End the R-Word: Examining the Impact of Language

[KingNothing]

"End the R-word"

What you do all make of the campaign to end the usage of the word "retard"? I understand their motivation (to prevent emotional damage to those it offends), but I can't help but think another word will just replace it.

 

[Disconnected]

What you do all make of the campaign to end the usage of the word "retard"? I understand their motivation (to prevent emotional damage to those it offends), but I can't help but think another word will just replace it.

dumba$$?

 

[Proton Soup]

i can see the appeal of the word "retarded". it just means slow, or delayed. so it lacks the kind of pejorative that goes with idiot or imbecile or moron. one can be delayed, yet still have hope of making progress.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

What you do all make of the campaign to end the usage of the word "retard"? I understand their motivation (to prevent emotional damage to those it offends), but I can't help but think another word will just replace it.

Growing up I and many around me would use the word "retarded" or "gay" if something was unfavorable. Sure it's wrong, but I don't hear it often any more. Perhaps I am not in the correct environments, but I don't see this as something worthwhile. Certainly there must be more productive campaigns to put energy in to.

 

[Evo]

What you do all make of the campaign to end the usage of the word "retard"? I understand their motivation (to prevent emotional damage to those it offends), but I can't help but think another word will just replace it.

What campaign? You didn't post a link.

I don't think it's used by anyone except perhaps children in elementary school. Is the campaign aimed at children? What exactly are you talking about?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

What campaign? You didn't post a link.

I don't think it's used by anyone except perhaps children in elementary school. Is the campaign aimed at children? What exactly are you talking about?

http://www.r-word.org/r-word-why-pledge.aspx

 

[KingNothing]

What campaign? You didn't post a link.

I don't think it's used by anyone except perhaps children in elementary school. Is the campaign aimed at children? What exactly are you talking about?

Maybe it's a midwest thing, but the campaign is everywhere here. I probably see or hear about it three times a week between social media, billboards, and TV.

Do you really believe it's only used by children? Where do you think the children learned the word from? It's used by college students and (mostly) young adults. I find it hard to believe that you actually have not heard adults use the word.

 

[Newai]

Meh. Once that word is stuffed in the trunk, another will be dusted off to replace it.

Don't bother with a change in vocabulary. Change the attitudes.

 

[Astronuc]

Maybe it's a midwest thing, but the campaign is everywhere here. I probably see or hear about it three times a week between social media, billboards, and TV.

Do you really believe it's only used by children? Where do you think the children learned the word from? It's used by college students and (mostly) young adults. I find it hard to believe that you actually have not heard adults use the word.

I would think the term (and in general terms of disparagement) would be used by precocious children of teen ages, adolescents, post-adolescents, and adults with delayed development.

 

[KingNothing]

I would think the term (and in general terms of disparagement) would be used by precocious children of teen ages, adolescents, post-adolescents, and adults with delayed development.

It's actually used a lot by college students, even intelligent students. I hear people on the street say it a lot, too. I'll admit I call things retarded. I pretty much never call a disabled person a "retard", though.

 

[chrisbaird]

Ah, the incredible march of euphemisms. Centuries ago, the mentally challenged were called "idiots" as a factual, non-insulting description. But then is was misused as an insult and became banned among polite society. To replace it, people started using "retarded" in a factual, non-insulting way. But this word too was misused as an insult and had to go. Polite society replaced this word by choosing a word to refer to the mentally handicapped, that could not possibly offend: "special", as in "special olympics" and "special education". This too has been misused as an insult and is on its way to the bad-word list. Kids around here hate being called special because they know it is code for stupid. So what euphemism is up next to replace "special"? In other words, what word should we destroy next?

 

[Evo]

I've always been against the use of the word, but I don't find anyone using it now except those that are ignorant of the fact it's unacceptable.

They would need to focus this campaign at very young children in order to be affective.

 

[Evo]

Maybe it's a midwest thing, but the campaign is everywhere here. I probably see or hear about it three times a week between social media, billboards, and TV.

