We also used to pretty much treat anyone who wasn't a white male as though they were a second class citizen. As someone who has a intellectually disabled cousin, who was called "retard" by people all his childhood (and I know it hurts him) I think it's a little sad that any adult who is a grown up goes out of their way to defend their right to say "that's retarded" (or words/phrases of a similar meaning). This isn't about being politically correct, or liberal or whatever. It's about giving them same dignity you or I would expect. Everyone here knows why we use certain words, and what they mean. To act like we're just using the "definition" is disingenuous. People say it (and many other words) because it's culturally acceptable to use certain words, because some people don't have the power to speak up for themselves. Is it really that big of a deal to you that people ask you not to use pejorative phrases?
The point is, why is it okay to say that it's stupid, dumb, moronic, crazy, or insane, but it's not okay to say retarded? We were discussing the double standard of certain words, and debating the social process of political correctness.
Insane could be offensive, but who would complain? They would be too busy waterfalling eskimo compound flakes
because groups of people weren't labeled as "stupid" "dumb" "moronic" and put into institutions, or ridiculed in public. And people who were insane tend to not really know you're calling other people, or certain acts, "insane". In essence, yes, you can use it, but you have to realize why people ask you not to. Work with people with varying degrees of intellectual and physical disabilities, and you wouldn't talk like this. And if you claim that you do, or have in the past (and still talk like this), it's probably best that you don't continue doing so.
Let me ask you though, do you think it's the word or the act of bullying that upsets your cousin? Any word, said in the wrong context, could be just as hurtful as retard. That's my whole point Julius. We had a debate about the word, and other words, and why those words are no longer acceptable. I don't see what's so wrong with that. I get that some people just want us to accept that the word is taboo and move on, but I like to debate things.
good to know you invented some imaginary shit about me purely inside your head i think a large reason why people are against the word retarded is that it was often used with such a broad stroke. not just people with down syndrome. brain injuries, learning disabilities, etc, hell, sufferers of neural syphilis, were all considered "retards" people with palsy, MS, ALS, etc were called retards, when their brains worked just fine. its just an ugly word, it even sounds gross. not as gross as "moist" but yeah. i dont use it. as far as insanity goes, they likely would rather be addressed as schizophrenic, agoraphobic, obsessive compulsive, etc, in the same way. "insane" was also used with broad strokes. ask frances farmer about it.
That's really offensive that you would suggest that people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, and other mental illnesses don't deserve the same dignity and respect that you afford to those with mental developmental impairments, and even have the audacity to suggest that they don't have the capacity to understand the pejorative nature of the word "insane". That's an incredibly hypocritical post.
1) Huh? Where were you? Oh yeah, not born yet. 2) Huh? If you're that unknowledgeable, you shouldn't work with them. Here are the definitions by IQ that I was taught. 70-80 Borderline deficiency 50-69 Moron 20-49 Imbecile <20 Idiot One word goes out of fashion and another comes into fashion. Your problem is that you think the stupids are oppressed by the smarts. Most smarts feel oppressed by the stupids in power. We need a vocabulary to argue and insult. You want to mute us and prevent us from becoming empowered with any terms that pack a punch.
