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| Moderated by: Britt |
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Shorty Original500© Member 
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1st I want to say that I would NEVER call anyone a name to hurt them. I would never make fun of anyone with a handi-cap, disablity or anything. ESPECIALLY a child. So no flaming please!! I used the word retarded refering to an action someone did, a cashier to be exact. I said my town can be retarded at times. I was not aware that this was inapropriate or hurtful. I got flamed BIG time. With no explanation or anything, and was also said that anyone that kept my company wasnt worthy to be around. Very long story but anyways, I see my error and will try my darndest to never use the word. So then brings me to this girl I grew up with, I just recently been back in touch with her. She uses the word CONSTANTLY many times a day. I sat and made sure I was hearing her correctly before I asked her about it. The reason I asked is that she has a child that has several disorders and is classified by the doctors as having severe mental retardation. I wont go into the lagestics, but he draws a check and will have to be cared for the rest of his life. How I brought it up was by telling her my story how I learned of it. Then she tells me that YES that word offends her!! I was floored and did confront her. She says she lets it slip every now and then. But trying to erase it from her mouth. The child is 8 yrs old! How long does it take? So then I hear her on a daily basis use it. Well then this other gal used it, she jumped all over her and told her how ugly the word is and how it hurts her feelings. Then not even a whole 10 minutes later, she uses it again herself. I of course made her apologize to the other girl. I am never gonna use the word in public and try to never let it slip at home ever again. So I am just curious as to if this is a case by case thing? Why she would say it hurts her feelings but yet use it herself?
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Lady Cop Pioneer100© Member  BAH HUMBUG
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'retarded' can be used as a legal term of art in court to keep someone off death row. (except in texas) otherwise, it's best to be PC and say 'mentally challenged'. i can't say dirtbag scum-sucking bottom-feeding garbage, i have to say 'the defendant'. (who IS a dirtbag scum-sucking bottom-feeding piece of garbage). 
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UsedToRide Original500© Member  ^^^That is LOVE!!^^^
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GOD but I hate "PC" crap like this. If people spent a fraction of the time being concerned with things that actually matter, instead of what comes out other people's mouths, we might actually make some progress. Somewhere. About ANYTHING. I'm about as un-"PC" as a person can get. If I want to call something or someone retarded, guess what I'm going to do? I'm going to call it or them retarded. They may be "oh-fended" but hell, if I'm calling them that, it was my intention to offend.
Respect some, trust one, fear none ~~Bullet http://www.freeholbrook.com The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. ~~Dostoyevsky |
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Shorty Original500© Member
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Whew, glad I am not the only one not PC!! I asked my husband to give me a list of words and phrases that I can not use in public! That is sad huh?
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Britt Forum-Blogger© Original500© Member  Learning Contentment
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Ah, you guys are going to find my response annoying, but here it goes: In my mind, this issue isn't a matter of being politically correct, it is a matter of respect and honoring people's right to be defined by their abilities, not by their disabilities. Who each of us is as a human being embodies so much more than what we can and cannot do. Words like "retarded" strip a person of their right to individuality, and encourages more able people to assume people with disabilities are a "waste of space". That is an untruth. I prefer the terms "developmentally delayed", "academically challenged", even "differently abled," as we are all, in truth "differently abled". We are individuals! The word "retarded" has come to embody much more than just "Sally is a slow learner." It is now used to imply that "Sally" is outright stupid, lacks skills and talents, and is essentially worthless. That is a patently wrong assessment of the disabled. More importantly, disability is normal. To explain, allow me to quote Robert L. Metts, Ph.D.: "By normal, I do not mean that disability is the most common state in which people live. It isn't. Instead, I mean that all kinds of disabilities happen to all types of people at all stages in their 'normal' human lifecycles. "Disabilities can occur at conception as a result of coincidental occurrences in the uterus. They can even be predetermined long before conception through the genetics of parents. Once born, all human beings are then subject to a myriad of disabling possibilities for the rest of their lives." My step-brother Doug is chronologically a forty-eight year old man but he is roughly the developmental age of a two-year-old. He is also severely autistic. Thankfully, he lives in a state with progressive laws for the disabled that permits him to live in a group home with an on-call attendant. Though Doug is much more limited than most human beings, he takes great pride in his work and he works tirelessly and conscientiously. When someone calls Doug "Retard!", I immediately feel upset. With that one word, they immediately dismiss his loving character and strong work ethic, preferring to focus on the outward signs of his disability. You may argue, "Yeah, well, that happens to all of us, we all get called names. Big deal?" Perhaps, but the civility of any society is measured by how well it cares for the most vulnerable. Calling people whom live with a developmental disability "retard" is a sign of gross incivility in our culture. Children must be taught to treat other human beings with respect. I believe it sends children a very destructive message when we use the word "retard" or "retarded" freely in our speech, or when we permit our children to use such terminology. I don't use the "N" word, either, nor do I slander people whom are grossly overweight. IT IS A MATTER OF RESPECT. Words are "only symbols," yes, but they also carry tremendous meaning. OK, so now you can throw rotten eggs at me, ha-ha.