Do you really believe it's only used by children? Where do you think the children learned the word from? It's used by college students and (mostly) young adults. I find it hard to believe that you actually have not heard adults use the word.

I guess I associate with mature people. I live in the midwest and have never seen or heard of this campaign. The only person that I remember in recent history using the word was a member here that got banned.

My daughters are college students and they and none of their friends use the word. But I've raised them to be socially aware and only associate with the same.

Newai's suggestion of changing people's attitudes is a good start.

 

[Hepth]

I vote we move next to "normal", calling someone "normal" can easily be considered an insult :)

As for the R-Word, they seem to be really blasting it at us with these PSA's:



Warning : Multiple offensive slang terms in this video.

 

[Evo]

I vote we move next to "normal", calling someone "normal" can easily be considered an insult :)

As for the R-Word, they seem to be really blasting it at us with these PSA's:



Warning : Multiple offensive slang terms in this video.

I watch tv all day and I've never seen that or anything like it. They must only buy tv time on channels/programs for young people.

I've never watched glee so I have no idea who that woman is. Apparently they are targeting a certain audience.

 

[KingNothing]

I guess I associate with mature people.

As do I, but most of them are around 20-30 years of age.

My daughters are college students and they and none of their friends use the word.

I can tell you as a college student that it is said a lot. It's good that your daughter(s) don't say it.

They must only buy tv time on channels/programs for young people.

I wouldn't be surprised if they target it toward younger crowds. My dad is 70 and still calls them "morons". When he was young, he used to work at a 'Faribault School for Morons'.

 

[Evo]

I wouldn't be surprised if they target it toward younger crowds. My dad is 70 and still calls them "morons". When he was young, he used to work at a 'Faribault School for Morons'.

Moron was the correct classification at one time, as was idiot and imbecile.

I think focusing on the young is the best way to change people's perceptions, it's too late for the older people.

 

[Zryn]

... it's too late for the older people.

I had a laugh at this.

Anyhow, whatever the word of choice is these days, the mean spirited context will just transfer to something else.

I liked the "don't dis my advantage bro" campaign I saw aimed at young people, but due to human nature this seems like a futile endeavor, unless you're a marketing company making money from it or some such.

 

[Pengwuino]

I've always been against the use of the word, but I don't find anyone using it now except those that are ignorant of the fact it's unacceptable.

They would need to focus this campaign at very young children in order to be affective.

Everyone I know uses this term. I'm amazed that you don't find people using it. Oddly enough, we use it for everything not associated with mentally handicapped people. No one ever calls mentally handicapped people "retards", we call them mentally handicapped or handicapped or whatever, even in private.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about people who get all hot and bothered over simple words. If you're going to peg your happiness against the things other people say, then good luck to you. Life is too short to deal with nonsense like that.

 

[KingNothing]

No one ever calls mentally handicapped people "retards", we call them mentally handicapped or handicapped or whatever, even in private.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about people who get all hot and bothered over simple words. If you're going to peg your happiness against the things other people say, then good luck to you. Life is too short to deal with nonsense like that.

This is my experience and thoughts exactly.

 

[Evo]

Everyone I know uses this term. I'm amazed that you don't find people using it. Oddly enough, we use it for everything not associated with mentally handicapped people. No one ever calls mentally handicapped people "retards", we call them mentally handicapped or handicapped or whatever, even in private.

Honestly, I don't know anyone that uses the word. I hear "stupid" and "ridiculous" a lot.

Funny, I do remember kids using the word "retard" over 45 years ago, so I guess it's still around.

 

[DaveC426913]

Meh. Once that word is stuffed in the trunk, another will be dusted off to replace it.

Don't bother with a change in vocabulary. Change the attitudes.

The target on the vocabulary is the campaign to change the attitude.

You can't teach someone they're doing something wrong if they've been taking it for granted. You show them what they're taking for granted. In pointing out that 'retard' is a derisive word, you ivariably shine a light on the attitude behind the word (and its ubiquity) as the crux of the derision.

Bite off chunks; don't try to change the whole world at once.

