Stop stop stop stop saying this word!!!!!

[Sinergy 3]

i dont think DEMANDING ppl to stop using a word is any more mature than ppl using the word.

and its just a word, theres nothing wrong with it, its a problem when ppl see or hear the word and think of it being used as bad thing, its another thing to realise its just a word and you cant tell ppl what words to use when they talk. i say f**ktard and tard or retarded alot, i surely dont associate it with the mentally challenged. retarded can also mean dorky or stupid acting, NOT NESSISARILY mentally challenged. if you have a prob with the word, thats fine, but you cant tell ppl not to use it.

and then there is the word "ionescued" which means someone got their panties in a bunch.

No bunching panites on MY end today, cant say that on other ppls ends tho

[Ban Hammer 13,344]

i dont think DEMANDING ppl to stop using a word is any more mature than ppl using the word.

and its just a word, theres nothing wrong with it, its a problem when ppl see or hear the word and think of it being used as bad thing, its another thing to realise its just a word and you cant tell ppl what words to use when they talk. i say f**ktard and tard or retarded alot, i surely dont associate it with the mentally challenged. retarded can also mean dorky or stupid acting, NOT NESSISARILY mentally challenged. if you have a prob with the word, thats fine, but you cant tell ppl not to use it.

and then there is the word "ionescued" which means someone got their panties in a bunch.

No bunching panites on MY end today, cant say that on other ppls ends tho

all that means is you've not been paying attention

[Sinergy 3]

i dont think DEMANDING ppl to stop using a word is any more mature than ppl using the word.

and its just a word, theres nothing wrong with it, its a problem when ppl see or hear the word and think of it being used as bad thing, its another thing to realise its just a word and you cant tell ppl what words to use when they talk. i say f**ktard and tard or retarded alot, i surely dont associate it with the mentally challenged. retarded can also mean dorky or stupid acting, NOT NESSISARILY mentally challenged. if you have a prob with the word, thats fine, but you cant tell ppl not to use it.

and then there is the word "ionescued" which means someone got their panties in a bunch.

No bunching panites on MY end today, cant say that on other ppls ends tho

all that means is you've not been paying attention

I have charles, all i did was put my 2 cents in, if thats my panties in a wad, then your panties fell up your ####### a long time ago

[almaty 19]

i dont think DEMANDING ppl to stop using a word is any more mature than ppl using the word.

and its just a word, theres nothing wrong with it, its a problem when ppl see or hear the word and think of it being used as bad thing, its another thing to realise its just a word and you cant tell ppl what words to use when they talk. i say f**ktard and tard or retarded alot, i surely dont associate it with the mentally challenged. retarded can also mean dorky or stupid acting, NOT NESSISARILY mentally challenged. if you have a prob with the word, thats fine, but you cant tell ppl not to use it.

and then there is the word "ionescued" which means someone got their panties in a bunch.

No bunching panites on MY end today, cant say that on other ppls ends tho

all that means is you've not been paying attention

I have charles, all i did was put my 2 cents in, if thats my panties in a wad, then your panties fell up your ####### a long time ago

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i dont think DEMANDING ppl to stop using a word is any more mature than ppl using the word.

and its just a word, theres nothing wrong with it, its a problem when ppl see or hear the word and think of it being used as bad thing, its another thing to realise its just a word and you cant tell ppl what words to use when they talk. i say f**ktard and tard or retarded alot, i surely dont associate it with the mentally challenged. retarded can also mean dorky or stupid acting, NOT NESSISARILY mentally challenged. if you have a prob with the word, thats fine, but you cant tell ppl not to use it.

and then there is the word "ionescued" which means someone got their panties in a bunch.

No bunching panites on MY end today, cant say that on other ppls ends tho

I agree with you, Tara. Although, I think people have a right to tell someone when they've offended them. If I'm in a public place and I overhear someone say something inappropriate, I'll give 'em my 2 cents. There are tactful ways to let someone know without it turning into a big confrontation.

My parents were eating at a restaurant near some young women who were cussing up a storm. My Dad asked them to clean it up a little and they became indignant - cussing even louder. When he finally complained to the manager, all he offered was to move my parents away from the cussing.

Ultimately, people are going to express themselves freely and about all you can do is let them know that it bothers you.

Edited October 16, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[almaty 19]

yes, i agree...just because something offends you does not mean someone will stop..they may increase the behavior....some folks just never learn manners and to play with others, when young

[Sinergy 3]

i dont think DEMANDING ppl to stop using a word is any more mature than ppl using the word.

and its just a word, theres nothing wrong with it, its a problem when ppl see or hear the word and think of it being used as bad thing, its another thing to realise its just a word and you cant tell ppl what words to use when they talk. i say f**ktard and tard or retarded alot, i surely dont associate it with the mentally challenged. retarded can also mean dorky or stupid acting, NOT NESSISARILY mentally challenged. if you have a prob with the word, thats fine, but you cant tell ppl not to use it.

and then there is the word "ionescued" which means someone got their panties in a bunch.

No bunching panites on MY end today, cant say that on other ppls ends tho

I agree with you, Tara. Although, I think people have a right to tell someone when they've offended them. If I'm in a public place and I overhear someone say something inappropriate, I'll give 'em my 2 cents. There are tactful ways to let someone know without it turning into a big confrontation.

My parents were eating at a restaurant near some young women who were cussing up a storm. My Dad asked them to clean it up a little and they became indignant - cussing even louder. When he finally complained to the manager, all he offered was to move my parents away from the cussing.

