Does the word "retard" offend you? ☻?

Question

It is a legit word describing a real medical condition but since people have used it degradingly some people are offended when it is used. Now they want you to say "mentally handicapped "no offense but to me that is a smart allek way of saying "retarded". People are what they are! You could change the word to pickles and people would still use it as an insult "you're pickled!" then all off a sudden I don't know how to order my hamburger anymore without offending the pickled person at drive through who can't do math.

I might as well say, ill take my burger with spit please!

Answer 1

not really...its like the word "gay" being used as an insult.

Answer 2

It doesn't offend me personally, because I am not retarded and don't personally know anyone that is. With that being said, I never use the word "retarded" to describe anything I don't like. I think it can be a degrading word if it's used in a degrading sense. If you're talking about mental illness, retard is perfectly acceptable. That's the definition of the word after all!

Answer 3

I suppose it depends on how it's used. If someone's using it in a clinical way to describe a person who actually is mentally handicapped, I'm not offended. But if it's used as an insult then I find it offensive because it's degrading to both the person who's being insulted and the mentally handicapped.

Answer 4

The word "Retard" is not a legit medical term (meaning it's not written in medical books in that sense) but the words, "Mentally Retarded," or Mental Retardation," are. So yes, some people will get offended, especially if they're personally affected by the illness.

Answer 5

I'm not offended by it, if used in that humorous sense. But I know a guy who's son is Autistic, and he's offended by it. I think people use it too generally, and to describe conditions that don't have to do with mental retardation.

Seems like people are looking for reasons to be offended.

Answer 6

It is also a verb , meaning to slow down or inhibit, among other things. I do not find it offensive, having been this way all my life. On the other hand the people that use it in an offending manner, really piss me off

Answer 7

That doesn't really offend me but what does make me pretty mad is when people make movies and commercials acting like they're mentally challenged for humor. I don't think it's right. But other movies like Rain Man and The Other Sister those are okay. But movies like The Ringer, I just think they're horrible.

Answer 8

It doesn't bother me, but it may and has definitely bothered people who have somebody mentally challenged in their family or as a close friend. The use of the word gay doesn't bother me either because I myself am not gay. But those who are gay may definitely be offended.

I am offended by jokes pertaining to police officers, though. Calling them pigs really irks me. I also get really mad when they make donut jokes about cops. Why does this bother me? Because my whole family is in law enforcement.

Answer 9

i get called a retard all the time and it never offends me and i have called many people retards and no offense was ever taken from it. people should just learn to take a chill pill

Answer 10

I think the word "retard" is not really offensive to me..Because really it's just a word, and I think it sounds like the person is really a loner in their head

Answer 11

I personally don't get offended by it. But there are certain people that will get offended by the littlest things so it really depends on how sensitive a person is.