"All that you have is your soul." --Tracy Chapman |
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cynicalninja Forum-Blogger© Original500© Member  Smiling Shinobi
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Retarded is just a word, a word that can be used perfectly legitimately to describe someone who is "mentally challenged". It seems many things in the world are becoming reversed, we now live in a world where a spoken word is seen as being as bad as (sometimes worse than) a physical attack . I can think of at least 100 other words that are far more offensive and insulting. I am "short" I am not "vertically challenged" !!! 
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Britt Forum-Blogger© Original500© Member Learning Contentment
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cynicalninja wrote: Retarded is just a word, a word that can be used perfectly legitimately to describe someone who is "mentally challenged". It seems many things in the world are becoming reversed, we now live in a world where a spoken word is seen as being as bad as (sometimes worse than) a physical attack . I can think of at least 100 other words that are far more offensive and insulting. I do not know what connotation the word "retarded" has in Great Britain. Here in the United States, it is largely a word used to harm and humiliate others.
"All that you have is your soul." --Tracy Chapman |
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cynicalninja Forum-Blogger© Original500© Member Smiling Shinobi
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Britt wrote: cynicalninja wrote:Retarded is just a word, a word that can be used perfectly legitimately to describe someone who is "mentally challenged". It seems many things in the world are becoming reversed, we now live in a world where a spoken word is seen as being as bad as (sometimes worse than) a physical attack . I can think of at least 100 other words that are far more offensive and insulting. It's just a word, I guess the full wording would be "Mental retardation". I don't see the crime in ordinary people trying to get along with their lives being brought to task for the momentary use of a word in a given circumstance. The word "retarded" may seem a little unpleasant, a little inappropriate, but Britt please take a good look at the world around you and keep the use of a word in perspective ? 
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Britt Forum-Blogger© Original500© Member Learning Contentment
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cynicalninja wrote: Britt wrote:cynicalninja wrote:Retarded is just a word, a word that can be used perfectly legitimately to describe someone who is "mentally challenged". It seems many things in the world are becoming reversed, we now live in a world where a spoken word is seen as being as bad as (sometimes worse than) a physical attack . I can think of at least 100 other words that are far more offensive and insulting. I think if you or someone in your family lived with a developmental disability, you would not be so insensitive. This is why it is important to learn EMPATHY.
"All that you have is your soul." --Tracy Chapman |
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Saint Forum-Blogger© Pioneer100© Member  Polymath
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Britt wrote: Children must be taught to treat other human beings with respect. I used to use that word a lot when I was little, but as a grew older, i found myself using it more and more. Then it became really taboo and I began to understand a lot more about the condition and the challenges that a retarded person has. So I don't use it at all anymore.
A^2 + B^2 = C^2 |
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Britt Forum-Blogger© Original500© Member Learning Contentment
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Saint wrote: Britt wrote:Children must be taught to treat other human beings with respect. To Saint: Oi, you used "retarded" in your answer, Saint.  Hahaha. Sigh. These issues are difficult. I suppose, in the end, what really matters is a person's intention: By using a derogatory word, is a person intending to hurt or are they simply intending to identify? People become sensitive to language after repeatedly hearing it used in a derogatory manner. I don't know what it is to live with autism and severe developmental disabilities like my step-brother, but I see how painful name-calling is to him thus I encourage others to not use words like "retard" and "retarded".To Ninja: My point is: It doesn't matter whether we think language is innocuous. What matters is not offending another's heart. Of course, you may not believe that is an important endeavor and that is certainly within your right. For the purpose of child education, however, I believe it is essential that we teach empathy and sensitivity. We cannot be united as a species unless we come to understand, however shallowly, the pain other people face. The words themselves are harmless; it is how they are received that gives them power; and, indeed, we choose to give them meaning. As a mother and teacher, I do not tolerate name-calling or abusive language with my children or students. In my opinion, good character starts with treating people in a loving and respectful way. It's just common sense.
"All that you have is your soul." --Tracy Chapman |
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Saint Forum-Blogger© Pioneer100© Member Polymath
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You think that's bad? I used "more and more" instead of "less and less" Oy Vey!!  I'm really, really tired. Either that or I'm mentally challenged tonight.
A^2 + B^2 = C^2 |
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Britt Forum-Blogger© Original500© Member Learning Contentment
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Saint wrote: You think that's bad? I used "more and more" instead of "less and less" Join the club, hahaha. 
"All that you have is your soul." --Tracy Chapman |
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