 

[Ryumast3r]

Everyone I know uses this term. I'm amazed that you don't find people using it. Oddly enough, we use it for everything not associated with mentally handicapped people. No one ever calls mentally handicapped people "retards", we call them mentally handicapped or handicapped or whatever, even in private.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about people who get all hot and bothered over simple words. If you're going to peg your happiness against the things other people say, then good luck to you. Life is too short to deal with nonsense like that.

This is exactly how most everyone, if not everyone, I know views the word/words.

Retard: Delay or hold back in terms of progress, development, or accomplishment.

If something is retarded, well, then its progress has been impeded. Yeah, I use it as a general word sometimes that isn't purely "scientific" you could say, for example: "This computer program is being retarded" - just like someone else could use stupid there, but I, nor my friends, refer to the mentally handicapped as retarded, stupid, moronic, etc, nor do most people I know.

 

[DaveC426913]

This campaign is ridiculous. Retarded is a well-defined, non-insulting word, and I will use it properly whenever I feel the calling for that use.

Why would you assume than that the campaign is targeted at you?

 

[Jack21222]

The target on the vocabulary is the campaign to change the attitude.

You can't teach someone they're doing something wrong if they've been taking it for granted. You show them what they're taking for granted. In pointing out that 'retard' is a derisive word, you ivariably shine a light on the attitude behind the word (and its ubiquity) as the crux of the derision.

Bite off chunks; don't try to change the whole world at once.

I'll bet $100 dollars that in the next 40 years, "handicapped" becomes a derogatory term, and there will be a campaign to get people to stop using it. In 60 years, we'll look back and wonder what was wrong with us, using "handicapped parking" signs.

 

[Proton Soup]

http://www.r-word.org/r-word-why-pledge.aspx

OK, well that's new. i was aware of effort to protect it from inappropriate use, but not to do away with "retarded" altogether.

i'll just go ahead and say i think this is stupid. all they are doing with "intellectually disability" is adding more syllables. which is funny to me because a lack of "big word" usage is often a way that pseudo-intellectuals use to prejudice themselves or others against some person or group they want to label as low-brow.

also, the abbreviation ID is especially bad, because now if some kid wants to be mean, he can simply call you an IDiot.

call me cynical, but somebody probably has to hang onto this because they've built a career on running yet another useless non-profit org.

 

[Evo]

I'll bet $100 dollars that in the next 40 years, "handicapped" becomes a derogatory term, and there will be a campaign to get people to stop using it. In 60 years, we'll look back and wonder what was wrong with us, using "handicapped parking" signs.

People using handicapped parking signs seem to be, for the most part, not physically handicapped.

I remember not too long ago, I was slowly limping out of work going to my car and was overrun by a large woman jogging past. She sprinted to her car which was in the first row and was in a "handicapped" parking space. I slowly limped out to my car two blocks away. If that woman was handicapped it was mentally.

I see this all of the time, it's disgusting.

 

[dlgoff]

Oddly enough, we use it for everything not associated with mentally handicapped people.

Honestly, I don't know anyone that uses the word.

Last time I used it was when I was timing the ignition firing of my autos engine. I had to retard the timing to make it run correctly.

Now I suspect that that doesn't even apply now we have modern autos with computer controlled ignitions. Dang I'm old.

 

[DaveC426913]

I roemember not too long ago, I was slowly limping out of work going to my car and was overrun by a large woman jogging past. She sprinted to her car which was in the first row and was in a "handicapped" parking space. I slowly limped out to my car two blocks away. If that woman was handicapped it was mentally.

I see this all of the time, it's disgusting.

I know how you feel but you've got to be careful about snap judgements in the absense of facts. There are lots of reasons why people are (legitimately) granted handicapped status even though they seem - in the twenty seconds you see them - to be perfectly fit.

Who knows, maybe she had just dropped her 95-year-old grandmother at the mall along with her daughter...


This leads to the more general case that, unless you know the facts (and you never do), in pirinciple, you can never pass a judgment.

 

[Evo]

I know how you feel but you've got to be careful about snap judgements in the absense of facts. There are lots of reasons why people are (legitimately) granted handicapped status even though they seem - in the twenty seconds you see them - to be perfectly fit.

