The acceptability of using the word 'retarded'

[_truth dancer]

Nehor...

Rationalize your cruelty however you want.

Justify your lack of Christlike care and concern however you want.

Feel free to keep on with your mean spiritedness if it makes you feel superior and funny.

Just don't pretend God is talking to you anymore.

~dancer~

[_The Nehor]

Nehor...

Rationalize your cruelty however you want.

Justify your lack of Christlike care and concern however you want.

Feel free to keep on with your mean spiritedness if it makes you feel superior and funny.

Just don't pretend God is talking to you anymore.

~dancer~

Cruelty? Hmmmm....interesting characterization. I've hurt how many people by saying that? Can't think of any......

Oh well.

[_truth dancer]

It is a cruel spirit who find it humorous to make fun of human beings with disabilities.

Odd how you don't care.

As I said... give up the, "God talks to me" story.

~dancer~

[_beastie]

Cruelty? Hmmmm....interesting characterization. I've hurt how many people by saying that? Can't think of any......

Oh well.

You really don't know when to shut up.

And yes, you are obtuse and cruel if you don't realize that using "retarded" as a taunt is maliciously cruel to a group of people who have already been dealt a very hard hand by life.

[_Some Schmo]

It makes me sad for those with disabilities. :(

And that's it.

I understand you being sad for those with disabilities. It's a sucky reality of life. If I think about it too much, it makes me sad too. Mentally handicapped kids are among the sweetest around. No doubt about it.

The question before you, however, is who is hurt by the use of the word in this way? You, or those with disabilities?

I'm not offended by that word, and therefore, it's not offensive to me. The word serves a particular purpose quite nicely. You see what I'm getting at here?

I just don't understand why some people are so invested in being sad and/or offended by so much little, petty crap, to the point where they'd rather defend their right to be offended rather than ask the simple question, "should that really offend me?" All you're doing is giving those words more power than they deserve.

[_The Nehor]

Cruelty? Hmmmm....interesting characterization. I've hurt how many people by saying that? Can't think of any......

Oh well.

You really don't know when to shut up.

And yes, you are obtuse and cruel if you don't realize that using "retarded" as a taunt is maliciously cruel to a group of people who have already been dealt a very hard hand by life.

Yes, how will they all sleep tonight after reading this board and realizing that at heart I hate them all? They're probably crying rivers right now.

I'm going to one up that one now. Liberals are all going to hell.

If implying that a group of people (me included) are mentally deficient makes me a cruel monster then telling a group of people (some of whom may actually be reading this) that they are so spiritually perverse that the Father will cast them into a lake of fire should allow Belial to take back over.

[Guest]

It is a cruel spirit who find it humorous to make fun of human beings with disabilities.

Odd how you don't care.

As I said... give up the, "God talks to me" story.

~dancer~

All human beings have disabilities. Yet I poke fun at many of them. Wow, my crimes just keep adding up.

Truthfully the inability to talk about mental problems HURTS the mentally handicapped. While working at the Group Home I mentioned before I noticed one boy was withdrawing. When I talked to him (I was kind of an older brother figure) he was upset that others seemed different than him and he couldn't figure out why. I explained it. Once he understood he was happy. We have a wonderful habit in the US of thinking that pretending someone doesn't have a problem is a good way of dealing with it. I also have a friend in a wheelchair. She's a master of jokes about stairs and she sincerely laughs at them. The one way to tick her off is when people pretend she is the same despite the chair. She is not. In their efforts to pretend they alienate her. Another friend in an office job I had had a stuttering problem. He had the hardest time talking. One day while he was struggling I told him to just sing what he was saying. He stared at me for a moment and then we both broke out laughing. Once the problem was acknowledged and factored in it was diminished.

[_barrelomonkeys]

It makes me sad for those with disabilities. :(

And that's it.

I understand you being sad for those with disabilities. It's a sucky reality of life. If I think about it too much, it makes me sad too. Mentally handicapped kids are among the sweetest around. No doubt about it.

The question before you, however, is who is hurt by the use of the word in this way? You, or those with disabilities?

I'm not offended by that word, and therefore, it's not offensive to me. The word serves a particular purpose quite nicely. You see what I'm getting at here?

I just don't understand why some people are so invested in being sad and/or offended by so much little, petty crap, to the point where they'd rather defend their right to be offended rather than ask the simple question, "should that really offend me?" All you're doing is giving those words more power than they deserve.

Well I can tell you why I'm saddened by it... should this part of the thread be split? My daughter has high functioning autism. She is not retarded - not in the least. She's in the gifted program and is stunningly bright! Unfortunately some of her behaviors have brought predators upon her. Mainly mean spirited boys that enjoy tormenting a little girl for their amusement. She is often called 'retarded' by those that wish to humiliate her because she is 'different'.

It saddens me that people use words with an intent to hurt others. It saddens me that my daughter has to face that torment since she is incredibly bright, inquisitive, kind, and generous. When words are used to inflict harm upon those I love (even those I do not love!) it certainly does make me sad.

Quite.

[_Some Schmo]

Cruelty? Hmmmm....interesting characterization. I've hurt how many people by saying that? Can't think of any......

Oh well.

You really don't know when to shut up.

And yes, you are obtuse and cruel if you don't realize that using "retarded" as a taunt is maliciously cruel to a group of people who have already been dealt a very hard hand by life.

I disagree. It's intended to be malicious to the people being called that, because they should really know better. It doesn't matter one bit to the people to whom they're being compared. The offense is in your mind, not theirs.

[_skippy the dead]

I think I've just been patronized ;)

Actually, I suspect she is reprimanding you for the use of the word "retarded" which several people around here are far too fond of, and really is very offensive.

Agreed. It's bad form, and no rationalization by Nehor negates the cruel usage. As an aunt hoping to see my nephew compete and win in the Special Olympics someday, I'd like to see some semblance of an apology for this, rather than your flippant attempts to justify it.