Using the word "retarded" as slang

[CountrySinger]

This whole thread really asks the question,“What words ARE acceptable terms with which to insult someone?” (whether it is a genuine insult or meant as a form of endearment for close friends.)

I seem to recall Jesus comparing a few people to animals.

Is liarface appropriate?

Or what I refer to my customers (I work in a call center, so I have people blaming me, yelling at me, threatening me all day), just plain old: they fell off the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.

 

[Lutheranteach]

First, “handicapped” was wrong. Then it was “retarded”. Now it’s “mentally challenged”. The good news is that in a decade or so, this new term will also be deemed offensive. I also forgot “special”.

So what do people use for insults? The latest word version of the meaning: idiotic.

It’s not a big deal. If you don’t want to insult people, then don’t. If you are insulting someone and it’s accurate (they are an idiot), fine. The language has been castrated enough with all the political correctness. You can hardly talk in public without dying the death of a thousand qualifiers in your speech.

I think there are still plenty of insults to go around! I once knew a guy who would look at his girlfriend when she said something truly foolish and simply say with a grin: “You’re so pretty.” I do agree that we are getting to the point where the language is almost becoming sterile. And, there is a certain responsibility of those listening to realize the intent of the message. There are also a lot of people out there looking for reasons to be offended.

 

[surfinpure]

My daughter Hope, age 7, was brain injured at birth and has severe developmental delay and permanent disability.

I was one of those kids in junior high who used “retarded” as a pejorative, even imitating disabled kids when I did it. Imagine my horror now when I witness this behavior. It’s absolutely wrong to use that word as an insult or a joke. There’s nothing funny about what my daughter lives with.

Likewise I’d like to see an end to all jokes about people who “ride the short bus.” And I’d like one day to have a President who doesn’t make fun of the Special Olympics.

 

[Flame4]

Yes, I would think it is wrong. Firstly, it is wrong to insult anyone using any term. As well, its unfair to those who are “retarted.”

I have OCD and I feel hurt when someone says to me or another person, “oh your being too careful (arranging pencils or whatever), you must have OCD.” They don’t know that I actually do, or how heavy a cross it is. Its become something people just say. I also dislike it when people say, “your mental.” (or something along those lines .) They have no malicous intent, but it still annoys me.
Just something to think about.

God Bless

 

[stringbeanduck]

see, i guessed right. you use the word retard with no ill intent, stringbean. (i read your posts. never do they seem mean or callous.)

so, come on stringbeanduck. take the high road. take the pledge to erradicate the “r” word from your personal usage. your friends will notice. the change will begin with you. r-word.org

You’re right. I hate a vocabulary that’s limited to such words.

 

[Bataar]

This reminds of me an episode of South Park. There was a group of men riding motorcycles around the town and being as loud and obnoxious as possible. The kids started calling them “fags” and there was a spray painted sign that said, “Stay out of our town, fags!” or something like that. Anyway, the school found out that it was done by kids and they had a school session to find out why the kids hated gay people. The kids were shocked and told the school they had nothing against gay people and that they were talking about the “fags” riding around on motorcycles. They even went so far as to officially change the meaning of the word “fag” to obnoxious people who ride motorcycles. It was a hilarious episode.

 

[monicatholic]

You’re right. I hate a vocabulary that’s limited to such words.

for real, stringbean?

look. i NEVER use emoticoms, but tonight you get a whole messa them:


:extrahappy:
:thankyou:
:egyptian:
:hug3:

:yeah_me:

 

[shannyk]

It’s one of the tackiest things a person a can say. Tacky tacky tacky. You just sound uneducated, ill mannered and brash when you use that word in the a fore mentioned manner. It’s like my dad always said about people who swear…" they swear becasue they have nothing better to say". That’s how using retard or retarded comes off to me. Maybe that is snobby but I’m being honest.

When people call my cognitively disabled son a retard within earshot, I don’t feel as bad for him as I do for them and how they come off to others. Embarrassing.

 

[John_Paul_Jones]

C. The word used to describe a person who has some sort of delay is accurate and can be used without intended offense much as the word “crippled” can be used. So, there is nothing wrong with the sentences: Beth, who did not receive enough oxygen during birth, is retarded as a result. Sgt. Doe, who stepped on a landmine in WWII was crippled because of it.