While it's quite possible that woman was not legit, when you spot an individual you sort of have to err on the side of innocent until proven guilty.

Who knows, maybe she had just dropped her 95-year-old grandmother at the mall along with her daughter...


This leads to the more general case that, unless you know the facts (and you never do), effectively you can never pass a judgment.

Well, if they can move around better than I can, they're either using someone elses tag, or it's a forgery. I know people that use relative's tags and it's shameful.

If she's not handicapped it is illegal for her to take up a truly handicapped person's space.

 

[Jack21222]

A thought occurred to me... "idiot" and "moron" are former medical terms that went through a stage of being derogatory to a specific group, but now are just general words with no connection to that group.

The way I see it, "retard" is going through the same transformation. When I hear somebody call something retarded, I do not think of mentally handicapped people, just like when I hear "moron" or "idiot" I don't think of mentally handicapped people.

Perhaps a campaign like this will just help the word linger on as an insult longer.

 

[rootX]

No one ever calls mentally handicapped people "retards", we call them mentally handicapped or handicapped or whatever, even in private.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sjuBF0-sRE



I don't think retard is a appropriate term for mentally handicapped people (so I never even thought of associating two words together). There are different kinds of mental health problem and there is name for each. Mentally handicapped is the general word for all those problems.

 

[Evo]

A thought occurred to me... "idiot" and "moron" are former medical terms that went through a stage of being derogatory to a specific group, but now are just general words with no connection to that group.

The way I see it, "retard" is going through the same transformation. When I hear somebody call something retarded, I do not think of mentally handicapped people, just like when I hear "moron" or "idiot" I don't think of mentally handicapped people.

Perhaps a campaign like this will just help the word linger on as an insult longer.

That's possible. I think more people use *retard* or *retarded* referring to an inanimate object or non-handicapped person than use it as a slur towards the handicapped.

 

[DaveC426913]

Well, if they can move around better than I can, they're either using someone elses tag, or it's a forgery. I know people that use relative's tags and it's shameful.

If she's not handicapped it is illegal for her to take up a truly handicapped person's space.

I think you missed the gist of my thread.

Many legitimate handicaps are not visible. You have no way to know.

 

[Evo]

I think you missed the gist of my thread.

Many legitimate handicaps are not visible. You have no way to know.

If the person is not physically handicapped, they can't get a handicapped tag. The tag is for people with physical impairments, not mental.

 

[rootX]

That's possible. I think more people use *retard* or *retarded* referring to an inanimate object or non-handicapped person than use it as a slur towards the handicapped.

I use retard only for situations, problems, or inanimate objects but never used it for a person.

 

[DaveC426913]

If the person is not physically handicapped, they can't get a handicapped tag. The tag is for people with physical impairments, not mental.

There are physical handicaps that don't show up as limps.

high BP
cystic fibrosis
COPD
emphysema
MS
Crohn's
irritable bowel
pregnancy
medically-induced obesity
arthritis

Contrarily, was your limp a permanent life condition, or temporary? (Not to minimize your injury, but to show perhaps that there are people worse off than you.)

 

[dlgoff]

I know people that use relative's tags and it's shameful.

I know this lady who is still using her dead husbands tag. Beside of getting closer parking spaces, do you know if these tags cost less?

 

[Evo]

There are physical handicaps that don't show up as limps.

Contrarily, was your limp a permanent life condition, or temporary? (Not to minimize your injury, but to show perhaps that there are people worse off than you.)

It's permanent. It's not just a limp, it's a spinal injury that prevents me from standing, walking, or bending for more than a couple of minutes before extreme pain sets in. Yes, I could qualify for a handicapped tag, I have not applied for one. Most people do not even know because I am on strong pain killers and can appear normal for short durations.

Funny, my neighbor is disabled due to muscular dystrophy and she has to help me walk at times.

Here is an application for a handicapped tag to show what qualifies.

http://arthritis.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=arthritis&cdn=health&tm=205&gps=282_1050_978_504&f=20&su=p284.9.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/disabled_pkg.html

You won't find anyone that qualifies walking briskly.

