The acceptability of using the word 'retarded'

[_beastie]

TD has never, never, insulted Mormons.

Most of the rest of us are guilty of that - but not TD.

[_skippy the dead]

Nehor...

Maybe this is a regional thing, it's not an offensive thing here. To all who find it offensive my sole intent was to make people laugh. IS THAT SO WRONG?!?!?!?!!?

Personally I think it is absolutely wrong when the "laugh" is at the expense of the mentally challenged.

Again, I find it odd that you still try to justify your comment.. odd but not surprising.

Justify, rationalize, minimize, joke, deny... whatever.

:-(

~dancer~

Yeah, I'm with you on this one. The original joke was intentionally cruel to the mentally challenged. I've been through this whole thread, and I still see lots of excuses and justifications, and the typical "unapology-apology" that's become popular these days, but I don't see that Nehor has seen what's wrong with his statement or apologized for it.

[_keene]

The original joke was intentionally cruel to the mentally challenged.

Nuh-uh!

Seems silly to say it that way, but it seems to be the way everyone wants to interpret it, so might as well make it clear.

ps. I think calling them "Mentally Challenged" is much worse -- not all retards have mental issues, and assuming that they do is far more insulting.

[_The Nehor]

Let's get back to making fun of the Mormons. Everybody loves that - right?

Anyone have some good BYU co-ed jokes?

I'd avoid those. I have a cousin who is a BYU co-ed and I might take offense on her behalf and of all other BYU co-eds and mark you down as cruel and insensitive.

Oh wait, that would be retarded.

[_keene]

Let's get back to making fun of the Mormons. Everybody loves that - right?

Anyone have some good BYU co-ed jokes?

I'd avoid those. I have a cousin who is a BYU co-ed and I might take offense on her behalf and of all other BYU co-eds and mark you down as cruel and insensitive.

Oh wait, that would be retarded.

Let's offend all three (co-eds, retards, and Mormons) in one joke!

Q: What did the retarded BYU co-ed say?
A: The church is true!

[_Jersey Girl]

My name is "eee eee". Or at least it will be tomorrow morning when I walk through the door of my classroom and the first person to meet me at the door with a hug and excited "eee eee!" will be a child who presumably, cannot speak. During the course of the day, he will likely throw objects at others, push other children down, try to kick me when I stop him or spit at me. It's not easy to be in a room full of people who cannot understand what you want to tell them. Every day he works to remember signs instead of using physical communication. On Friday he works for 8 full hours in intensive therapy to learn how to speak.

Three weeks ago, when he waved a kite in my face one too many times, I took it away from him. And he spoke a three word sentence. "I want that".

In my view, those three words held far more meaning and were certainly worth more than all your cavalier comments on this thread, Nehor.

There are people on this board who have loved ones who are disabled. People, who like the parents of the child described above, have invested countless hours, money and exhaustive resources in helping their loved ones meet their fullest potential whatever that may be. People, who like the parents of the child described above, would celebrate over just three meaningful words and the effort that formed them.

I have to wonder how much effort went into your post.

"eee eee"

[_The Nehor]

Not much went in Jersey Girl. I apologize....I was in a hideous mood today with a combination of physical and emotional pain.....I was in a kinda detached state this afternoon. Not really an excuse but I don't usually cavalierly throw around comments like that. I wasn't sure whether it would provoke a reaction or not. When it did I ran with it to try to give myself some emotional relief by bashing with others. It worked a bit. I was laughing at times but it was the laughter of messed-uppedness (if that's a word). I'm in the strange position of apologizing while thanking you all for the lively craziness that resulted in some relief. So sorry and thanks for the response that I got by offending which I'm sorry about. Yeah, no craziness here.

I need to go to bed and hope this is all over tomorrow.

Night all.

[_keene]

GAHH!

Ooh look at the pity party. Aren't these retards so AWFUL?! How horrible everyone must feel!

And you wonder why it's used as an insult? If you keep feeling so crappy about it, then it makes sense that people would not want to be called retarded.

Yes, retards are sad. They're slower than us. They have to try so hard. Boo-fricken-hoo! That's the way it is, and pouring out this huge pity party isn't going to change it.

Jersey Girl, the way you USED that retard is awful. The way you used his condition in order to create a guilty feeling in someone else -- you are using his misfortune to manipulate someone else to feel bad. THAT IS WAY MORE OFFENSIVE than even the worst retard joke.

[_barrelomonkeys]

Ooh! Ooh! I have a story! I hope it does not make anyone feel guilty. It makes me beam! I'm grinning like a cheshire right this moment thinking of him! :D

There is a young man that has 'low functioning' autism (have issues with the high/low designation but that's another thread!?) and was considered nonverbal.

Every single day there is a powerpoint to start the day. The exact same one that only changes for the seasons. This nonverbal boy one day started reading the powerpoint! Just out of the blue! And now he does it every single day. He's IN there... there was a key that needed to tap into him.

I find SUCH joy and life in the ability to find the key to unlock these children!

Yanno Keene I certainly hope you never have a child with a disability. I don't really consider my daughter disabled. There have been nobel prize winners that have Asperger's Syndrome (Einstein is thought to have had this 'disability' as well) and just that they are not neuro-typical brings scorn upon these unique individuals.

I am rather fond of ALL persons regardless of how they choose to communicate and relish each and every opportunity to interact with them. I LOVE them!

Anyway, no guilt intended here! Trying to transmit the pure joy that is found in helping another human tap into their potentials!

[_Jersey Girl]

keene

Jersey Girl, the way you USED that retard is awful. The way you used his condition in order to create a guilty feeling in someone else -- you are using his misfortune to manipulate someone else to feel bad. THAT IS WAY MORE OFFENSIVE than even the worst retard joke.

What retard?