Folks - could you consider laying off the "retard" stuff?

[Bunny]

Retards, freeptards, and now retardicans.

Is it absolutely necessary to refer to people by this name? I personally hate it, and there are a ton of other perfectly good adjectives out there.

People with mental retardation did nothing to bring on their condition, and can do nothing to reverse it. Most of them are very kind, generous, and loving - the very antithesis of Geo. Bush, the average Freeper, et al. Does it really build you up to use that word?

People with mental retardation have been called retards all their lives - it's an incredibly hurtful word to them. Using it to slur others just reinforces the negative stereotyping associated with the word.

And no, I'm not the PC police and I'm not calling for a Word Ban here on DU. Just asking folks to consider their choice of words. Thanks.

[Chimpanzee]

1. absolutely correct!

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. Thanks, bunny.

It bothers me too.

[Melodybe]

14. I like repugs, repigs, and rethugs

Although I have used the word feeptards on this board, I agree lets drop it.

[Vanje]

3. Agreed

!

[MikeG]

4. How about moron or dummy?

[Kolesar]

13. It will be tough not using the "m" word

[Richardo]

5. SO diplomatic...

:yourock: bunnyj

[Beware the Beast Man]

6. I agree, bunnyj!

I much prefer calling them assheads, fucknuts, and dumbasses...all treatable conditions.

[Bluzmann57]

7. A few years ago I did some work with some special people

in the Special Olympics and let me tell you, while these people may not be as gifted mentally as some, their spirit was amazing! They tried as hard as they could to win events and if they didn't, they shrugged it off and moved on to other things. So, bunnyj, you are correct. The repubs could never ever show the heart and soul these people did. Another word would be fitting. How about the word "losers"? Because thats what they will hopefully be in November. In fact, they are losers as human beings now imo.

[eauclaireliberal]

8. How about "MorAns"?

[Richardo]

11. 'Moran' is *always* appropriate - preferred, even.

:thumbsup:

[Lavender Brown]

17. Of course.

And my new favorite, "looser." :D

[cally]

9. Completely agree!

Thanks for being so diplomatic. We shouldn't use these adjectives.

[StopTheMorans]

10. thought about posting that this morning; I agree COMPLETELY

there are plenty of other words you can use to challenge someone's intellectual capacity (i.e. dumb, stupid, idiot, moran, etc..)

[FunBobbyMucha]

12. I think the use of the word is slowly changing.

As the world becomes more PC about labelling the disabled, "retard" seems to me to be transitioning from a term specifically about the mentally-challenged and more about people who aren't differently abled but act like it. At one time "moron" "idiot," and even "dumb" were terribly offenseive terms.

Obviously the meaning of the word hasn't evolved all that far yet, though.

I think it gets used here so much because it feels good to use such a blatantly un-PC word, especially in reference to the Chimpincharge. And writing fuckingscumbagidiotpieceofshit in all caps gets tedious after a while.

As a replacement word, how about Gumpish?

[Bunny]

16. I think you have a point about word transitioning.

Back 70+ years ago, people with mental retardation were classified as idiots, imbeciles, or morons. These words were used to label them according to their degree of mental retardation.

About 40+ years or so ago, it was recognized that those words were very negative, so they changed them to things like educable or trainable. Now THOSE words are passe, and we're on to new ways of referring to folks with mental retardation. No doubt those will one day change as well. Language is dynamic, word meanings change, etc.

It has become acceptable to use moron, idiot, etc. as a reference to people who behave stupidly despite alleged "normal" intelligence. Perhaps in a few more years, retard will lose the stigma attached to it. Who knows?

And yes, MORAN is always correct!! :)

[no name no slogan]

20. The terms (like the language) are constantly evolving

I work for a state agency that works with mentally challenged folk, and have a few friends who are mentally challenged as well. Even in some circles, the word "retarded" is seen as outdated-- like calling an African-American "colored" is today. I believe the current preferred term is "mentally challenged", although even that one is getting passé, too.

In the earliest history of my agency, we operated homes for the "imbeciles", "feeble-minded" and the "deaf and dumb". You would get a severe reprimand if you used such terms around here today.

However, I will NEVER give up "moran". After all, the RWers coined it themselves! :D

[SarahB]

15. Yes

There's plenty of us here who know and even love someone who is mentally retarded, so to people who don't grasp this concept, have a big helping of "shut the fuck up". Got it? Good.

[Deb]

18. Thank you!

stands and applauds

[jukes]

19. add

dickweed, jerkwad, & POS to the acceptable list: let's use adjectives/perjoratives @ least apt to their condition!