It is interesting. “The growth of tomato plants in the midwest was retarded by several frost freezes, this year.” “His intellectual capacity was retarded by a cyst that put pressure on his brain.”
It goes to show, it’s not the words that matter, but the energy behind the words. When I was a kid, I remember a group of kids that used to call everyone “sped,” which is special ed shortened. Changing the name of the classroom does not mean kids don’t find a way to make fun. All of the PC talk is teaching people to be offended all the time, as well as walk on eggshells, in an attempt to not offend others. We have gotten to the point where we have a bigger victim problem than bully problem, in our society.
There is a big difference between a kid saying something and a grown adult saying something. An adult should know better to use retard as a derogatory term.
I do admit, it’s a tough habit to break. I’m no spring chicken and I grew up when retard was a common insult. I say it without even thinking about it sometimes. Yet it’s obvious why it is an offensive term and probably shouldn’t be used by adults.
When you use it to insult someone, you turn it into a hate term. The word in of itself isn’t the problem. This isn’t the N-word we are talking about which is steeped in hate. But when you use it as an insult, you are inferring that someone who is mentally disabled should feel bad about themselves because of their mental disability. The real harm isn’t done to the person you are talking to, it’s the people who are mentally disabled. Their disability shouldn’t be your insult.
Not true, you mean to say being a fool is something YOU can control. I have encountered enough foolish people to know certain folks just can’t help themselves
How many ppl do you see calling Patricia fat? Where do we draw lines on what is acceptable?
I see people calling e/o Trumpanzee and Libtard. Even when you say “liberal” and deliver it with the energy of “friggin’ Liberal/conservative idiot.” Means the same thing.
The difference between a judgment and an observation is the energy behind the words…that’s what makes it derogatory.
For the record, I don’t call people retarded or retard. That said, is there a difference between saying “that person is retarded,” and “He’s a retard?”
This is one of the few areas I have actually gone the direction of PC, but I certainly do see both sides of it. I feel like, if you err on the side of loving humans, you will rarely go wrong.
I am sure all the people with IQ levels between 50 and 70 are furious right now. If Jenkins had used the word imbecile instead, do you think anyone would have cared? You need to pick your insults better, Jenkins.
What difference does it make to you, what difference it makes to me?
Joking aside, just feels like general anger for the sake of anger. I don’t take on the energy of it, so it really makes no difference to me how others CHOOSE to feel (most don’t realize it’s a choice).
Every heard the saying “Carrying anger is like drinking poison, and expecting the other person to get sick?” Patricia can’t hear the name calling - Fat, garbage, trash, idiot, moron, retard, etc, etc, etc. But the people that are choosing to carry that energy, and perpetuate it onto other people…they are impacting their own lives, and the ppl they love.
Also, as someone who believes in Law of Attraction, that sort of constant perpetual angst, worry, hatred, overwhelm, etc, etc…having that energy is the equivalent of praying for something to go wrong. None of my biz how others choose to feel. I’d save the world if I could, man. I really would. The older I get, the more I realize that you can only help the ones that want it, not the ones who need it. The ones who want it are already seeking the most help 10 times out of 10.
It’s good to take responsibility for your own happiness, and not count on extenuating circumstances to create it for you.
