Well, like I said, if it helps you, go right ahead. But if I may ask you a question to better understand where you’re coming from: Leaving aside the quibble that sometimes people use “race” and “sub-populations” interchangeably, when we look at say, Blacks, Asians, and Whites, is it your opinion that the differences which are part and parcel to each race are restricted to physical characteristics, e.g., skin color, eye, shape, hair texture, etc.? Or do you allow that the differences might go beyond the physical?
Also, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d be interested in getting to your response to my post here.
orcenio, no offense, but could you pick a different word instead of “retard” or derivatives thereof? Jerk, asshole, dickwipe, scrote, goat felcher, etc probably all convey the right tone without causing offense/being a hateful bigoted word to those with special needs.
And yes I am being serious. Thanks for your cooperation.
Oh for fuck’s sake, there’s nothing bigoted about the word “retard” and the new offenderati movement to take exception to it is surprisingly lame (oops, no offense meant to people with physical disabilities). Any word or phrase that is used to mean “people with brains that are sub-standard in function” will have the same pejorative connotation. Even if we switch to “special needs” instead of “retard”, people will just say “stop being so special needs, loser.”
That being said I haven’t read the race threads in GD because they bore me.
Also, they’re retarded.
Using “retard” as an insult or punchline should be beneath us. It makes a mockery of people in our society who are often the least prepared to defend against such remarks.
Sorry, no: “unintelligent” will always mean “unintelligent” and will always be pejorative despite atomic strength hand wringing. If someone is remarkably stupid due to poor brain function, whatever word for that will be used as an insult. All of the ‘clinical’ terms we’ve used have become insults. Moron, idiot, mentally retarded, etc…
When retarded people are no longer retarded, then the word retard won’t be used as an insult. Ah well, eh?
How about if he’d said something like “Your mental function is distinctly sub-par and you should be placed in a home specializing in the care of people who cannot function in society.”? That’s saying the same thing, but it doesn’t use any of the recognized ‘trigger words’ people get annoyed over.
So that brings up another point: We’ve decided, it seems, to allow people to object to words on a given list. Nobody has an actual copy of said list, but most people seem to know a large enough number of the words on it that it can be said to exist in a somewhat Platonic, or idealized, form. Does this work in the other direction? Is it not allowed for people to object to words not on the list?
Or is it more along the lines of “You cannot express certain thoughts.”? Because that isn’t very well-supported by the rest of the evidence about how this place is run.
So, which do you want: A list of disallowed words, or a list of disallowed ideas?
Don’t take it personal then. He doesn’t know your kid and he’s not addressing his comment to your child either.
If you have said child sat on your lap as you read this aloud, while highlighting the offensive word and pointing at your child, then it’s you who has the problem.
Agree completely. My brother Bill is mentally retarded, and he can’t walk down the street when the local High School lets out, because of the abuse he gets. He has been physically struck by people who thought it was funny to “bait the retard.” There are people who have had absolutely no problem calling him a “fucking retard” to his face.
Then the tired shit about how, “well, retards ARE stupid” gets trotted out. Aside from the fact that I know retarded people who have very good common sense, ths reaction misses the point: using a group of people as a reference point for expressing contempt marginalizes them, as it always does, and makes it easier for people to think of them, and treat them, as sub-human. And they do. Decent people recognize this and avoid such language, or feel bad when it’s pointed out at least. The mentally retarded are most in need of our protection, not derision; this is not some “searching for offense” PC nonsense. People treat the mentally retarded like they’re fucking aliens or something. They don’t know what to make of them. Cause after all, they’re retards.
Sorry for the hijack, but this is hurtful language. Using a group of people as a frame of reference for expressing contempt is, by definition. Given the sentiments orcenio is conveying, I have hope that he might see this. I know from prior experience that most people who disagree with this will continue to do so, because the compulsion to use such a cool, expressive word is so irresistible apparently.
Retard, used as a slang noun as it is here, is a term of derision. Look it up. Feel free to use the word in every other form to your heart’s content. I forgot this standard response. “Retard has other meanings, you know.” No shit. So what?
Yes, but it’s not a term of derision aimed at people who have got children with disabilities. If nobody mentioned it, I wouldn’t have a fucking clue who those people might be.
Permit me to be the one to inform you that “retard” uses the mentally retarded as a frame of reference, and that the mentally retarded are, in fact, people (children, brothers, etc.). People who exist in this world.
Since you didn’t know this, you are hereby excused for having used the word in that manner previously.
Retard has been a word for a lot longer than than the idea of mental retardation has been around. What other words can’t we use because they might be associated with another person’s child?
