Spread The Word To End The Word: http://www.r-word.org/

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by SqueakyOnion

On the contrary, you claim that "retard" has always been a pejorative, derogatory term.

Still do, but we're splitting hairs there. As you pointed out, the "proper terminology" is mentally retarded or mental retardation. But not retard. Retard still exists as a verb, but mostly it will make people stop and take notice, and not necessarily be aware of it's older, Latin-based meaning.

Yes, the R-word does still exist in legalese, medical journals and names of at least a few other organizations, some of which may not have even changed them yet. But in terms of this latest trend, they are basically behind the times. Even for Harper and Ezas, who are a little older than me, the "formal" use of the R-word went unnoticed because it's not a part of most of our lives. The derogatory usage has been much more common.

The problem arises when someone with one group uses the symbol to communicate one thing, and it is interpreted by another to have a different meaning.

To me it's still the attempt to educate the people using the word(s) in question that they are labels for the offended group, whether the speaker intends it or not.

[Seager]

I'm a SPED teacher, and we don't let our kids use the R-word because it's a trigger that makes other students mad and hurt.

On the other hand, if we educated around not being offended by words, the R-word would lose its meaning and go the way of idiot, imbecile, and moron - words that don't have the baggage that the R-word has, despite the fact that "Mental Retardation" is the term that replaced those three when referring to individuals with a low IQ.



Idiot, imbecile, and moron are shining examples of how time and common use can "disarm" an offensive word. I hope gay and retard one day are disarmed as well, but in the meantime I don't say those words because I prefer to function in society - even if I don't agree that they should be allowed to be offensive.

[Seager]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

Yes, the R-word does still exist in legalese, medical journals and names of at least a few other organizations,

The word is still used in the Special Education field in the official diagnosis of "Mentally Retarded," but people generally use the term "MR" instead because we all feel dirty and wrong for saying the word now. It's kind of lame when being PC inhibits your ability to use the proper vocabulary of your profession. (Now that I think about it, is "lame" an offensive term to use?)

I suppose this isn't the fault of the PC folks, but more the fault of the people who co-opted the term to use as an insult. I say we change the official term and let the insult people have it as an insult - then we can all stop being offended because it would take away it's meaning.

[maestro8]

Originally Posted by Seager

Now that I think about it, is "lame" an offensive term to use?

When the doctors get my bad leg working again, I'ma use it to kick your un-PC butt! :P