Ultimately, people are going to express themselves freely and about all you can do is let them know that it bothers you.

im not saying i dont understand how cassie feels, i just feel the way she "YELLED" at everyone about it was just as tacky as arijit repeating the word to piss cassie off

[JAYKE 0]

I have to agree with the posts saying that most people who use retarded as a casual insult are not making a mean-spirited reference to people with mental disabilities.

I grew up using the word in this casual way (say, 25 years ago, so the use is not new). It was more or less equivalent to moron, and only when I was in high school did a teacher who worked with special ed kids point out that this could be offensive. I was surprised and embarrassed. I think there might be a regional aspect to this as well. I grew up in Massachusetts (it's pronounced "reetaah-did" in the Boston area), where perhaps this casual use was more common and thus less offensive. Nowadays, even the term mentally retarded is increasingly being replaced by mentally disabled, developmentally disabled, and so on, so maybe that contributes to the use of retarded as a term not as strongly associated with intelligence as in the past. Just a thought.

I think it's interesting you compared it to the word "moron", which is actually also a clinical description (has to do with where a person falls on the IQ scale). Technically, it SHOULD be at the same "offensiveness" level as "retarded" since they both are based on medical condition, yet use of "moron" does not evoke the same kind of moral grandstanding as has been evidenced here. Do I think it's okay to call someone who IS developmentally challenged a "moron" or a "retard"? No, I think it is in extremely poor taste. Do I think it's a big deal if someone calls someone who is unimpaired the name? No, not at all. It's all about when and where it's being used for me.

[almaty 19]

brother arijit....sense of humor is different.....

[JAYKE 0]

I HATE the word "retarded". Just the same way as I hated the word "spastic" in the UK. Both used in the same context and just as insulting. SO yes, I agree with you, Cassie 100%.

What about "Nutter"? That's surely a stigmatised term in much the same way... Pretty much means the same thing doesn't it, only for someone with a mental illness like Schizophrenia or something similar. I think its interesting that people seem to view developmental disorders rather different from broader mental disorders.

I see your point, 6, I really do. Reading your excerpt above it seems that most of our "everyday" terms used to be medical terms from many years ago. E.g. idiot, stupid and so on. These terms were probably used at that time as insults to people aswell and, like today, may have been deemed offensive to some.

Perhaps in 100 years the term retarded will be thought of along the same lines as "stupid" or "idiot" and will be acceptable. Doesn't make it any less offensive today though...

Well while I wouldn't poke fun at anyone with a disability it does seem that we do have a ready supply of words that whether used intentionally or no - denigrate the mentally ill. Surely the offence lies in the intent behind those words, rather than in any one specific term.

Again I see your point. My point (and the OP's I guess!) is that by continuing to use this word, it is perpetuating the idea that it is okay to use medical terms for the mentally challenged as an insult for people who do not suffer such problems themselves.

Maybe it IS overly politically correct, may be it isn't, but in the end it doesn't do anyone any favours.

That's part of it, definitely. I have always had a problem with that word. The n-word and other derogatory terms have been deemed unacceptable in today's society, why can't this one?

What should we say to people with mental challenges like my sister-in-law's niece when someone uses that word around her, either to describe her or to insult someone else? "Oh, Keira, don't worry, they don't mean it, they're just joking". Really?

Yes, that's exactly what you should tell them. It's a mean name, just like ugly, fatso, stinky, etc. Teach her that sometimes people are insensitive and you can either rise above it or succumb to it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I have to agree with the posts saying that most people who use retarded as a casual insult are not making a mean-spirited reference to people with mental disabilities.

I grew up using the word in this casual way (say, 25 years ago, so the use is not new). It was more or less equivalent to moron, and only when I was in high school did a teacher who worked with special ed kids point out that this could be offensive. I was surprised and embarrassed. I think there might be a regional aspect to this as well. I grew up in Massachusetts (it's pronounced "reetaah-did" in the Boston area), where perhaps this casual use was more common and thus less offensive. Nowadays, even the term mentally retarded is increasingly being replaced by mentally disabled, developmentally disabled, and so on, so maybe that contributes to the use of retarded as a term not as strongly associated with intelligence as in the past. Just a thought.

I think it's interesting you compared it to the word "moron", which is actually also a clinical description (has to do with where a person falls on the IQ scale). Technically, it SHOULD be at the same "offensiveness" level as "retarded" since they both are based on medical condition, yet use of "moron" does not evoke the same kind of moral grandstanding as has been evidenced here. Do I think it's okay to call someone who IS developmentally challenged a "moron" or a "retard"? No, I think it is in extremely poor taste. Do I think it's a big deal if someone calls someone who is unimpaired the name? No, not at all. It's all about when and where it's being used for me.

Well said.

[chri'stina 190]

All I know is that Cassie is a very nice person and I have seen her behave very nicely on VJ over the years. She has always mentioned how she does not like the use of the word retarded and has stated why, and she obviously needed to let off some steam about it. Some of us agree with her, and some don't. Cassie is a very mature woman IMO.

Edited October 16, 2007 by stina&suj

[one...two...tree 2,762]

All I know is that Cassie is a very nice person and I have seen her behave very nicely on VJ over the years. She has always mentioned how she does not like the use of the word retarded and has stated why, and she obviously needed to let off some steam about it. Some of us agree with her, and some don't. Cassie is a very mature woman IMO.

I have no doubt about that. One of the nicest people here on VJ! I Cassie.

Edited October 16, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[Jaseball 0]

You folks need to stop acting like Jaseball's.

[Jenn! 918]

You folks need to stop acting like Jaseball's.

LOL