D. Because both the terms: crippled and retarded have been used as slang and have been used with cruel intentions the words have taken on negative connotations that go beyond their definitions. Retarded has taken on a meaning that one is incapable or unwilling to learn or is one who makes mistakes repeatedly simply because they don’t think. Crippled has taken on the meaning that one is incapable of taking care of themselves without continual special assistance. As a result, neither one should be used unless one’s intent is crystal clear. They shouldn’t be used as slang to describe situations, things, etc.

“Beth…is retarded,” just doesn’t sound right, it should have been "Beth… was diagnosed with Mental Retardation," and with the second example in part C: "Sgt. Doe, who stepped on a landmine in WWII was wounded in action and is now a Disabled Vet.

It’s because Mental Retardation was reduced to retarded, and then mis-use that Mental Retardation has gain a negative connotation. Retardation like the word tardy means slow, late, behind schedule. It just meant that the child was behind in certain areas than the rest of his/her age group. I understand why Retardation fell out of favour, I am certain at the time it was a harmless word that was meant to replace other more harmful words used at the time. Really, there is no escaping shifts in meanings in words, there always some word that has change meaning in time. Naïve originally it meant innocent but changed over time to mean inept, the word it was derived from actually meant boy. I’ve heard quite often people use words like “impaired” and “disable” as a perjorative. So I am just as weary saying Mentally Disabled or Impaired as most people are about using Mental Retardation. I actually dislike using any of them.

 

[Nec5]

Nec5, it’s too bad you’d would move an issue of real compassion and respect for human dignity to the “politically correct” files. and yeah, in 20 years when the language factory has twisted " a person with developmental disabilities" or “a person who’s cognitively challenged” into a street slang insult, then we’ll have to come up with something else that speaks of the dignity of the person.

And it, too, will be a waste of time. It’s not an issue of real compassion and respect for human dignity. Actions do that. Caving to language castration is a dead end road that leads to our current climate of “see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil”. No thanks.

 

[Moscati]

And it, too, will be a waste of time. It’s not an issue of real compassion and respect for human dignity. Actions do that. Caving to language castration is a dead end road that leads to our current climate of “see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil”. No thanks.

Language informs our actions. If language is that unimportant, why do those who work in pro-life ministries insist that an unborn child be called a “baby” and not a “fetus”? Calling a baby a ‘fetus’ contributes to a culture that does not respect the child’s dignity. I would argue that using “retard” as an insult does very much the same thing to people with disabilities.

Out of curiosity, what do you consider to be “caving to language castration”? Is nggr okay in your book? What about the removal of “perfidious” from the Good Friday liturgy?

 

[stringbeanduck]

for real, stringbean?

look. i NEVER use emoticoms, but tonight you get a whole messa them:


:extrahappy:
:thankyou:
:egyptian:
:hug3:

:yeah_me:

Oh, thank you. That’s very nice.

 

[mjm1357]

I find this word offensive. I detest it’s common usage when speaking as slang. My husband and stepdaughter use this word as a replacement for cussing. I have harped on them endlessly about stopping. My husband and I have a 5yo and a 2yo and if they ever use this word, I will be mortified.

 

[michaeljason]

I don’t know if it’s sinful, but it’s definitely ignorant & cruel. My wife teaches students with severe & multiple disabilities, and we’re both involved with The Arc. I’ve had some enlightening conversations with people who have mental disabilities… I almost always come away feeling that they know Christ in a way I can only dream of.

 

[sojo]

Late to this thread, but wanted to thank everyone who “gets it”. My son has Down syndrome, and it hurts him and his parents to hear this. If someone uses it, I do comment and instruct. If they continue to use it, knowing they are cutting a young man to the bone and hurting a Mom and Dad to tears, quite ruining their fun outing, then yes, that is pretty darn cruel. When they see my son and apologize, I forgive. Most of the time, the folks I confront are shocked and apologize.

As an advocate for the developmentally delayed, I have had to comfort many a tearful Mom who has adapted to all the challenges raised by having a special needs child, but just “lost it” when they heard the term that describes their precious blessing as a term of derision.

So it is not a “sin” if done in ignorance. But if you know that saying the word will cause someone extreme pain, and you do it anyway? That’s inflicting pain knowingly and that’s a sin.