Been there, done that, got the scars.

Edit: And we are talking about Fox. Therefore more like "Journalist".

Wow, all these people getting all upset because some people don't think it's right to refer to non-retarded people as "retards" as an insult. Fucking faggots.

Wow, four pages! I guess I don't necessarily need to lend my opinion, but I will. :-)

I understand where you're coming from. It's been around what, at least since the 15th century, and for the most part had been meant to impede, slow down, etc. and only when applied to people did it eventually obtain some sort of politically-correct stigma to use it to refer to those people.

Personally I don't think "disabled" is any better, really, but it doesn't tend to get used as an insult. But I guess that's what we get when labeling someone to define them is easier than any other approach.

These days it seems even "handicapped" tends to be a no-no (I remember that girl on "Different Strokes" a long time ago who said "I'm not handicapped; I'm handicapable." Despite the fact that, as Daniel Tosh pointed out, all the reserved parking spots have "handicapped" signs.

There are many words that, over time, have a new meaning or application or association applied to them, and also objects or designs (swastika, anyone?) - and somebody, somewhere will always be insulted or offended by something.

But I do think it's stupid that someone who is supposed to be smart, cultured, etc., would use "retard" in that way. It's not really surprising, though; often those who cry the loudest about being "holier than thou" are really quite shitty people behind closed doors, and now and then it leaks out.

Ok, so define "a retard".

It's a person isn't it? Exactly.

The use of the word "retard" as a slur is probably its most pervasive use now. Language changes over time, and if you want to use the word "retard" or "retarded" now, you have to be more specific to avoid the automatic assumption that you are using a slur. For example, I can say "the patient's retarded growth will keep him from ever growing to a height of more than 5 feet tall" and most people will know I'm using the old definition, but I can't say "his height is totally retarded" without leading to confusion and possible offense.

I think the correct term for such a person would actually be "retarded". Having taken a psychology class once, I know for sure that people who have low IQ are classified as "retarded." That is the official, medically accepted term, and that is probably true for all developmental disabilites.

That is why using the term "retard" as an insult is considered derogatory, because you're taking a term that is used by doctors to describe certain disabilities and twisting and using it in a negative way. If everyone I don't like, or does something I don't like, I call a "retard" or "retarded", it is putting down people who have developmental disabilities.

It is analogous to constantly calling people a "cancer patient" as an generic insult. Even as a bystander, shouldn't I take an issue with that, if I lost a family member or close friend to cancer, or I myself was dying from cancer?

(I'm not really addressing you specifically, just making general comment and expanding on the points you make)

I thought the term just meant that an Airbus pilot needed to bring the the throttles back to idle...

Sticks & Stones may hurt your bones... words will never hurt you.


As society progress.. it's incredible how people become more and more suceptible.

Good thing you lot don't live in the middle-east... Here insults are used practically always.

"You mother fucker ! you ate my piece of cake ! ", "You fukin whore, you went to the movies without me" etc...

I believe it's stupid (OMG HE USED THE WORD STUPID !) to get offended if somebody mis-use a word because in the end it's the meaning that counts.

For instance if one would clearly mean to insult specific people, then I would have a problem with it, but if it's just a word mis-used in an untactful manner, out of habit... like "Fuck, that retard just stomped on my foot" then it shouldn't be offensive because it's simply mis-used and doesn't mean anything... the person who said that would have only said a non-sensical sentence.. nothing to drown a cat over...

Official one:

a holding back or slowing down : retardation

The "often offensive" person label is definition 2. Verb or noun though I don't really care, the point is, again, that unlike an always slur such as nigger the word has a real use and meaning.

I was talking specifically about the form of the word "retard" actually, but thanks anyway.

Are you trying to insinuate this PC "r-word" shit only applies to that form? That hasn't been my experience.

Well what I'm trying to say is that the form "retard" can pretty much only be applied to people, so that's the one to avoid.

je suis en retard.

Disagree. :-) Flame-retardant - what does that mean? It retards flame. I imagine if you worked with chemicals you'd use that word a lot, and it isn't referring to people.

This.

Being politically correct is so boring and frankly immature in a mature kind of way if that makes sense.