else for that matter.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I'm saying: Calling someone a "retard" is unacceptable. We cannot use "retard" to refer to anyone. I don't think it's acceptable and you're right. It has nothing to do with political correctedness.

Agreed!!!!

 

[alizesmom]

The thing I don't get is these giant arguments with dozens of reasons to NOT be politically correct.

Because political correctness is being decided by people who don't belong to the group being given the proper name. Or sometimes by a minority of people. If you want to be nice then ask the person in question how they prefer being called.

 

[alizesmom]

I'm going to disagree with your statement here. We do not refer to people with intellectual disabilities as "retards". It's not acceptable. As I have stated in this thread, my son, in fact, is mentally ********. But we should never EVER refer to this population as "retards." Ever. Period. End of debate.

As I said before, mental retardation is a diagnosis. Retard is an insult.

 

[Goofyluver]

As I said before, mental retardation is a diagnosis. Retard is an insult.