# Let's ban use of the word "retarded" as an insult here. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 15, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421 "2004-10-15T18:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [October 15, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/21 "2004-10-15T18:44:04Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Nope, sorrry, I lwant to retain “retarded” as a slur on my opponents in the Pit. Beisdes, the advocates for the retarded aren’t using the word anymore (they [prefer “mentally challenged”). Not true. I work with people with mental disabilities. MR is still a valid diagnosis and that terminology is still used in the field. the problem is that people who aren’t in the field tend to apply the word “retarded” to people who have other disabilities (such as autism) but not MR. It’s also an obviously abused term which is used hurtfully against people with mental disabilities. An ironic point about this is that a lot of people who actually have physical and mental disabilities are the ones who despise the euphemisms the most. Schizophrenics have no problem calling themselves “crazy,” paraplegics acll themselves “cripples” and (in cases of mild disgnoses) MR people will often call themselves “retards.” In fairness I should point out that this is a case of a certain subculture using words among themselves that they don’t necessarily want to hear from people who don’t have disabilities, but I do know that they hate obsequious terms like “differently abled” or even worse, “handi-capable.” They don’t want people to pretend they aren’t handicapped they just don’t want that held against them or to be discriminated against because of it. As to the issue of calling non-MR people “retarded,” I haven’t noticed that real MR people care very much. Of course, I haven’t observed the issue come up very often. The only instances I can remember observing have been when MR clients were watching something on television. I can specifically remember some clients watching _Rainman_ which contains a scene where Tom Cruise tells Dustin Hoffman to “quit acting like a retard.” They laughed. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/22 "2004-10-15T18:44:40Z")
Let’s change the spelling to “wreaturdid”. That’ll make it all better. See, because that way we won’t _really_ be belittling retarded people. And anybody that doesn’t agree with me is really ghey. Folks, the point is not that we shouldn’t belittle our fellow posters, it’s that retarded is a perfectly good descriptive word that shouldn’t be a perjorative _at all_. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/23 "2004-10-15T18:45:35Z")
Weh. And I have family members who are mentally ill, but I don’t begrudge people the use of “crazy”, or “schizoid” as an insult. There are tons of belittling terms for countless conditions/features/cultures/peoples, and if we run around homogenizing and sanitizing everything we say, we’ll be worse for the wear for it. Pit the person using the term, insult the person using the term, let them know your feelings on the use of the term, or ignore the post/poster who uses the term, but do not, EVER, ask for blanket bannings of words because of some petty bullshit about your personal feelings. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/24 "2004-10-15T18:47:57Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Is seems to me very authoritarian to ban words from being used, for any reason. > In fact, are any words currently banned on the SDMB? Sure. From the Registration Agreement: > [@](#): > > You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use the SDMB to post any material that is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, threatening, invasive of a person’s privacy, or violative of U.S. law. I’m just trying to get this word added to those known to be inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, and harassing. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/25 "2004-10-15T18:51:44Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > On a board devoted to fighting ignorance, there’s no place for language as ignorant as this. > > Agreed? Agreed. However, I don’t believe anything will change. I will continue to think that people who use that term, as well as those who insist on using the terms fag, nigger, cunt, cocksucker, or a myriad of others, as being woefully ignorant and unoriginal. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/26 "2004-10-15T18:53:12Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I’m just trying to get this word added to those known to be inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, and harassing. Let’s add to this list then: -Kerry-ites -Bush-ites -Liberal -Looney Left -Retarded right(ooh, there’s that hateful word again!) -Black -White -Everything in between -Dumb -Dumbfuck -Asshole -Ignorant bottom-feeding republican with his head in the sand Moto, these are all vulgar, hateful, and abusive to someone at some time in some place in a certain situation. No two ways about it. The pit should be De-commed if people like you are going to scour our language use here. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/27 "2004-10-15T18:53:36Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Agreed? Hell no. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/28 "2004-10-15T18:54:58Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Besides, it isn’t like the retarded will be bothered because they can’t read. Fuck you. Seriously, go fuck yourself up your own ass. You want tolerance, you want equal rights, you get on here and preach it every day, but you’ll say something like that. I don’t think people like you will ever realize how much those kinds of comments hurt those of us who have a special needs person in our life. So again, fuck you. Ftr, I don’t think it should be a bannable offense, but I’m surprised that anyone who is callous enough to use it as an insult thinks they are actually contributing to the fight against ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/29 "2004-10-15T18:57:19Z")
