I am so sick of this crap. I just read a question from a girl asking if she's a "retarded dancer." As the family member of a mentally retarded person, I find this incredibly offensive. Of course, it's easy to pick on the retarded because they can't defend themselves, unlike when you refer to someone as the "N" word. Can people stop being so ignorant, stupid and offensive? If you met an actual retarded person, you would find that they are not very different from yourself, they just have a child-like mind. What's so silly about that?
2007-11-02 05:05:24 · 12 answers · asked by ? 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
"You are suggesting that it is basically the same to be mentally handicapped as to be of a particular race."
No, I merely used that as an example of a derogatory, offensive term that should not be used with such frivolity. Mentally retarded people are born that way; people of different races are born that way. That's what I meant by that. I didn't mean they were the same thing; thanks for pointing that out.
Rebekah, you must be one of the most ignorant persons who ever lived. I hope you have no children; God forbid one of them would have a mental disability and you would think your own child to be "ewww."
2007-11-02 06:14:27 · update #1
Okay, to clarify:
If you say, "You're so retarded" to someone or say, "My computer's so retarded," most folks won't think twice about hearing it; it's just part of the daily vocabulary. If you say, "You're such an N-word," people take great offense to it, even if they're not part of the race that is referred to in such a derogatory fashion. It's not PC to say the "N" word, but "retards" are fair game. Does that make sense now?
2007-11-02 06:24:50 · update #2
I know what you mean. I have to admit, I used to use it a heck of a lot, but since going on a work experience with children with severe learning difficulties, it's made me really think about using the word. I feel more strongly about others misusing the word as well, so you're not alone!
2007-11-02 05:11:35 · answer #1 · answered by Dolly Mixture 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its relating someones actions to something that is deemed negative; being retarded would be to have a mental handicap that limits your intelligence... as you said, to that of a child like mind... Its used to be derogative towards someones thoughts or actions as being so ludicrous that they must suffer from a mental handicap to make/have such an action/thought. It would be like any other word that has negative implications attached to it, such as a whore. Its not necessarily bad to sleep around with lots of people, but socially its looked down upon.
It is not the same as using for example the N-word. One is commenting on their actions through metaphor to something seen socially as a negative (being mentally handicapped, being obese, sleeping around with many partners), the other is implying that they are inferior merely due to their race.
You are suggesting that it is basically the same to be mentally handicapped as to be of a particular race. There is nothing wrong with a handicapped person, but it is clearly not a desirable trait; the same cannot be said for someones race.
I'm sorry that you have a family member afflicted with a mental retardation, but the rest of the world is not going to pretend that its not undesirable to be retarded to make you feel better. No one wants to be retarded. That cannot be said for race.
2007-11-02 05:24:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I like to hope that when people use the term "retarded" when making fun of themselves or others, they are not referencing someone with Down's.
In actuality, retarded simply means "slowed" and does not automatically denote a person with a mental disability. I would be more offended to hear that a child with Down's was being referred to as "retarded" in a negative way.
I am sorry to hear about your family member, but I am glad to hear that you obviously love and appreciate this person. Please try to understand that "retarded" is sadly part of common speech, and that people who use it are not necessarily trying to be offensive to those with mental conditions.
2007-11-02 05:12:01 · answer #3 · answered by elsie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing is 'silly' about retarded people ... and you are correct in saying that they just have a 'child-like mind' ... I have an 'above genius level' IQ and am a psychologist, and I have LEARNED many things about people from the 'retarded.' Thank you for your 'complaint' ... I will happily sign your petition to ask the 'ignorant fools' to stop misusing the term 'retarded'!
2007-11-02 05:10:44 · answer #4 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thankyou. the amount of times i have been called a retard because i have made a mistake, i cant count. i find it highly offensive as i have a mentally disabled brother. This is not a comedic word and should be taken seriously
2007-11-02 05:09:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand what you're saying... But what exactly do you mean when you say, "It's easy to pick on the retarded because thay can't defend themselves, unlike when you refer to someone as the "N" word?"
Is that not also ignorant, stupid, and offensive?
2007-11-02 05:22:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Stay away from the politics section. Conservatives have coined a word "libtard". The insensitive creeps use it all the time!
2007-11-02 05:09:34 · answer #7 · answered by wyldfyr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you ! My brother (GOD rest )was special. It infuriates me to hear people use that word! Just because they are not "normal" does not mean that they can not be hurt by words. They feel just like every one else some are even more sensitive. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK PEOPLE!
2007-11-02 05:12:49 · answer #8 · answered by curiousgirl2 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thats why I say mentally handicapped
2007-11-02 05:08:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, they're a bunch of retards.
2007-11-02 05:08:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