What do you think about kids these days (mostly people under the age of 25) using the words "gay" and "retarded" as synonyms for "bad", "horrible", "incompetent", "insufficient", etc.?
Gay is supposed to be a neutral term used to refer to the homosexual community. Retarded is supposed to be a scientific term to describe a person whose physical and/or mental development is delayed.
When people use these words just to describe something they don't like, how do you feel?
I am writing an essay on this, and I would like to gather some opinions. Once again, I would like some MATURE opinions and contributions on this subject matter. If you post anything questionable, I will report you
2007-09-25 13:57:57 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Something I should have added...
If these terms don't offend you, or you don't think anything of it, think of this:
How would you feel if a racial term that applied to you evolved the same way? i.e., if you're Hispanic, and people started using "Hispanic" as a synonym for "bad". Or Asian, White, Black, anything. Put yourself in that position. What would you think if you heard someone say "Man, I'm stuck in traffic, this is so Hispanic." or "Man that test was so Black"
2007-09-25 14:17:54 · update #1
I'm a kid under the age of 25. My friends and other kids my age call people gay and retarded. I don't like it when they do that. I don't think being retarted is a laughing matter. You should go around calling people that. I could have been retarded at one point in my life because I was born premature but lucky I grew up fine. What makes things even worse it hurts more to be called retarded or gay than being called stupid. Trust me I know. I hope this helps you with your essay. :-)
2007-09-25 14:08:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry,
but I'm not feeling
really mature tonight.
And threats are not
a way to win friends
let alone influence enemies.
And I suppose your mention
of threats are suppose
to make us all
"willy-nilly" shake in our boots.
See, I told you
I wasn't feeling
very mature tonight.
Being 59
and very outspoken is
not a guaranty that
I will be mature when
I write an answer. I can be just as silly
& childish as the next guy.
Probably worse,
I've had more time being a
"witch spelled with a B rather than a W".
Back to my answer:
I Don't think it is
only those under 25,
there are boo-coos of homophobic people
out there
and by your lumping the 25 & under bunch
as the only perpetrators,
you have dealt them an injustice.
I think that kids today are way more
open-minded about things
like homosexuality than
the kids of my day.
I still know jocks
who think they will become "Gay",
if they sit next to one at a ballgame.
While writing this essay,
did you do any interviews with people
in this age group or
is this just your biased opinion?
I blame the parents, teachers and the clergy
for using the wrong terminology.
Gay is supposed to mean happy.
Do you really think someone
wakes up one morning and
says, "hey, life is hard,,,let's make it worse,
I think I want to be Gay,
so no one will want to be
with me, except others who also
want to be unhappy."
I don't think it works this way.
People aren't conditioned
anymore to worry about someone
else's feelings.
Now. it's just,
"hey, I got mine...hope you did, too."
My favorite phrase for those, who I think
are not thinking about how it makes
someone else feel.
I consider them to be the "Mentally Departed"
This is about as mature as I want to get tonight.
And by the way,
everyone is entitled to their opinion,
whether you agree with them or not.
2007-09-25 14:58:51 · answer #2 · answered by ♫ Bubastes, Cat Goddess♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Retarded is not used much any more. The term now used is developmentally disabled or DD. I'd expect derrogatory remarks from kids, lately it seems adults are just as mouthy. My wife and I ran a hosthome where we provided 24/7 care for DD and other disabled people as respite care. Most of the folks on our block we friendly and supportive while others hurled insults, rocks and dog sh** at us. Personally I am not so offended when the insults come at me as I am when they are shouted at DD, homosexuals, whatever the target of the insult is. Particulary because DD usually cannot defend themselves on any level or against any person. Some people have never fought with anyone and they are afraid to fight or of moral character not to fight. It is amazing that people in the US are so mean-spirited against those who cannot help the way they are and to those who live a lifestyle contrary to others'. It is offensive for religious groups to single someone out for their lifestyle and then harrass that person. These do-gooders are the same people that faint at the sight of a woman breast-feeding her baby in public and then want to go evangelize third-world countries where the population may not wear any clothing at all! I have found the best course of action is to ignore the insults and keep moving to where I am going. Friends and relatives who are gay just want to live like anyone else. Those who are vulgar in speech are vulgar because it is the easiest way to speak. It causes 'shock' when vulgar language is used and it usually gets a snicker or two. It is a sorry excuse for humor expressed by sorry individuals.
2007-09-25 14:20:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Retarded is no longer used, I believe it is now developmentally challenged. I think people sound both ignorant and insensitive when they use "gay" and "retarded" as your above mentioned words. I think they are too lazy to find the appropriate words to use and do not wish to understand the true meaning of the words they are saying both socially and literally. I also believe that as teens mature and move on to college or higher education it does seem to be used less and less, or at least I hope it would. I do not notice it being used as often when I am at school though.
2007-09-25 14:05:29 · answer #4 · answered by jillian0508 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yo Yo Yo, it be like, way cool.
Actually, stupid seems to be the fad these days. As for how I feel about it, I don't let it bother me at all. If someone is that ignorant, well, maybe one day they'll grow up.
When I was a child (junior high / high school age) there were lots of ignorant people (my peers). Most of them grew out of that phase and matured nicely. I guess it's like a good piece of fruit. If you take a taste before it ripens (matures), it will taste bitter.
Good luck with your essay.
2007-09-25 14:09:30 · answer #5 · answered by tercir2006 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am a kid, and i will give it to you from my perspective. i live in south side st petersburg, in florida, and ebonics is used a lot down here. we usually use the word gay for someone that is acting i guess stupidly. like if someone says something stupid or does something stupid, we might say, "man, you gay". as for retarded, when someone does something stupid in school, like say homework is section 5.2 questions and they do section 2.5, we might call them retarded. me, i use those terms a lot, but seldomly do they mean thier actually meanings.
2007-09-25 14:05:16 · answer #6 · answered by ryansraysrule 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh I hate that. My Fiancee does that. I think it is a sign of low intellegence. They use those words cause their vocabulary is so bad they have no other language to pick from. It is almost like people who cuss a lot. they have nothing more intellegent to say.
2007-09-25 14:08:27 · answer #7 · answered by poof10958 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think the use of these terms is building up a negative image in society towards homosexuals and those with physical/mental retardation. because whenever they hear such terms, it becomes synonymous with "dumb", "stupid" or "bad" in general.
2007-09-25 14:02:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It shows their lack of education and social background may be.. I don't mind using these terms when we are just having fun, but to say these terms in order to hurt someone is impolite.
2007-09-25 14:02:05 · answer #9 · answered by angelsoqt 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