P.S.- I thought Democrats like me were supposed to be all in support of authoritarian pro politically correct crap like this. The thought of turning this roiling boil down to the consistency of milk fat is a total turnoff. P.P.S.- I will admit to having used the term “Retarded Right” once before today. It was in response to something Weird Dave said regarding the “looney left”. I apologize for slighting your entire family, Moto. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/30 "2004-10-15T19:10:30Z")
My daughter is mentally retarded. And I absolutely do not want the word “retarded” banned as an insult. I think I understand **Mr. Moto** ’s squeamishness, but if one word is banned, then somebody else will come along and piss and moan that they or their family members are insulted by some other word. When I see people using “retard” or “retarded” as an insult, then I know that 1) the person levelling the insult is pretty fucking ignorant and 2) said person doesn’t know anyone who is MR. Besides, if someone thinks that “retard” is an insult when “Cousin Fuckin’ Hillbilly” is available, then they’re an ignorant piece of shit. And **gobear**? Inre your attempt at humor? I side with **Indygrrl**. You ignorant piece of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/31 "2004-10-15T19:14:01Z")
As a business owner of a day program for developmentally disabled adults, I purposely refrain from the use of the word “retard(ed)” in everyday life because the people I work for/with are (to me) more humane than some of the ignorant people (here on SD, and at my hometown) who label them as such or as a butt of a joke…the insult is offensive, but a lame insult for those intended posters. I’m not quick to ask for a ban on other posters’ use of the word though. I see it as a word that separates bigots from respectful people. When I see it here on the SDMB, I just think that the offending poster is just not too creative, and is just a lame shill, grasping at words. As a sidenote, I’m still baffled why a program in another county that started back in 1959, still calls itself [Foundation for the Retarded of the Desert.](http://www.desertarc.org/) Maybe name recognition is extremely important to this program, since it’s a non-profit corporation that relies heavily on charities. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/32 "2004-10-15T19:14:08Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Fuck you. Seriously, go fuck yourself up your own ass. > > You want tolerance, you want equal rights, you get on here and preach it every day, but you’ll say something like that. Dude, I’m pretty sure gobear was joking. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/33 "2004-10-15T19:16:27Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Fuck you. Seriously, go fuck yourself up your own ass. > > You want tolerance, you want equal rights, you get on here and preach it every day, but you’ll say something like that. > > I don’t think people like you will ever realize how much those kinds of comments hurt those of us who have a special needs person in our life. > > So again, fuck you. > > Ftr, I don’t think it should be a bannable offense, but I’m surprised that anyone who is callous enough to use it as an insult thinks they are actually contributing to the fight against ignorance. Please, it’s a freakin’ joke, so grow a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/34 "2004-10-15T19:17:28Z")
I can understand your point, **Waste**. But the fact is that we’re already banning words here. Using hate speech to refer to another poster is forbidden. Using it in a general way is closely watched by the mods. I really don’t see how this should be treated differently. We don’t have full free speech rights here. Those rights belong to the _Reader_. If there is cause, our posts can be deleted and our privileges pulled. If you want to throw these terms around, you shouldn’t do it here. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/35 "2004-10-15T19:17:30Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > Dude, I’m pretty sure gobear was joking. I’d give him the benefit of the doubt. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/36 "2004-10-15T19:20:13Z")
I speak for all of us, my brothers and sisters who fuck, when I call for a ban on the use of the term “fucker,” and all its many forms. We fuckers are tired of being looked down upon and referenced with derision as a metaphor for all sorts of miscreants and misdeeds. Fuckers of the world, unite! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/37 "2004-10-15T19:22:31Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Bush is a a retard. I just prefer to say that Bush is _special_. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/38 "2004-10-15T19:22:56Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > If you want to throw these terms around, you shouldn’t do it here. Then the pit ought not be here. Hate speech-“I’m gonna kill you and all other \_\_\_'s like you”, is so wholly different than “Bush is a retard”. If you don’t see the difference, then you’re clouded by your emotional reaction to a word. Or, you’re full of shit and just needed some attention. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/39 "2004-10-15T19:24:12Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Please, it’s a freakin’ joke, so grow a sense of humor. I have one, but I guess I’m not to the point where I can laugh about this. It hits a little close to home for me and I am not ashamed to admit that I’m sensitive about it. I’ll try to remember how much you like jokes when the next gay rights thread comes along. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [October 15, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421/40 "2004-10-15T19:33:25Z")
What about “fucktard?” I have a little brother who is fucktarded. He is very special to me. It is very hurtful to see him being demeaned by the insensitive and abusive use of the word “fucktard.” There are millions of fucktarded Americans in this country and many of them read this very board every day. Some of them even have jobs. Some people may not be aware of this, but the President of the United States is severely fucktarded. Please think before you post. Remember, a fucktard might be reading. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-use-of-the-word-retarded-as-an-insult-here/269421.md?page=3)