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Retarded.

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    #122
    Shakespeare's Sister
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,412 ✭✭✭Shakespeare's Sister


    I use the term about people or ideas I think are really annoyingly stupid. I never use it in relation to people with special needs.
    I don't blame people for whom the term jars for not liking the above, but there really is no intention to offend people with special needs. Far from it.


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    #123
    wonderfulname
    Registered Users Posts: 3,943 ✭✭✭wonderfulname


    Magaggie wrote: »
    I use the term about people or ideas I think are really annoyingly stupid. I never use it in relation to people with special needs.
    I don't blame people for whom the term jars for not liking the above, but there really is no intention to offend people with special needs. Far from it.

    In this instance you are equating 'annoyingly stupid' with special needs, it's not nice, it can make people feel like crap, and it is most certainly insulting. It takes no effort for you to switch from saying 'retarded' to 'stupidly annoying', and it would be a lot better for those around you.

    The acceptable uses of 'retarded' include things like refering to a plants retarded growth after the winter, unacceptable is linking a slur to an undesirable trait and casually throwing it about the place.


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    #124
    Shakespeare's Sister
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,412 ✭✭✭Shakespeare's Sister


    Yeh I guess so.
    Although I'm not consciously equating really stupid people with people who have special needs, because I personally don't associate the term retard or retarded with people who have special needs, even if that's what the term originally meant. Same with idiot, imbecile, lunatic. Originally these terms applied to people with learning difficulties/severe mental illnesses, whereas their meanings have become far, far looser now. Personally I view retard and retarded in the same way but I appreciate not everyone agrees.


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    #125
    RainyDay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,925 ✭✭✭RainyDay


    Magaggie wrote: »
    Yeh I guess so.
    Although I'm not consciously equating really stupid people with people who have special needs, because I personally don't associate the term retard or retarded with people who have special needs, even if that's what the term originally meant. Same with idiot, imbecile, lunatic. Originally these terms applied to people with learning difficulties/severe mental illnesses, whereas their meanings have become far, far looser now. Personally I view retard and retarded in the same way but I appreciate not everyone agrees.

    John McGinley explains it well.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04Ser5wmPSA


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    #126
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    Magaggie wrote: »
    I use the term about people or ideas I think are really annoyingly stupid. I never use it in relation to people with special needs.
    I don't blame people for whom the term jars for not liking the above, but there really is no intention to offend people with special needs. Far from it.

    It's not the intention that matters, it's the perception. Just because somebody doesn't mean to cause offence, doesn't mean offence isn't taken.

    Personally, I abhor the use of the word.


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    #127
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    Calhoun wrote: »
    He got banned for trolling, so i dont think your getting a reply.
    Just FYIs, he was banned for being a re-reg, rather than for any points he made in FB.


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    #128
    Overheal
    Registered Users Posts: 81,856 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Personally I agreed with this original thread back when it was a thing. And several AH threads happened around the same time flagging the word retarded as being too ubiquitous.

    It's probably heavy handed to card for use of the word casually ("this toaster oven is retarded") but I'm all for advocating people try and phase it out of their vocabulary


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    #129
    K-9
    Registered Users Posts: 43,311 ✭✭✭✭K-9


    Overheal wrote: »
    It's probably heavy handed to card for use of the word casually ("this toaster oven is retarded") but I'm all for advocating people try and phase it out of their vocabulary

    Would be interesting to see if the good cop approach would work. Personally I doubt people who see using the word retarded as a fundamental right of free speech are going to agree without a keyboard fight at dawn.

    Mad Men's Don Draper : What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons.



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