Is "Mentally Retarded" an offensive term when..

[Treasure Chest]

you are fuckin on to something. If I had only known which chicks put out easily and which ones didnt at all, Id have been fuckin set in highschool...

This is why Mark Zuckerberg made a killing off Facebook.

[War Machine]

[32vfromhell]

IMO, it just depends on the context. If you're describing them as having mental retardation in the most literal form of the term, then I wouldn't think it should be taken offensively. It sounds like some people are making way too big of an issue out of it in this case. Ya, it is a little more PC to use the term "mentally handicapped" or "mentally disabled", or "metally challenged", but that is like using "African-American" instead of "black".

That said, people expose their ignorance when they use the term "retard" as an insult or call something "retarded" because it's foolish or absurd.

My favorite is when someone sees this:



and goes "oh! check out that fast African-American guy on the UK team!"

[Chas_svo]

Fuck, it used to be 'feeble-minded', then 'mentally retarded'. Now thanks to Obama we will call tards 'Democrats'. Whatever you label something like that, people will use it as an insult and it will eventually have negative connotations.

Fixed?

[bobs94formula]

Is she going to ask every medical work/dictionary/encyclopedia to change "mental retardation" to something else??"

Actually they are working on that. We cannot use "Mental Retardation", "MR", or anything like that when talking about persons with a mental handicap at work. It's not PC enough anymore

[Sean88gt]

Mommy shouldn't have done drugs when pregnant and all would have been fine.

[bcoop]

You'll probably never understand (or care) how ignorant that makes you sound until you one day have a child or a close loved one who is indeed severely retarded.

I use both all the time, but not when actually referring to mentally challenged people. Only when referring to my stupid friends, stupid people, or I guess one could say "intellectually challenged". I use the words fag, homo, and cock sucker a lot, but I've got nothing against gay people. I guess it's all in perspective and perception. Last summerish, Chance was dating a guy named Vance, and I told him the combination of their names was gayer than the sex they had the night before. And he laughed his ass off.

I also try to be respectful of those I know that are affected by things like that, like a guy at work for instance.

[krazy kris]

"u scretch my CD"

[jluv]

Mommy shouldn't have done drugs when pregnant and all would have been fine.

Come on Sean, you're not really that stupid, are you?

[unkoricky]

"u scretch my CD"

I laughed out loud.

TOOF THIRTY.

[jluv]

I use both all the time, but not when actually referring to mentally challenged people. Only when referring to my stupid friends, stupid people, or I guess one could say "intellectually challenged". I use the words fag, homo, and cock sucker a lot, but I've got nothing against gay people. I guess it's all in perspective and perception. Last summerish, Chance was dating a guy named Vance, and I told him the combination of their names was gayer than the sex they had the night before. And he laughed his ass off.

I also try to be respectful of those I know that are affected by things like that, like a guy at work for instance.

It's just taken too lightly by most people because they don't have to deal with it in their life. They can throw it around as a joke or an insult and go on their way while others actually have to deal with it 24/7. Obviously, no one wants to be retarded, but those who are cannot help it, so using that term to insult someone who actually has the luxury of not being retarded shoud be taken off the table. It also stinks of a lack of creativity. There are much better terms you can use to insult someone for doing something stupid.

It's different than calling a gay person gay, or even using that as an insult. At the end of the day, gay people don't usually mind being gay. They can laugh it off because they are gay and proud of it, so where's the insult?

It's more like jokingly calling someone a cripple because they have a sprained ankle. You might feel okay saying that to them, but would you say it outloud in front of someone else who is paralyzed and having a hard time dealing with it? And you may think "well, I wouldn't say it if I saw the paralyzed person", but what if the person within earshot has a crippled child at home?

It's just bad taste. There is a big difference between always trying to be PC and just using a little bit more tact and respect when you choose your words. It's not a sign of weakness if you choose to have a little bit of consideration for others, it's just a sign of an intelligent, decent human being.

I'm no angel. In the past, I used the word the same way. I was never made aware or exposed to any reasoning as to why I shouldn't, but now I have, so if I can spread the awareness a little, that's great. I do look back and realize how ignorant it made me look.

And then some people don't care if they look ignorant to anyone else, and that's their prerogative, I suppose.

[Treasure Chest]

I'm an odd breed. I have a special needs child and will still use derivations of retarded, (usually in reference to Brent,) but I won't use the word in reference to someone with mental disabilities. I'm also not going to use the words idiot, stupid, moron, or anything along those lines in reference to someone with mental disabilities.

I've also been known to use the word gay in pejorative form, (also in reference to Brent,) but I'm not homophobic by any means, and I'm sensitive to the use in certain company. Typically using the pejorative form of gay hasn't offended any of my homosexual friends. It typically offends my friends that are more conservative.

It's the same as using any other vulgar term, in my opinion. I filter myself based on the audience and their sensitivities.

[Sean88gt]

Come on Sean, you're not really that stupid, are you?

Jared, I'm in a pot stirring mood, hence the blatantly offensive/off base comments.

Unless the father was black, then I'm spot on.

[jluv]

Jared, I'm in a pot stirring mood, hence the blatantly offensive/off base comments.

Unless the father was black, then I'm spot on.

So, you're being offensive on purpose. That makes it okay.

[Treasure Chest]

So, you're being offensive on purpose. That makes it okay.

You say that like you've never met Sean before....