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You guys may be thinking about two different contexts: 1. calling someone with a disability a retard (which I would never, ever do) 2. using the word "retarde
by jazzyk 11y ago
You guys may be thinking about two different contexts:
1. calling someone with a disability a retard (which I would never, ever do)
2. using the word "retarded" in a generic sense. For example: I may have called my kids retarded, in exasperation, for doing something nonsensical. Not elegant, but has been used as a figure of speech, of sorts, for ever.
My problem with censoring words (and political correctness in general) is that it is an overly simplistic intent to make the world a gentler place - even if you forbid people from saying/writing certain words, you will not change how they think/behave.
Nobody dares to use the n... word, but there are still a lot of racists (and reverse-racists, it needs to be said) out there. The only way to fix it is education and culture - no other way around it.
- MichaelGG 11y ago1. How long ago was it that "retarded" was the socially acceptable term? 2. What is a "reverse" racist?
- DanBC 11y agoYour child is eating something. You ask if you can try a bit. They laughingly say "no way! These are mine!" Do you then continue the joke? "stop being such a Jew! Give me a chip!" Are you saying it's fine to use that word because it's just a joke? It's not a serious insult?
- jazzyk 11y agoNo, it is not fine to use what you described. The difference is that you are picking on a particular nationality, while "retarded" is a generic term meaning "mentally under-developed" which, while certainly not a term of endearment, may apply to any human.
- DanBC 11y agoI don't understand your point. Why is it not okay to use the word Jew as an insult against non-Jews, while it's fine to use the word retard as an insult against non-retards?
- plouis 11y agoIn the first case, you imply that Jews are stingy. In the second case, you don't imply anything about retards other than the normal definition of the word.
- sklogic 11y agoEver been to Odessa? An epic butthurt is guaranteed from an Odessan Jewish peculiar humour.
- codygman 11y ago> a lot of racists (and reverse-racists, it needs to be said) No such thing as reverse racists, it's all just racism and racists.
- jazzyk 11y agoAgreed, it is just that my example covered one particular race being discriminated, so I wanted to make it clear. For some reason, people think only non-white people can be discriminated against.
- codygman 11y agoWell anyone can be discriminated against, though some argue only those with institutional power can be racist. I tend to go by these definitions: http://racismschool.tumblr.com/Racism:Definitions http://racismschool.tumblr.com/Racism:Definitions