# I Pit people who use the word "retarded" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 2, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091 "2011-01-02T00:02:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/61 "2011-01-03T04:53:25Z")
I work in special education, and the term in vogue nowadays is “intellectual disability.” However, “mentally retarded” is still widely used as an official classification. My take on it: “retarded” will continue to be used as an insult as long as people perceive being mentally retarded as something bad. And people will always perceive mental retardation as bad. It’s not useful to get upset about what insults people use, you’ll only end up on the euphemism treadmill. Soon enough, people will be saying, “What are you, intellectually disabled?” ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/62 "2011-01-03T06:11:47Z")
I’ve only skimmed this thread, but let me expand upon what I said in the Dick Clark thread. I’m disabled, and I absolutely, 100% think you do yourself no favours with this attitude, painting yourself as an oversensitive ninny with too much time on your hands. Furthermore, by talking about the opinions of “MANY in the disabled community”, you attempt to intimidate those who disagree into silence while speaking for those of us who want no part in your linguistic fascism. The result of every instance of this hysterical insistence on only _approved_ words being used in _approved_ contexts (never mind the speaker’s intent) is that people feel they have to play a game of Russian Roulette whenever they speak to someone in a wheelchair. This is only exacerbated by the fact that every one of the word police seems to have their own idea about which words are kosher. You know how sometimes people seem hyper-aware of their language when talking to a disabled person? “Am I being sensitive but not condescending? What if I cause offence? Oh God, Johnnie, don’t stare at the poor man!” etc., etc. It’s because of this word roulette bullshit that nice, good-hearted, well-meaning people feel so on edge when conversing with the disabled. This is why people in wheelchairs are regarded as different and alien and existing in a whole other sphere–because hypersensitive fuckheads would rather berate people about well-intentioned word usage, reinforcing the idea that the disabled should be tip-toed around rather than treated like anyone else. **etv78** , you and your ilk are doing nothing but a disservice to those of us who are just going about our day-to-day lives trying to be a regular part of society. If you want to spaz-out like some fucking mongoloid cripple, knock yourself out, but don’t drag the rest of us into it just to support one of your retarded “berserk buttons”, you imbecile. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/63 "2011-01-03T06:23:05Z")
MR is still a valid medical term still in current use (not all intellectual disabilities are caused by MR, by the way, so those words are not interchangable). It’s not offensive or insulting if used accurately, and it was used accurately, not disparagingly, in the Dick Clark thread. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/64 "2011-01-03T07:40:43Z")
Meh. There is always going to be some politically correct term for people a couple standard deviations below average intelligence. This term will be used in educational settings to refer to the darling little morons because the precious little imbeciles need extra attention from the teachers, if not dedicated classes just for idiots. And, kids being kids, the average intelligence precious little snowflakes will use that nice politically correct term for cretins to insult their compatriots. This derogatory vernacular usage of the term will eventually become more prominent than the clinical usage, and there will be two reactions - those who howl against the wind like the OP trying to retard the derogatory usage, and those who come up with some new, non-derogatory clinical PC term for people who are exceptionally stupid. It’s the Circle of Life. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/65 "2011-01-03T07:51:54Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > I’m disabled, and I absolutely, 100% think you do yourself no favours with this attitude, painting yourself as an oversensitive ninny with too much time on your hands. Furthermore, by talking about the opinions of “MANY in the disabled community”, you attempt to intimidate those who disagree into silence while speaking for those of us who want no part in your linguistic fascism. > > … > If you want to spaz-out like some fucking mongoloid cripple, knock yourself out, but don’t drag the rest of us into it just to support one of your retarded “berserk buttons”, you imbecile. I give it a 10. And this goes for pretty much everything in life. Being ultra sensitive seems like a profoundly pointless way to invest one’s energy, and only good can come from relaxing, being open, being willing to acknowledge the obvious. It seems so much more alienating for people to be obsessively concerned about not saying the wrong thing than for people to be inclusive and okay with the risk of saying something that might be perceived as insensitive. On Oprah’s new show looking for someone to have their own show, one of the “contestants” is a super-cute young guy with cerebral palsy who wants to do a travel show about dealing with the problems that come up when you travel, “you” being everyone, not just the disabled. And I LOVE him… oprah’s exchange with him went something like this (he’s in a wheelchair and has slightly impaired speech) > [@](#): > > Oprah: So I hear you want to make cerebral palsy sexy? > > CGIW (Cute Guy in Wheelchair): Well, I’ve always thought of cerebral as the sexiest of all the palsies… (much laughter) > > Oprah: Do you think you’ll have enough energy and stamina to do a travel show? > > CGIW: I spend my wholeday sitting in a chair, I think I’ll have plenty of stamina. > Oprah: So you want to talk about the problems that come with travel: > > CGIW: Yes. It’s a fact that something will always go wrong when you travel, and it’s all about the attitude you have dealing with it. Since I know things are going to go wrong I just look forward to losing my luggage and being dragged around in a wagon. He’s adorable. I want him to win. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/66 "2011-01-03T07:58:15Z")
