Is ‘retarded’ an offensive word?
In my mind, no. There’s a difference between ‘developmentally disabled’ or ‘mentally handicapped’ (for people who have Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, etc.) and ‘retarded’ (for people who are stupid). But, because I know and understand sensitivities around the term, I would never use the word ‘retarded’ around developmentally disabled people. But in other company, I freely use the term ‘retarded’ (and ‘barely-functional retard’) in reference to:
- Creationists
- Bible-beaters
- Hypocritical politicians
- People obsessed with terrorism, who have never lived in or even visited places that would ever be considered targets for terrorism
- People with horribly misplaced priorities
- sheeple – mindless drones who are carbon copies of everyone else around them
- rich brats who try to sound ghetto
- people who cackle into their cellphones while weaving in and out of their lane while driving
- annoying narcissists who are convinced that the entire universe revolves around them and their petty concerns
- People who can’t grasp things that your average kindergartener can
- pretty much everyone lampooned on South Park
For these sorts of people, the term captures my sentiments toward them like no other.
Posted on July 11th, 2008 by JM
I truly applaud the fact that you are even willing to discuss this.
I’m the mom of a special needs child. Before she was born I truly don’t think I would think twice when I heard the word retarded. Now it gives me a fever.
I personally find the word demeaning to people with special needs. My daughter might have a cognitive impairment but she’s not stupid, yet according to medical doctors, she is mildly retarded. So when she hears someone say “that’s retarded” or “you’re a retard” it’s very painful.
I truly wouldn’t want to take away your right to use the word. But for people involved in the special needs word it’s an extremely hurtful word. You don’t have to have a family member with special needs to know that slurs and stereotypes hurt. So, you wouldn’t want to hurt someone by not saying it to their face, yet just hearing the word on television or in a movie (Get Smart, Speed Racer, Tropic Thunder) causes great pain.
Most people wouldn’t think of saying the N word or calling someone a faggot. For whatever reason, retard still gets a pass.
I appreciate your bringing it up and for hearing one mom’s opinion on the matter.
Thank you HShore. I can easily imagine how you feel that way. I would never, ever use the word in reference to a person with special needs. Ever. I really reserve it for non-special needs people who are stupid because of intellectual laziness. But I hate it when people throw around the “that’s so gay” and “he’s a fag”, so point very much taken.
I think we all need greater awareness. It should not be used in public. For example, standing in a grocery checkout line and the checker says something like “I’m so retarded sometimes”, etc. She/he has no way of knowing if anyone in earshot has a loved one who, in an earlier day, would have been classified as “retarded”. Perhaps, when those of us who remember that pain-filled connotation (as with “gay” also), have disappeared, the new lexicons will be the only reminders that these words used to be derogatory.
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I freely use the term ‘retarded’ in reference to:
- Evolutionists
… Seriously?
It is what it is, shit happens. I have family members who are retarded, some from birth, some after the fact, I have friends and family who are gay. This does not stop me from using words such as retarded, and faggot. Hell I’ll call a gay person a faggot in a joking manner. Words are what you make them, and people nowadays just wait for people to say things they can bitch about. Everybody is overly sensitive, and way too serious. Don’t have a heart attack over something so stupid. Seriously, I have the deepest sympathy for your child and I bet their a great kid, but in no way am I trying to mean offense, they are retarded.
Retardation is a definition for generalized, triarchic disorder, characterized by subaverage cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors with onset before the age of 18 according to wikipedia. It was made offensive by parents like yourself, who can’t face reality.
Each year that passes there is another word that is not socially accepted, just calm down people and stop caring so much about what other people say and think.
I love when people like Ryan say to calm down about words that offend some and not others. Bet he was first in line to protest the cartoon in the New York Post. Unfortunately you don’t get to decide by just saying calm down, or can’t you take a joke, or don’t be so sensitive. Isn’t it enough to be able to step back, listen to what the people feeling the hurt has to say and respect their wishes. Is it really such a big deal not to use the word retard or retarded?
you should be considerate of other peoples feelings. If it is a name that you would not want to be called, don’t call anyone else it.
So… you had a semi-interesting point about sensitivity and offense, but you turned it into a hate rant against theology? Talk about messed up priorities.
Sam: Are you capable of reading? Or do you see only what you want to see?
I use the word retard all the time. It is no big deal. You are what you are..if that is retarded so be it.
Retarded as a description of one’s cognitive and adaptive functioning is a clinical diagnosis that can be made only by a psychologist. In that respect, the term is neutral and can be used to convey a great deal of information very quickly such as: IQ score range, Adaptive skills, level of care needs, etc. There are several levels Mental Retardation, each defines a specific set of disabiltiies.
In the past words such as Moron, Feeble-Minded, etc. were also used as clinical diagnostic terms. Those terms fell out of fashion, and modernly we are seeing our present diagnostic wording fall out of fashion.
Ultimately, if you choose to refer to someone as Retarded, I would hope that you would have the clinical training and sensitivity to understand what the word conveys diagnostically. Any other use of the term is not only incorrect, but it sheds light on how little the user of the word understands it.
A huge number of Bible believers are Ph.Ds. So, why would you call them retarded?
A retard is any person whose IQ is below 70. People within the 50-69 range are classified as mildly retarded or “morons”. Those who fall in the 35-49 range are moderately retarded. Anyone with with an IQ between 34 and 20 is severely retarded. “Imbecile” is a catch-all term for moderately to severely retarded people. The poor, sub-human degenerates who find themselves with an IQ below 20 would be classified as profoundly retarded, or idiots. Ironically, the term “retarded” was used as a euphemism for “moron”, “imbecile” and “idiot”. Now it seems even this historically PC word isn’t enough for some people, who are actually trying to ban it. I personally like the term, because although it is historically neutral, over the years it has gained a strong emotional charge, hece the movement to ban it, and few words convey the concept of stupidity more forcefully than it. As a side-note, although 70 is the cut-off point, people within the 70-80 range are often considered border-line retards. Apologies for any offense caused. What is, is.
Hey thanks for article and HShore’s comment. My opinion is a lot like that of the author’s. I was wondering if it’s ok to use it in one of my articles. After reaing HShore’s comment, I have decided not to use it.