# Is the word imbeciles prohibited? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 23, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961 "2023-10-23T16:07:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961/61 "2023-10-24T12:23:10Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Eh, when people say it’s tough to keep up, it usually means they don’t care enough to try Or that they live and work in a “behind the times” area. When my son was in third grade he heard me use the word “retard”. He explained to me why it was a bad word and that he knew kids who I was offending. I did some research and found that he was correct and changed my ways. Before he corrected my ignorance I had no idea!! ---
**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:** [October 24, 2023, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961/62 "2023-10-24T12:26:33Z")
@Karen_Lingel: Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961/63 "2023-11-07T17:55:49Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Feel free to nudge us tomorrow. A belated nudge. What was the consensus on this? ---
**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:** [November 7, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961/64 "2023-11-07T18:10:41Z")
**Word is not banned of course.** It will not draw a modnote or warning if used to describe someone like a politician or the like, but where it moves into insulting those with mental disabilities, expect a modnote or warning. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961/65 "2023-11-07T20:35:21Z")
And if you want more detail, @Left_Hand_of_Dorkness was spot on in this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961/66 "2023-11-07T21:04:50Z")
That imbecile finally got something right. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961/67 "2023-11-07T22:03:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > got something right ISWYDT\* \*It’s sinister what you did there [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-imbeciles-prohibited/991961.md?page=3)