# Why does the term that means "retarded" change so often? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-term-that-means-retarded-change-so-often/325801 "2005-10-11T20:51:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**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 13, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-term-that-means-retarded-change-so-often/325801/21 "2005-10-13T17:35:46Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I knew a guy who was both really smart and had a degenerative muscular problem (at least, I think this was his problem) that required him to always be in a wheelchair and have an aide during classes. Really a great guy to know. I’ve always wondered which one got more attention from the bureaucrats, the wheelchair or the brains. Unfortunately, some schools salivate at the thought of classifying more students as disabled so they can receive additional funds from the state (California); I personally have witnessed this through 2 of my 3 sons. Even if there is a temporary or slight learning disability, some schools would try to convince the parent(s) that they would need additional accomodations and would receive them if they agreed to change the child’s status to handicapped. And once they label a kid as “handicapped”, it is virtually impossible to have that label (status) removed for the rest of the child’s school years, even if the child improves or grew out of the learning disability or has no further need for assistance. The school still keeps the handicap status of the child to continue to receive additional funding and spends it elsewhere. We have refused the handicap status for both of our kids because we feel that additional tutoring outside of school would be a better solution, and so far, it’s working. ---
**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 14, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-term-that-means-retarded-change-so-often/325801/22 "2005-10-14T01:39:45Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > This is related to what has been called the [euphemism treadmill](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemism#The_.22euphemism_treadmill.22). Thanks for pointing this out! The “euphemism treadmill” seems to make the most sense. I wish I could have googled for it, but I didn’t know what exactly to look for. The speed of the treadmill seems to be accelerating. How long was “crippled” in use before it became “handicapped?” How long did that term remain at the forefront until “physically disabled” came into vogue? I"m noticing something similar in the computer field, where now regular users – not just marketers – are using the word “solution” instead of “program.” It’s not just a “word processing program,” but a “word processing solution,” and it’s not just the folks who look like they’ve stepped out of a stock photo of suits shaking hands saying it. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-term-that-means-retarded-change-so-often/325801/23 "2005-10-14T03:56:12Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > But, “antisocial personality disorder” still isn’t a very good name. It implies, to me at least, a person who is excessively rude and unsociable. In fact, many sociopaths are quite charming and likable. The problem is that they don’t have an effective moral compass, due to their lack of normal empathetic ability. That’s true. Is there a psychiatric term for the conscience? ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-term-that-means-retarded-change-so-often/325801/24 "2005-10-14T04:00:14Z")
_Superego_=“Conscience” _Ego_=“Personal Imperative” _Id_=“Knuckle-dragging, Reptilian, Old-school Basic Drives” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-term-that-means-retarded-change-so-often/325801.md?page=1)