# Use of the word "Retarded" **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 4, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680 "2010-02-04T16:05:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/1 "2010-02-04T16:05:44Z")
I believe this has been discussed around here before as a hijack to other threads but not sure it has been faced head-on. This comes to my mind as I was reading the following article about Rahm Emanuel using the word “retarded”. > [@](#): > > Emanuel is reported to have told several liberal groups their idea was “f—ing retarded,” during a political strategy meeting in August. > > The groups wanted to air attack ads against Democratic lawmakers who were unsupportive of President Obama’s health care reform initiative, which was already facing tough opposition from town hall protesters and Republicans. > > \ > > Newly minted Fox News contributor Sarah Palin quickly responded via Facebook on Monday, calling upon the president to dismiss Emanuel as chief of staff for his “slur on all God’s children with cognitive and development disabilities – and the people who love them.” Palin’s son Trig was born with Down syndrome. > > SOURCE: [News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines - AOL.com](http://www.aolnews.com/politics/article/rahm-emanuels-fiasco-continues-despite-multiple-apologies/19344132?icid=main%7Caim%7Cdl1%7Clink3%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Farticle%2Frahm-emanuels-fiasco-continues-despite-multiple-apologies%2F19344132) At issue is some group deciding a normal, dictionary word is pejorative and objecting to its use. Personally I think context is everything and to be sure a normal word can be used to demean a specific group while being fine in other contexts. Further, often a word is used normally, acquires a pejorative connotation so people shift to a more acceptable phrase which itself later becomes pejorative. After all a word is used to describe a group with unfavorable characteristics. When someone wants to demean someone else they apply that term to them to suggest they share those same characteristics. Whatever the word(s) used people will do this. In Emanuel’s case above (and note I am not interested in his politics here) he was using the word “retarded” to refer to a specific idea and not a group. That a certain class of people have had the term applied to them does not strip the word of its usefulness in other contexts. I find Palin’s objection absurd in this case (and while I have an extreme dislike of Palin I am no fan of Emanuel either and in this case the names could be Smith and Jones and I would say the same thing). Granted as a politician Emanuel probably needs to govern his tongue more closely and be careful of what he says. Such is the nature of politics. In this case though if anyone has a right to be upset it is the groups whose idea he called retarded and not the mother of a mentally handicapped child which Emanuel was in no way referring to. If a group of developmentally disabled people (or differently abled or whatever is proper these days) prefer those terms rather than “retarded” to reference them fine. I can do that. However, I am not sure it is ok for them to say any use of the term, in any context, is inappropriate. Because a group has a problem with a word should we remove it from our lexicon? I do not think so but that is my opinion. Curious about yours. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/2 "2010-02-04T16:50:36Z")
She seized what she saw as an opportunity to attack Rahm and score points with her base of ultra conservatives. It has no basis in fact. He was not talking about her kid or anybody else’s kid. I don’t think any one on this board could defend her stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/3 "2010-02-04T16:57:19Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > She seized what she saw as an opportunity to attack Rahm and score points with her base of ultra conservatives. It has no basis in fact. He was not talking about her kid or anybody else’s kid. I don’t think any one on this board could defend her stretch. Well, I posted this because if you read the linked article this apparently remains an ongoing issue and it is not just Palin. Also (from link in OP): > [@](#): > > Besides hosting the pre-eminent international competition for athletes with disabilities, the Special Olympics last year launched a public-awareness campaign to discourage use of the word “retarded,” which the organization calls the “R-word,” citing its frequent pejorative connotation and discriminatory context. > > \ > > One big problem with Emanuel’s mea culpa quickly arose, though: It wasn’t accepted, at least not at first. According to a spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, the White House’s initial statement that it was accepted was “inaccurate.” ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/4 "2010-02-04T16:58:48Z")
can that retarded bitch and her retarded ideas go away and leave us alone already? (edit: sorry. i meant to say “retarded woman”. didn’t mean to offend :D) yes, i’m insensitive and highly inappropriate at times. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/5 "2010-02-04T17:04:36Z")
