Why is it that society always reduces simple to understand words to emotionless, harder to pronounce, multi-syllabic words with no clearly defined psychological meaning.
Shellshock became Battle Fatigue.
Battle fatigue became POST TRAMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
Fat became Obese.
midget became little person and then verticaly challenged.
Retard (one of my favorites) became Autistic, developmentaly disabled, mentally handicapped, etc.
Cripple became Handicapped
Handicapped became differently abled.
STOP ALLOWING THE B.S.-CRATS to destroy the English language as we know it.
And they wonder why American kids can't read or write like the rest of the world..
2007-02-23 04:30:42 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
I agree with you on many of your points, but autism does not mean a person is necessarily mentally retarded. Many are actually very intelligent. Many just have issues with sensory and organization of thoughts.
2007-02-23 07:12:15 · answer #1 · answered by laineyette 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should look up two new words, Field and Discipline. The words you have listed here are not always (if any of them are) equal. For example, your title question, "Retarder" is no long used, because of connotation, not denotation. It means "slow" and covers a BROAD range of mental illness, autism is one specific condition. Your question is the same as saying "why is the term Biology replaced by Marine Biology".
Shell shock was specific to a time and set of circumstances, "Battle Fatigue" is inclusive of other circumstances but includes shell shock. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a VERY inclusive set of circumstances. One can suffer from PTSD from any condition where one's life is in jeopardy, like being raped at gunpoint. Battle Shock is war zone specific.
Obese is a medical term, fat is a layman's term. As I have a Kinesiology degree, I use the word eccymosis, where you would say "bruise".
Does anybody use the word "vertically challenged" - I stand less then 5' tall, I could be considered "vertically challenged" though I don't suffer from dwarfism, which is what "midget" is referring to. Again, the word midget has been dropped because of connotation.
Cripple or Handicapped - both are very OLD words, handicapped coming from Hand and Cap - meaning that disabled people were beggars. Crippled brings a connotation of an injured sustained as well, disabled brings a connotation of not being able to do anything.
American children can't read or write like the rest of the world because your public education system sucks and is plagued with to much propaganda. To many parents are relying on schools to fully educate their children and not doing enough parenting. These terms are used in most all English speaking countries, but the rest of us don't have problems with them. Perhaps its not the words, perhaps its the people. You want to complain about degradation of language, look at the slang and "internet language" kids are using and not learning grammar or spelling.
I'm dyslexic and STILL spell better then 80% of Americans under the age of 20.
2007-02-23 06:10:01 · answer #2 · answered by Noota Oolah 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The term "mentally retarded"...(NOT "retard" as you so eloquently spewed) means that intellectual growth is slowed or delayed and is caused by a number of unforseen (and unfortunate) occurrences....it isn't the name for someone ignorant...such as yourself...although it SHOULD be.
Autism is not a fancy term for ANYTHING...it is a condition in and of itself and has nothing to do with intellect.
No one is destroying the English language by adding words and terms to it that YOU don't happen to understand. Try doing some research (which would require READING...I'm just warning you ahead of time) and you will find that all of the conditions and disorders you describe certainly DO have clearly defined psychological meanings.
2007-02-23 05:03:00 · answer #3 · answered by LolaCorolla 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You know what, because youre none of the above doesnt make you a superior human. some people have these problems and they too are a part of the society. Dont the terms used normally, labels as such, need to be to their liking as well? Why should they get offended with a name take which they think is disparaging, just becuse god made them as such.
Autism and retardation (differently abled people) are two different conditions, very very different.
2007-02-23 04:49:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Amen to "imasis2". Before you post a "question" that is supposed to seem knowledgable... get the fact. Autism is a mental disability that has many many ranges and levels and IQs. And... one word cannot describe it. Retard did not "become" anything. It is a word that people say dont use or that it is offensive, but it's a general word. It doesnt apply to the more specific disability.
2007-02-23 04:52:35 · answer #5 · answered by C C 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do you even know what autism is? Everyone is entitled to say what they want, and feel how they want, but you don't need to be rude about it. American kids are the way they are because people just don't care about the basics, love, discipline and common courtesy. Instead of blowing a lot of hot air about stuff like this, you could go be a big brother or a mentor to a kid, so that you can make an impact on one kid, and help him read and write the way you say they should.
2007-02-23 04:42:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Retard is the term best used to describe you! My son has an autism spectrum disorder and has an IQ over 135! You on the other hand have an IQ that is, I guess around 65. Stop showing your ignorance and put your keyboard up the orifice you are sitting on.
By the way, both Einstein and Edison wouldhave been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum disorder if they were living today.
2007-02-23 04:39:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
Dude, nice job using the dictionary. Did they give you a free one when you graduated with your degree in Male Nursing from ITT Tech? And how's your crappy kid doing? And your 70 year old wife, since you like older women? You are so weird, it's not even funny. You still suck.
They're different conditions. You are retarded though. That's for sure.
2007-02-23 05:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have known several people with autism issues. Most are of normal intelligence and one is rather gifted, and some not so bright. It is a very different issue than what you call retarded.
2007-02-23 04:44:13 · answer #9 · answered by OldGringo 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most Autism children/adults are superior to you.Autism seems to cause high I.Q. which for some reason gets whacked around and used. But not used. Their brains manipulate everything so differently than a regular humans.
2007-02-23 04:40:22 · answer #10 · answered by Rev. Justin G 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