Cool, I found his [audition](http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=5615&promo_id=1) and I he’s already got a huge following it seems. He’s very clever and cute and he would go a LONG way to getting people to chill the fuck out about disabilities. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/67 "2011-01-03T08:57:58Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Cool, I found his [audition](http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=5615&promo_id=1) and I he’s already got a huge following it seems. He’s very clever and cute and he would go a LONG way to getting people to chill the fuck out about disabilities. He is great. He needs a show, any show. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/68 "2011-01-03T09:08:39Z")
Calling developmentally delayed people morons, which is an old medical term: offensive. Calling someone with normal intelligence a moron: not offensive. Same with idiot. What makes retarded different or special? ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/69 "2011-01-03T09:22:20Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Cool, I found his [audition](http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=5615&promo_id=1) and I he’s already got a huge following it seems. He’s very clever and cute and he would go a LONG way to getting people to chill the fuck out about disabilities. > [@needscoffee](#): > > He is great. He needs a show, any show. Seen [Josh Blue](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbMg1dLYqg8&feature=related)? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/70 "2011-01-03T10:08:02Z")
I can’t fucking wait to read the OP’s response to **Lobot**. Please God, let there be a response. ---
**Author:** ![iamnotbatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@iamnotbatman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamnotbatman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/71 "2011-01-03T10:16:12Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I can’t fucking wait to read the OP’s response to **Lobot**. Please God, let there be a response. And if there are any mentally retard dopers out there, I encourage them to chime in too. ( **Dio** , this is your moment) ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/72 "2011-01-03T11:11:42Z")
**Lobot** wins the thread by a country mile! May condescension always be met by such a hearty fuck you! ---
**Author:** ![ecco477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b2d939/32.png) [@ecco477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecco477)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/73 "2011-01-03T11:30:26Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I posted a thread about my sadness at seeing Dick Clark’s failing health. After we got back on track after being derailed by a discussion disabled people’s right to be in public, someone said Dick looked “retarded”, causing another diversion of the thread. I’m being painted as hypersensitive for being offended by the word’s use. IMO, the word is no different than “cripple”, “faggot”, or “nigger”. I would like to personally apologize for using this words sarcastically for many years…my sister is also very offended when people use the word “retarded.” Being a Bostonian([http://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-not-rude-Im-just-from-Massachusetts/10150104328520650](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-not-rude-Im-just-from-Massachusetts/10150104328520650)) we are literally “taught” to use these words as adjectives. This is not a justification. It’s a norm. Especially in the city. I guess I’m writing to let you know people aren’t being rude to you or to disabled people. My theory…right and wrong are defined by the circles you travel in… Obviously we didn’t travel in your circle. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![ecco477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b2d939/32.png) [@ecco477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecco477)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/74 "2011-01-03T11:42:37Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > And what term would be satisfactory? Dick Clark sounds mentally challenged? Dick Clark sounds special? Dick Clark sounds developmentally delayed?\*\* Okay…now that’s funny\*\*– > > Whatever word or words used to denote someone with severely stunted intelligence is an insult because no one wants to be retarded/delayed/special. No matter how many times we replace the word. You can start calling retarded people “Golden sparkly geniuses” and in no time at all it will be used as an insult. There’s nothing you or any other Language Police (I’m looking at you, **Fish** ) can do about it. \*\*LOLOL…and what if I DO want to be retarded/delayed/special? I have Asperger’s, which makes me uniquely qualified to say…this is funny s#%t! 😉 \*\* I’m sure I’ll be called “inappropriate” but what else is new? I have that right…I’m special! But am I… **A Golden Sparkly Genius?** ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/75 "2011-01-03T11:45:10Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > And again, that has nothing to do with this thread, because the usage of “retarded” that set off the OP was not an insult. Whether or not the OP was a non sequitur, this thread quickly (and predictably) transformed into the standard defense (and use) of any form of the word a given poster prefers. Not sure how you can read this thread, and all the oh-so-clever insults, and repeat this comment. Lobot, people already treat the mentally retarded as sub-human. If you think reacting to a usage that uses that group of people as a frame of reference for contempt doesn’t contribute to that, you’re misguided. My brother has people call him a retard to his face. He just needs to get over it, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/76 "2011-01-03T11:59:02Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Whether or not the OP was a non sequitur, this thread quickly (and predictably) transformed into the standard defense (and use) of any form of the word a given poster prefers. Not sure how you can read this thread, and all the oh-so-clever insults, and repeat this comment. > > Lobot, people already treat the mentally retarded as sub-human. If you think reacting to a usage that uses that group of people as a frame of reference for contempt doesn’t contribute to that, you’re misguided. My brother has people call him a retard to his face. He just needs to get over it, I guess. His beef should be with the people insulting him with it, not the word. If someone calls him an asshole you’re not going to post in a pit thread declaring that the word “asshole” is now off-limits. ---
**Author:** ![ecco477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b2d939/32.png) [@ecco477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecco477)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/77 "2011-01-03T12:07:11Z")
> [@iamnotbatman](#): > > And if there are any mentally retard dopers out there, I encourage them to chime in too. ( **Dio** , this is your moment) I know you may not have respect for what you consider “stupid” people’s opinions, but the rules on this board pretty much require that you do. I know it’s difficult, but try. Because people with disabilities are “lacking” in the normalsies of life, we tend to rely a great deal on instincts to judge situations. If our instincts tell us that you are just being cruel or disrespectful, we will know–and take issue. I’m all for sarcastic banter, but the condescension is ridiculous. **Don’t you know that being condescending reveals the stunted thinking and emotional insecurities of you?** High functioning Narcissists, bi-polars, borderline’s, all notorious for their condescending personalities due to the emotionally crippling nature of their disabilities. Are you one of these? If so, then I guess that makes you “special” too! 😃 Even if you don’t know it…(kiss noise) The above is just plain disrespectful. Nothing more…nothing less. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/78 "2011-01-03T12:46:15Z")
Given that “berserk” means frenzied or crazy, why would you use such a derogatory term for the mentally ill to describe your own inability to control yourself? To be serious, though, I find the concept of a “berserk button” fascinating. If you recognize that you have a “berserk button,” which to me suggests that there is something someone else can do that will make you completely lose control of yourself, then the thing to do is to work on improving your ability to control yourself. It’s no strength to give others the ability to make you freak out. Going around to each individual to whom you’ve given such power in order to ask them not to ever use it is not likely going to be a successful strategy. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/79 "2011-01-03T14:57:20Z")
Man, there are some hateful fucks on this board. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091/80 "2011-01-03T16:15:59Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > I’ve only skimmed this thread, but let me expand upon what I said in the Dick Clark thread. > > I’m disabled, and I absolutely, 100% think you do yourself no favours with this attitude, painting yourself as an oversensitive ninny with too much time on your hands. Furthermore, by talking about the opinions of “MANY in the disabled community”, you attempt to intimidate those who disagree into silence while speaking for those of us who want no part in your linguistic fascism. > > The result of every instance of this hysterical insistence on only _approved_ words being used in _approved_ contexts (never mind the speaker’s intent) is that people feel they have to play a game of Russian Roulette whenever they speak to someone in a wheelchair. This is only exacerbated by the fact that every one of the word police seems to have their own idea about which words are kosher. > > You know how sometimes people seem hyper-aware of their language when talking to a disabled person? “Am I being sensitive but not condescending? What if I cause offence? Oh God, Johnnie, don’t stare at the poor man!” etc., etc. It’s because of this word roulette bullshit that nice, good-hearted, well-meaning people feel so on edge when conversing with the disabled. > > This is why people in wheelchairs are regarded as different and alien and existing in a whole other sphere–because hypersensitive fuckheads would rather berate people about well-intentioned word usage, reinforcing the idea that the disabled should be tip-toed around rather than treated like anyone else. > > **etv78** , you and your ilk are doing nothing but a disservice to those of us who are just going about our day-to-day lives trying to be a regular part of society. > > If you want to spaz-out like some fucking mongoloid cripple, knock yourself out, but don’t drag the rest of us into it just to support one of your retarded “berserk buttons”, you imbecile. I think Lobot is my hero. I’m paraplegic, so yes I am crippled, I am a cripple, I am disabled, I have a disability, I am handicapped, I have a handicap. Take your pick. A rose by any other name… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-use-the-word-retarded/566091.md?page=5)