# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2022, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/422 "2022-05-29T10:28:58Z")
What about “moron”? I’m assuming it falls under the same idea as “retard”? I’m much more likely to use that than the latter. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/423 "2022-05-29T11:24:12Z")
The consensus above seems to be “not the same.” Moron (and idiot) stopped being clinical terms in general use by about 1940 (WAG), while retard(ed) was such from then until about 1990 (another WAG), so “moron” doesn’t have the same kind of sting. It’s no longer (i.e., in living memory) associated with an actual group of individuals. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/424 "2022-06-01T19:33:17Z")
I think this recent warning is relevant to the thread: > [@Why "hand" for direction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hand-for-direction/965400/37): > > **Moderator Note** > > > [@Why "hand" for direction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hand-for-direction/965400/9): > > > > No, he wasn’t illiterate, he was retarded. > > Note that while the word “retarded” was once a perfectly acceptable medical term, these days the word is considered to be both outdated and offensive. Please avoid using it here on the SDMB. > > ETA: > > **Moderator Warning** > > After review, we have determined that an official warning for personal insults is also necessary. Do not insult or attack other users outside of the Pit. > > Also, many of your posts in this thread are hostile to users who are merely responding to your questions. This behavior is also inappropriate outside of the Pit. ~Max ---
**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:** [June 1, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/425 "2022-06-01T21:56:39Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I think this recent warning is relevant to the thread: Thank you for that information Max. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/426 "2022-06-01T22:46:50Z")
Good to know. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/427 "2022-06-01T22:47:25Z")
Don’t thank me, thank the mods. ~Max ---
**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:** [June 1, 2022, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/428 "2022-06-01T23:30:43Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I think this recent warning is relevant to the thread: Perhaps @engineer_comp_geek could confirm something. There was general consensus here that insta-Warnings were not warranted for a first inappropriate use of “retard”, and I just wanted to point out that (I think) this is not what we’re seeing here. Here’s the full text of the post in question: > [@Why "hand" for direction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hand-for-direction/965400/9): > > Really? You’re a full grown adult and you don’t know left from right without saying “hand”? And that nonsense story about an army recruit who didn’t know right from left? No, he wasn’t illiterate, he was retarded. The term “retard” was not directed at @CairoCarol, but the first part of the post was. So I think what we’re seeing is a Note about first inappropriate use of “retard”, and the upgrade to Warning is for the first couple of sentences as an insult toward another poster. All of which looks like good moderation to me, that poster was really rude in that thread. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/429 "2022-06-01T23:33:18Z")
That was my read of it. Note for the use of “retard” as a derogatory term for an off-board member, warning for the personal attack (implying that a member is somehow deficient as an adult because she thinks of left and right in terms of hands). ~Max ---
**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:** [June 1, 2022, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/430 "2022-06-01T23:35:42Z")
Clarification: The mod note was for use of the word “retarded”. The warning was for insults and hostility in the post that was quoted as well as hostility towards other users throughout the entire thread. The warning was not for the use of the word “retarded”. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2022, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/431 "2022-06-02T00:27:10Z")
Thank you for the very clear explanation. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.E](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.e/32/8932_2.png) [@Mr.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.E)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/432 "2022-06-02T01:15:47Z")
That whole thread is wild. The OP asks a factual question, but then very quickly makes it clear that their real intent is to grind their axe over an english pet peeve. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755/433 "2022-06-02T01:47:01Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Clarification: > > The mod note was for use of the word “retarded”. > > The warning was for insults and hostility in the post that was quoted as well as hostility towards other users throughout the entire thread. The warning was not for the use of the word “retarded”. Thanks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-rid-of-retard-next/964755.md?page=21)