# Can we get rid of "retard" next? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 20, 2022, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755 "2022-05-20T11:27:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/242 "2022-05-21T15:54:49Z")
Exactly. The eras of political correctness and banning bad words has got us here. Don’t think it worked out well. Was there ever a time when the people who felt oppressed by the language felt unoppressed? A nirvana when the world was free of bad words because people like you banned them? ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/243 "2022-05-21T15:55:45Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Are you sealioning me? You should familiarize yourself with the term before laying it on someone. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/244 "2022-05-21T15:59:26Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The eras of political correctness and banning bad words has got us here. If that pattern of cause and effect holds up, then we should be in a _great_ situation now that Trump has given his people a pass - they no longer have to pretend to be decent human beings. What’s the next step in your plan here? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/245 "2022-05-21T16:03:13Z")
None…we’re fucked now. Due to the political system in the US and how demographics work there is little chance left. They sailed under your radar and now it is probably too late. They have control and it will be near impossible to dislodge them. But at least you didn’t hear a word you did not like. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/246 "2022-05-21T16:26:47Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > We have examples of what happens when you sanitize language. **I have spoilered the below for frequent use of the “n-word”.** It is Lee Atwater on how they moved away from “bad” words and went to what we call “dog whistles” today. The history since speaks for itself. But, at least you didn’t have to hear a word you did not like. Maybe if you and others did they would have been stronger in opposition to what happened. Is your point that if only we didn’t stop them from saying the N word, then…? By the way, nobody who is paying attention is fooled by dogwhistles, the fact that bad people use them when they aren’t allowed to control society is no great shock. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/247 "2022-05-21T16:29:28Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > None…we’re fucked now. > > Due to the political system in the US and how demographics work there is little chance left. > > They sailed under your radar and now it is probably too late. They have control and it will be near impossible to dislodge them. > > But at least you didn’t hear a word you did not like. So… things would have been better if we didnt make it socially unacceptable to say the N word… because people would still be saying the N word while supporting bad policies… instead of supporting bad policies while not saying the N word? Is your position that if we all agreed that the racists are allowed to say the N word then no one would elect a racist? ---
**Author:** ![paulmarkj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@paulmarkj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulmarkj)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/248 "2022-05-21T16:43:57Z")
I worked for 16 years (2004 to 2020) with children with special needs. I never once heard that word (nor retarded) used. The word idiot is used far too much. It is banned in some places (eg schools, professional conversations) because it is used as an insult. I cannot remember any time it was used to actually describe someone for a purpose other than to insult them. If somebody really does have special needs, why would you call them an idiot or imbecile? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/249 "2022-05-21T16:48:27Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Is your point that if only we didn’t stop them from saying the N word, then…? > [@Babale](#): > > So… things would have been better if we didnt make it socially unacceptable to say the N word… because people would still be saying the N word while supporting bad policies… instead of supporting bad policies while not saying the N word? Yeah. Did you read Lee Atwater’s quote? Do you think they stopped saying the n-word because it was a slur? Or, do you think they moved away from that language because it hurt them politically and instead they moved to dog whistles because that is what worked? ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/250 "2022-05-21T16:49:17Z")
> [@](#): > > It is very common for people in such communities in their late teens and 20s to use the word “autism” or “autistic” the way “retard” and “retarded” were used as a “commonly accepted pejorative” say, 25-30 years ago. This is likely to eventually make using the term autism “problematic” even for its intended use (which is also what happened with the word retarded.) I have seen “aspy” used as a slur on some Reddit threads. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/251 "2022-05-21T16:58:54Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Yeah. > > Did you read Lee Atwater’s quote? Do you think they stopped saying the n-word because it was a slur? Or, do you think they moved away from that language because it hurt them politically and instead they moved to dog whistles because that is what worked? His quote in no way supports your point, that’s what’s so confusing. Without the societal push away from the N word, the people voting for Lee Atwater’s candidates because they hate blacks would still be voting for Lee Atwater’s candidates. You’re essentially saying “if it was socially acceptable to say the N word, people would be so horrified that Lee Atwater said it that they’d back away from him and candidates he backs”. But that’s patently ridiculous. If it was socially acceptable to say the N word, no one would be mad at Lee Atwater for saying the N word. He’d continue pushing for biggoted policies while saying the N word and the people who back bigoted policies would be cool with it. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/252 "2022-05-21T17:02:34Z")
I would actually appreciate an answer for this question: > [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > In Ed’s [most recent guidance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-rule-against-hate-speech/964634), he said: > > > [@](#): > > > > **No slurs or racist cheap shots.** Do not post slurs or other cheap shots against minorities, including but not limited to groups characterized by race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or gender orientation. > > Does that include disability, as well? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/253 "2022-05-21T17:17:22Z")