The DSM IV contains the diagnosis of Mental Retardation. Services are still provided under the terms MH/MR for mental health or mental retardation. So, it is not correct to say that their use has no place whatsoever. If one were to diagnose someone as having an IQ under 70, what term should one use to describe them? Part of the problem is that mental retardation is defined by IQ. It is also, as I believe anyone would agree, undesirable to have a low IQ. Nobody wants to have a low IQ and nobody is happy to see others with markedly low IQs. People in Mensa seem to be very proud to have high IQs, but I don’t think they are happy that people have to experience the other end of the spectrum. So, getting upset at the term “retarded”, while I understand because of the pain involved, is problematic. I also wonder why people do not similarly get upset at the use of the terms “stupid” or “moronic” or “imbecile”, since they connote the same thing. In the end, whatever term were to replace retarded would mean the same, and would evoke feelings of pain from those affected when used as an epithet towards someone else. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/6 "2010-02-04T17:29:48Z")
I don’t have any problems with using that word. I fully realize it’s because society hasn’t made it as bad as the N-word. So until that happens, I’ll say retarded and not “N” because it just doesn’t feel as bad. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/7 "2010-02-04T17:33:04Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I don’t think any one on this board could defend her stretch. And anyone who tries would be totally D’abled. A real Cogno. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/8 "2010-02-04T17:36:38Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > She seized what she saw as an opportunity to attack Rahm and score points with her base of ultra conservatives. > [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > can that retarded bitch and her retarded ideas go away and leave us alone already? It seems to me the OP wants to discuss the language issue here, not the politics of the people involved in this spat. [So please keep these comments in the Pit thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12077073) ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/9 "2010-02-04T18:03:23Z")
Anyone using “retarded” outside of a medical diagnosis is being insensitive and insulting, though possibly not intentionally. In the 70s/80s the term became Mentally Handicapped. Handicap, however, has now been replaced as well with the term “disabled” or “disability.” In addition, there is a strong push for “People First” language as well where we do not define someone by their disability. > **[People-first language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People-first_language)** > > People-first language (PFL), also called person-first language, is a type of linguistic prescription which puts a person before a diagnosis, describing what condition a person "has" rather than asserting what a person "is". It is intended to avoid marginalization or dehumanization (either consciously or subconsciously) when discussing people with a chronic illness or disability. It can be seen as a type of disability etiquette but person-first language can also be more generally applied to any Pe... [http://www.parentsunitedtogether.com/DisabilityEtiquette.html](http://www.parentsunitedtogether.com/DisabilityEtiquette.html) For a feel of what someone thinks about the term “retard,” there is this: [http://www.parentsunitedtogether.com/MothersView.html](http://www.parentsunitedtogether.com/MothersView.html) ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/10 "2010-02-04T18:11:47Z")
Anecdotal story. In High School in class, a student said something was “retarded” (ie, dumb). He didn’t know the teacher had a mentally handicapped/retarded child and she lectured the kid about how insensitive using that word was and how it made her feel (not good). ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/11 "2010-02-04T18:21:14Z")
“Retarded” doesn’t mean “disabled person”, though. “Retarded” means delayed/slowed down. A disabled person may be “mentally retarded”, but many things can be retarded without any reference to disabled people. In this context, of course, I’m sure he meant it in the context of disabled people. ---
**Author:** ![A.Selene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ec8ea/32.png) [@A.Selene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Selene)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/12 "2010-02-04T18:38:26Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I don’t have any problems with using that word. I fully realize it’s because society hasn’t made it as bad as the N-word. So until that happens, I’ll say retarded and not “N” because it just doesn’t feel as bad. What word is that? Nice? Nougat? Oh, you mean nigger. For christ’s sake people, we’re all adults. We can say and/or type inappropriate words without the world falling down around us. I can’t stand it when people take being politically correct to an extreme, and even uttering a word in non-pejorative contexts is somehow harmful. This bothered me more in my college classes than anywhere else. You can be having a stimulating conversation, with people liberally sprinkling their vocabulary with curses as they passionately argue for something, but when it comes to identifying how a certain group of people were called in the US in the past while arguing about history or language it’s… **The N-Word**! ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/13 "2010-02-04T18:46:52Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > At issue is some group deciding a normal, dictionary word is pejorative and objecting to its use. Personally I think context is everything and to be sure a normal word can be used to demean a specific group while being fine in other contexts. Rahm was not using the word “retarded” in the usual definition of “delayed” or “slowed”. He was using a slang connotation and in a pejorative manner. It doesn’t matter that he was not referring to any specific person–it refers to a group as a whole. He was denigrating the idea by comparing it to some people. Of course those people will be offended that a common label used for them is being used as an insult. What if he had said the idea was “fucking gay”. That’s another case of an adjective used to insult something by comparing it unfavorably to some people. > [@Algher](#): > > Anyone using “retarded” outside of a medical diagnosis is being insensitive and insulting, though possibly not intentionally. Physicists use the term [retarded](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retarded_potential) as well. It is a real word after all and not limited to a specific topic. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/14 "2010-02-04T18:53:43Z")
I see the word “retarded” as describing the generic state of being inhibitied - mentaly, physicaly, analytically, regardinf the rate of change in a chemical reaction - whichever. It’s a generic term that _includes_ handicapped humans, but is certainly not _defined_ by them and doesn’t refer to them specifically, and if it’s derogatory it’s because the state of being “retarded” itself is inherently negative. “Nigger”, on the other hand, is _explicitly_ referring to the group of people and simultaneouslty slurs those people. The word itself provides the slur and the specific insult to the group of people. I don’t see these as comparable, since the meaning, intent, and source of insult are completely different. To me “Retarded” is more comparable to “short” - and this business about being hypersensitive to the word “retarded” is like a midget going all Super-Gnat on you for ordering a short stack of pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/15 "2010-02-04T18:59:19Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Rahm was not using the word “retarded” in the usual definition of “delayed” or “slowed”. He was using a slang connotation and in a pejorative manner. It doesn’t matter that he was not referring to any specific person–it refers to a group as a whole. He was denigrating the idea by comparing it to some people. Of course those people will be offended that a common label used for them is being used as an insult. > > What if he had said the idea was “fucking gay”. That’s another case of an adjective used to insult something by comparing it unfavorably to some people. > > Physicists use the term [retarded](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retarded_potential) as well. It is a real word after all and not limited to a specific topic. I disagree. He was using it to describe an idea that was not thoroughly thought out. It referred to no person or group of people. That distinction is important. He made no reference to Palins kid who may actually be retarded. But bringing him into the discussion was her doing. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/16 "2010-02-04T19:03:30Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > I see the word “retarded” as describing the generic state of being inhibitied - mentaly, physicaly, analytically, regardinf the rate of change in a chemical reaction - whichever. It’s a generic term that _includes_ handicapped humans, but is certainly not _defined_ by them and doesn’t refer to them specifically, and if it’s derogatory it’s because the state of being “retarded” itself is inherently negative. > > “Nigger”, on the other hand, is _explicitly_ referring to the group of people and simultaneouslty slurs those people. The word itself provides the slur and the specific insult to the group of people. > > I don’t see these as comparable, since the meaning, intent, and source of insult are completely different. To me “Retarded” is more comparable to “short” - and this business about being hypersensitive to the word “retarded” is like a midget going all Super-Gnat on you for ordering a short stack of pancakes. The offense is because Rahm’s use of a “retarded” was implicitly referring to retarded people and the connotation was that the idea was bad because it was like those people. His usage was not referring to any of its other meanings. So I agree that it’s not as offensive as “nigger”, which is explicitly insulting, but it still offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/17 "2010-02-04T19:07:55Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I disagree. He was using it to describe an idea that was not thoroughly thought out. It referred to no person or group of people. That distinction is important. He made no reference to Palins kid who may actually be retarded. But bringing him into the discussion was her doing. I think reasonable people will agree “fucking retarded” is only intended to be insulting. If he’d left off the qualifier, I could understand giving him the benefit of a doubt. But his connotation is crystal clear in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/18 "2010-02-04T19:23:41Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > The offense is because Rahm’s use of a “retarded” was implicitly referring to retarded people and the connotation was that the idea was bad because it was like those people. His usage was not referring to any of its other meanings. So I agree that it’s not as offensive as “nigger”, which is explicitly insulting, but it still offensive. I am not seeing this. He was explicitly referring to an idea. An idea can be “retarded” of its own accord with no need to reference mentally handicapped people to gain the meaning. If there were no mentally handicapped people on the whole planet, if they never existed and we never contemplated such a thing, Emanuel’s phrasing would still make sense. If you are going to extend him meaning “retarded” as pertaining to the mentally handicapped then you should extend the word “fucking” as well to make him meaning “having sex with the mentally handicapped”. Clearly that is not what he meant. ---
