Retard

[Lanshark]

I absolutely hate the word

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

We live near a home for ******** people.... that is how THEY introduce themselves. As in "hi my name is Joe and I am ********". Now these are all people in there 50s or 60s.

If you are mentally ********, how is that different from being called a Downie or Developmentally Disabled?

I do not get all this political correctness.

According to the online Webster dictionary - a definition
4 a : an abnormal slowness of thought or action; also : less than normal intellectual competence usually characterized by an IQ of less than 70 b : slowness in development or progress

 

[Tinijocaro]

We live near a home for ******** people.... that is how THEY introduce themselves. As in "hi my name is Joe and I am ********". Now these are all people in there 50s or 60s.

If you are mentally ********, how is that different from being called a Downie or Developmentally Disabled?

I do not get all this political correctness.

According to the online Webster dictionary - a definition
4 a : an abnormal slowness of thought or action; also : less than normal intellectual competence usually characterized by an IQ of less than 70 b : slowness in development or progress

The problem is not with ******** people being called ********. The problem is with people calling their friends of normal intelligence ********, in an effort to insult them. Clearly that's obvious, isn't it? To use the word as an insult is the problem.

 

[cardaway]

I agree with the others who posted that there is no way the term retard is any way comparable to words like the "n" word. IMO that goes for other racial slurs as well.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I was about to post the same thing. It must not be too offensive if it is OK to use among themselves.

Oh, please. Most people (doesn't matter color they are) find the word offensive.

I'm not trying to make it any more than it is, just wanted clarification because frankly I hear different races using the N word.

I agree. Of course many want to pretend that black people are the only ones using the word.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have to agree.

These two words aren't even in the same ballpark.

I think they are. Words that are used in a derogatory manner are hurtful and should never be used. One may be very offensive to you and so it should be, but the history of that word should not negate that the other is as offensive and hurtful to another. Both words create a very powerful picture and can be used to degrade an individual.

I refuse to tolerate either word.

 

[Andy B]

I think the difference is that the 'N' word has no other use where as retard can be used perfectly correctly in many ways, as in 'the use smoking of cigarettes in pregnancy can retard normal growth and lead to a premature birth'

 

[5Slays]

My husband is a Special Education teacher at an adult group home here for the devleopmentally disabled. You are right, people should not use this word at all.

We have raised our children to understand that everyone is different, but that is not a bad thing. They go to the group home with DH to some of the events that they have and love it.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I haven't read the whole thread before responding, but I also wanted to add another word, that someone else may have already mentioned: using the word "gay" in a negative way. If you want to say that someone looks gay, or acts gay, because you think they might actually be gay, that's one thing. But when it's used as an insult, in the same vain as using the word "retard", then it takes on a whole other offensive meaning.

I hear that used almost simultaneously with the word "retard" amongst the high school crowd, and both of them rub me the wrong way, equally. Both show pure ignorance, IMO. When you throw words around with no regard to the possibility of hurting someone, something's missing.

JMO - YMMV

 

[Andy B]

I haven't read the whole thread before responding, but I also wanted to add another word, that someone else may have already mentioned: using the word "gay" in a negative way.

I hear that used almost simultaneously with the word "retard" amongst the high school crowd, and both of them rub me the wrong way, equally.

But we have a Gay and Lesbian at Disney board! Surely it is not the word but the usage of the word which is the problem.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I agree with the others who posted that there is no way the term retard is any way comparable to words like the "n" word. IMO that goes for other racial slurs as well.

I agree

 

[almburr]

Our kids are grounded if they say the R-word.

DH sister was mentally disabled, that word is very offensive.

 

[TurboKitty]

I agree

I disagree, because those most hurt by the misuse of the word retard (or its variations) are often the least equipped to be able to verbally defend or assert themselves.

 

[Tiggeroo]

you need to understand that kids are kids and they say things without really thinking about what it means. So nearly every kid goes through a phase in life where calling their friends retard or gay is just what they do. Hopefully they have adults in their life who point out why this is wrong, or they see things and give up the expression and grow up a bit. But they aren't really thinking like adults when they use these words and they don't mean them at all like we think.

 

[shirleyb]

The series made me very sad for gay and lesbian kids going to school these days. I had hoped that things were better, based on the attitude I see from DN-but she's in college. High school and middle school seems to be the same minefield it was back in the Dark Ages when I went there. Conform or be bullied.

I'm sure there is still some of that, but I know my kids and their friends have said that it's very "cool" to be a lesbian now in high school. A couple of the girls I know were even saying, "I think so and so is a fake lesbian because she just wants to be cool. I don't think she's really a lesbian." I was pretty surprised, because when I went to HS, you would have sooner admitted you were a martian than gay.

 

[Jennasis]

you need to understand that kids are kids and they say things without really thinking about what it means. So nearly every kid goes through a phase in life where calling their friends retard or gay is just what they do. Hopefully they have adults in their life who point out why this is wrong, or they see things and give up the expression and grow up a bit. But they aren't really thinking like adults when they use these words and they don't mean them at all like we think.

HOG-friggin-WASH!

The people I hear using the "R" word are of all ages. I hear just as many adults (namely my fool siblings who are 24 and 35) using it as I hear teens and kids. My students are summarily chewed out and punished if I hear it from their mouths. Luckily, all of my students are heavily involved with volunteering for my Special Olympics team and would sooner die than use the word.


Age is never ever ever ever an excuse. EVER...period.

 

[monsterkitty]

Personally I can't stand the word when it is used in a negative context. Our kids don't even know the negative meaning of the word. We are however musicians and have explained that retard means to slow down when you are playing music. Other than that they won't be using that word at all.

The musical term is ritard, not retard. It is abbreviated rit in music, not ret. They are not even pronounced the same.

 

[mushumadness]

Even though both have a stigma attached to them, I don't think retard is anywhere as bad as the "N" word. I don't think people should be called either.

I think it is very much up there with the n word, it is a horrible word and one used alot over here

 

[Jennasis]

I thought the musical term was RITARDANDO..no?

 

[monsterkitty]

I thought the musical term was RITARDANDO..no?

There is both a word ritard and ritardando. Ritard is the abbreviation of ritardando, as is rit.