 

[rootX]

It's permanent. It's not just a limp, it's a spinal injury that prevents me from standing, walking, or bending for more than a couple of minutes before extreme pain sets in. Yes, I could qualify for a handicapped tag, I have not applied for one. Most people do not even know because I am on strong pain killers and can appear normal for short durations.

*shivers*

*throws some ice packs into the computer*

(P.S. I wish there was a shiver smile)

 

[DaveC426913]

Here is an application for a handicapped tag to show what qualifies.

http://arthritis.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=arthritis&cdn=health&tm=205&gps=282_1050_978_504&f=20&su=p284.9.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/disabled_pkg.html

You won't find anyone that qualifies walking briskly.

Fair enough.

It still could be the daughter of the 95-year-old granny.

9 out of 10 could be guilty, but it's still unfair to wrongly judge the 10th.

 

[Evo]

Fair enough.

It still could be the daughter of the 95-year-old granny.

9 out of 10 could be guilty, but it's still unfair to wrongly judge the 10th.

If they are with the handicapped person, that's fine. I'm talking about the people that pull into a handicapped spot and jump out and are clearly not handicapped and they are alone. I only judge the ones that I see abusing the tag.

 

[Evo]

*shivers*

*throws some ice packs into the computer*




(P.S. I wish there was a shiver smile)

Awww, thanks. I'm a tough old biddy, it will take more than this to keep me down.

 

[PhDorBust]

Remember kids. Everyone must be equal, even those who aren't.

 

[tedbradly]

This may sound bad, and I'm not even sure if I believe it. But I think there is a distinction to be made between a racial slur (and other types of slurs) and a slur based on a factually unpleasant existence.

e.g.
You can't insult someone by calling them the N word, because (as we know) not all blacks meet the negative stereotype. But aren't all mentally handicapped people, by definition, characterized by a slower mental capability? The use of the two slurs as an insult are not parallel for that reason. You are stating, when you call someone a retard, that they are mentally deficient just like all mentally handicapped people.

I mean, where do we draw the line? Can we not say, "Sounds like you got a smoker's cough."? After experiencing something averagely rough, can we not say, "That just beat me down [SOME HOUSE WIVES GET BEAT UP!]" or "That just blew me up like a nuclear missile [OMG JAPAN IN WWii]"?

I just don't see a problem with comparing something negative with a factually negative existence (just like having a smoker's cough or being beaten by someone or being blown up by a missile are all factually bad, so too is being mentally deficient).

 

[rootX]

Awww, thanks. I'm a tough old biddy, it will take more than this to keep me down.

Yes, you need this guy!

Go get him before you get all white hairs

 

[Pengwuino]

One of my friends just posted a status update on facebook saying that he just saw a video clip of people using their deceased family members handicapped parking placards for themselves. What a coincidence :P

 

[ideasrule]

I know that most of this has already been said, but seriously? This has got to be the most retarded campaign ever. I admit that, like most college students, I use "retarded" and "gay" all the time to refer to people or objects I consider stupid, incompetent, or useless. I would never call someone who is actually mentally handicapped "retarded", and as an ally, I would never berate anyone for their sexual orientation.

Contrary to the PSA video's message, I really don't mind if my friends called me a cool person. I don't even mind Asian jokes, even if they were specifically aimed at me, unless they were clearly intended as insults. My opinion is that if you--"you" being any minority--take offense at a word that's clearly not being used as an insult, you're being oversensitive.

 

[KingNothing]

If they are with the handicapped person, that's fine. I'm talking about the people that pull into a handicapped spot and jump out and are clearly not handicapped and they are alone. I only judge the ones that I see abusing the tag.

Sadly, this is what my dad has done for years! It's always embarrassed me. To this day, if I drive him anywhere, I purposely park at the end of the parking lot. He always gets really mad.

 

[skeptic2]

Back to the thread topic, it seems to me when a word is banned it only gives that word a stronger pejorative connotation (after all it was so bad it had to be banned) and tends to cause the word to be used in a more hateful context.