Especially since there was never any law that said you couldn’t say the n-word. It was specifically the "social opprobrium " that is being touted as the solution that made the racists retreat into coded language. So, my understanding of the argument at this point is that, in order to keep the bigots from winning, not only should there be no official sanction against hate speech and slurs, but no social repercussions either. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/254 "2022-05-21T18:09:53Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > A reminder, if someone does use the word retard the posters are allowed to reply/comment in threads anywhere on the board that the word is offensive, punches down and demeans and belittles an entire class of marginalized and often abused people who did nothing to deserve it. And then what happens? We get this whole argument all over again, except in multiple threads in multiple forums? > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The eras of political correctness and banning bad words has got us here. > > Don’t think it worked out well. You appear to me to be claiming that the existence of obvious bigots is caused by the fact of people objecting to bigoted language, and that if nobody had objected to bigoted language then those people now acting as bigots wouldn’t have become bigoted, or at least would never have tried to act on it. That strikes me as being nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/255 "2022-05-21T18:18:14Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > And then what happens? > > We get this whole argument all over again, except in multiple threads in multiple forums? I don’t know the answer to this, but I can tell you what I **hope** the answer to this is. If the usage is flagged, and the moderator responding sees that the term is being used as a slur, then it is treated the way similar slurs are treated. Which I _think_ is a warning if it was the first time a person used that language, and more extreme measures (suspension of some length or indefinite) if there is a pattern. (I _think_ that is what happens, based on what I’ve observed, but I’m not a mod so I dunno.) I don’t think that a mod will just say, eh, don’t be rude. Or a request for civility with a minor note. Even in the Pit. This community and society at large have made it clear that usage is unacceptable bigotry, even if it’s considered not a big deal to an uninformed or uncaring minority. Nor is it an automatic instaban for using the word, because no words are like that, and there is always the need for moderator judgement and an evaluation of context, as it should be. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/256 "2022-05-21T18:24:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > If the usage is flagged, and the moderator responding sees that the term is being used as a slur, then it is treated the way similar slurs are treated. Which I _think_ is a warning if it was the first time a person used that language, and more extreme measures (suspension of some length or indefinite) if there is a pattern. If that is the answer, that’s fine with me. If. instead, we’re being told that the response will be left entirely to others arguing in the thread, without there being any involvement by the mods even if the post is flagged – or with involvement by the mods taking only the form of telling everybody to get back on topic – then I’m not happy about it. And I genuinely can’t tell which of those @What_Exit means. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/257 "2022-05-21T18:27:47Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Nor is it an automatic instaban for using the word, because no words are like that, and there is always the need for moderator judgement and an evaluation of context, as it should be. I’m even fine with the _first_ time being just a note. Not everyone is aware of the nature of words that they use. It is only when ignorance is no longer an excuse that I think that sanctions should escalate. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/258 "2022-05-21T18:31:57Z")
I don’t make policy, I don’t set policy. I do enforce it. So until the staff makes a decision on this, the only recourse in the rules is to pit the abuser of the word retard or as I described, call their post out in thread. I’m reminding people that they don’t have to bring it to the pit, _ **they are allowed to attack the post though not the poster in any forum** _. * * * Calling another poster a retard outside of the pit though will get a warning from me at least. That is within policy. That is attacking the poster which is always a judgement call for the mods and with the derogatory slur, I would have no issue with issuing a warning. Calling a politician or celebrity retarded on the other hand, would at most get a modnote at this time as far as I can tell. * * * I gave the clarification earlier as there has been some confusion about calling out posters for hateful stuff outside of the pit. We had that 100% clarify be Ed this week. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/259 "2022-05-21T18:32:25Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@chela](#): > > Are you sealioning me? Sealioning is a form of trolling. Please do not make accusations of trolling outside of the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/260 "2022-05-21T20:25:27Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > You appear to me to be claiming that the existence of obvious bigots is caused by the fact of people objecting to bigoted language, and that if nobody had objected to bigoted language then those people now acting as bigots wouldn’t have become bigoted, or at least would never have tried to act on it. It has to do with the politics. There is a reason Atwater and the republican party shifted gears on language to dog whistles. They had a hard time winning with outright bigoted language. So, they changed strategy, very deliberately (and it worked). Saying the “n-word” got black people to the polls. Saying “bussing” got white people to the polls. The OP wants to ban “bad words”. I am suggesting that doing so does not produce desired outcomes. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/261 "2022-05-21T20:42:44Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The OP wants to ban “bad words”. I am suggesting that doing so does not produce desired outcomes. When was the “n-word” banned from public use? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755.md?page=14)