**Author:** ![Chum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@Chum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chum)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/19 "2010-02-04T19:24:47Z")
Michael Scott: You don’t call retarded people “retards.” It’s bad taste. You call your friends “retards” when they’re acting retarded. I think using the word in the manner described in the OP is insensitive, but it’s absolutely not a “slur on all God’s children with cognitive and development disabilities – and the people who love them.” I think most people would feel uncomfortable saying it in front of someone with developmental disabilities (in that same manner - not directly called the person a retard, but describing an idea as retarded) because they _know_ it’s inappropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680/20 "2010-02-04T19:38:28Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > The DSM IV contains the diagnosis of Mental Retardation. Services are still provided under the terms MH/MR for mental health or mental retardation. So, it is not correct to say that their use has no place whatsoever. If one were to diagnose someone as having an IQ under 70, what term should one use to describe them? > > Part of the problem is that mental retardation is defined by IQ. It is also, as I believe anyone would agree, undesirable to have a low IQ. Nobody wants to have a low IQ and nobody is happy to see others with markedly low IQs. People in Mensa seem to be very proud to have high IQs, but I don’t think they are happy that people have to experience the other end of the spectrum. > > So, getting upset at the term “retarded”, while I understand because of the pain involved, is problematic. I also wonder why people do not similarly get upset at the use of the terms “stupid” or “moronic” or “imbecile”, since they connote the same thing. > > In the end, whatever term were to replace retarded would mean the same, and would evoke feelings of pain from those affected when used as an epithet towards someone else. As **Hentor** mentioned upthread, I think it’s improtant to keep in mind the source of the usage of the term. It is clear that he wasn’t using it denotatively but in a pejorative sense. As such, I can understand how some overly sensitive person might be offended. That might make his choice of words as a person in the public eye a poor choice since he should be aware that there are people out there offended by it. As much as it’s common knowledge that it’s used as a pejorative, I think it’s as common to know that some people take offense at it. Thus, I think he has a hard time saying he couldn’t know it might offend people, unlike the infamous “niggardly” incident. However, that just makes him poor at projecting a good public image, I don’t think it inherently makes using the word wrong. What I don’t understand is, I also don’t understand why this particular word, as opposed to moron, imbecile, or idiot, all of which have an almost identical origin and were replaced by mental retardation because of the very same phenomenom, aren’t equally offensive to these same people. In fact, I even saw part of a debate where someone was berating him for using “retard” when he could have just called them “idiots”. Why is this word so much more offensive than the others? Also, I think any comparison between “retard” and “nigger” or “fag” or “jew” (when used as a verb in slang) are completely lacking. By definition, you are mentally retarded if you’re below a certain threshold of intelligence; thus calling someone retarded is directly comparing their intelligence to some denotative. When you say “that guy jewed me out of $10”, you’re not just drawing a comparison, but you’re also making a value judgment about the people that you’re comparing them against. In the latter case, one may be able to argue that it’s a comparison to a well established stereotype and not necessarily the people, but that’s neither here nor there since it simply doesn’t apply to “retard”. What kind of value statement could he possibly be making that isn’t true of that group by definition? Moreover, there’s plenty of other terms that are comparing to particular group by definition and are used with very little or no offense. Besides the formerly mentioned ones, you also have dumb for intelligence, psycho (surely people with mental health problems ought to be offended, right?), or cripple. Hell, flip on the WSOP and they’ll probably use cripple to refer to someone who’s chip stack is so small he’s basically unable to compete anymore at least once in a given show. Where’s the Special Olympics raising awareness about using the word cripple like that? Finally, how the hell is one supposed to express his contempt? Comparisons are made all the time. Is he supposed to avoid any comparison to any group? Exactly what should he have said instead that doesn’t also include a word with a similar origin? So, yeah, to me, using the word “retarded” is essentially like any other word; use it all you want, just mind your audience and be prepared for how they will react if you choose to use it. Similarly, people that are offended by it, lighten up. He’s not making a personal attack on them; in fact, it probably didn’t cross his mind at all. So to me, him using “retarded” is roughly on the same level as the modifier he used with it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-retarded/527680.md?page=2)