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> with “retarded” the additional problem is that no one uses it as a positive term Not true. In the automotive world "retarded" is used quite often in regards

> with “retarded” the additional problem is that no one uses it as a positive term Not true. In the automotive world "retarded" is used quite often in regards to your distributor, vacuum and timing. By adjusting things, your timing can be advanced or retarded. It is not a negative thing. It is simply how engines are tuned. http://georgiajag.com/Documents/Vacuum%20Advance%20versus%20Vacuum%20Retard.htm http://georgiajag.com/Documents/Vacuum%20Advance%20versus%20...

mkaltenecker 14y ago
Exception accepted! I don’t think anyone has a problem with that kind of use. I certainly don’t. So, yes, sometimes “retarded“ can be a neutral term.
- jack-r-abbit 14y ago
  There is also the case of fire/flame retardant. It truly is a shame that a very legitimate word (retard) with a very legitimate meaning (to delay or slow progress) that had been used in legitimate ways for years was co-opted to insult people with diminished metal capacity. (While technically true, it is mean. Much like calling me whitey is technically true as I am white... it is generally an insult.) If not for that, the use of phrases like "well that was retarded" would still be legit uses since it is in spirit of the original meaning and not too far from saying "well, that was stupid". One could even argue that in a slightly less PC world we could still be using it to describe things and actions... just not people. But that is wishful thinking. The damage has been done. Side note: It is some what also the case with the word "gay" which used to just mean "happy". Although, when people say "well, that was gay" they are generally not meaning "happy" so we've pretty much departed from that. I don't know the whole history of the N-word, but I don't believe there was ever a non-hateful use of the word (even taking into consideration its origin).

mkaltenecker 14y ago

Exception accepted! I don’t think anyone has a problem with that kind of use. I certainly don’t. So, yes, sometimes “retarded“ can be a neutral term.

jack-r-abbit 14y ago
There is also the case of fire/flame retardant. It truly is a shame that a very legitimate word (retard) with a very legitimate meaning (to delay or slow progress) that had been used in legitimate ways for years was co-opted to insult people with diminished metal capacity. (While technically true, it is mean. Much like calling me whitey is technically true as I am white... it is generally an insult.) If not for that, the use of phrases like "well that was retarded" would still be legit uses since it is in spirit of the original meaning and not too far from saying "well, that was stupid". One could even argue that in a slightly less PC world we could still be using it to describe things and actions... just not people. But that is wishful thinking. The damage has been done. Side note: It is some what also the case with the word "gay" which used to just mean "happy". Although, when people say "well, that was gay" they are generally not meaning "happy" so we've pretty much departed from that. I don't know the whole history of the N-word, but I don't believe there was ever a non-hateful use of the word (even taking into consideration its origin).