I think it has a very legitimate use, when used as a describing word about actions, instead of a way to mock handicapped people. And I think it’s a shame to completely dismiss a word that has a very nice length and prononciation for saying things in anger. It could just as easily be co-opted to mean something different that doesn’t mock handicapped people. There’s just not a better fitting word for many situations, since “stupid” just doesn’t cut it.
Basically, I find it okay to use it when refering to actions like “Elon has done some retarded shit”. In such a case it isn’t used to mock handicapped people, which is never okay no matter what word you use anyway.
Considering the disabled community has said Southpark handles how disabled people should be treated real well with Jimmy/Timmy, and Southpark uses the word retarded, I concur.
While I generally agree with the sentiment, you’re overlooking the inherently social nature of language. At the moment, that is a word non grata. Give it a decade on the euphemism treadmill, and it will become mostly acceptable to use in the contexts you outlined.
At the moment, I think you’re going to have a hard time using that word without offending someone outside of a musical composition situation. You’ll probably offend some folks using it in the context of musical composition too, but at least “retard” is the proper term for slowing the tempo in the middle of a composition.
It seems to very much depend on where you are. I have yet to hear literally anyone irl complain about use of the word retarded, when refering to an action. Either way, the meaning of the word is only going to change when people actively use it. It’s not going to change if we decide to stick with the “bad” version of the meaning and making it taboo.
I have. Not very often, but it has happened at some points.
I think using retarded to mean stupid could be part of the problem, actually. Like your Elon example, tbh. The fact that it is being used in a way that refers to mental faculties could cause offense to people with delayed mental faculties. Using the word to mean “slowed”, in the original meaning, without referring to mental faculties, is probably more likely to rehabilitate the word apart from the use as a slur.
Seems like its regional. Some areas really hate it. Others its totally fine to use at work. Thanks to the internet, both can interact and think the other is odd.
Without taking sides in this debate, let me just say that you’d have an easier time arguing that “slurs are sometimes okay to say” than trying to argue that “‘retard’ isn’t a slur”.
It’s like, 100% a slur. You know how ethnic slurs are called ethnic slurs? That’s because there are non-ethnic kinds. Really curious what definition you use for slur that wouldn’t include “retard”. It’s an old-timey word used to describe a specific type of person, which is now largely considered offensive by that type of person, and has become used in a general sense as an insult…I mean, what box does it not check?
personally i do consider it a slur and avoid it accordingly, but i think the difference with this one is that colloquial usage took it over entirely. i’m fairly sure the average person does not think of down syndrome when they hear that slur, they just think of a particularly stupid person. which is also how the words “idiot” and “dumb” stopped being slurs over time, even though those also used to refer to medical conditions.
this might differ between cultural backgrounds, i suspect that’s why it was categorised as a slur in contemporary internet culture. but it’s pretty hard to find another slur that doesn’t unambiguously, inseparably refer to a particular group it degrades. with the r-slur, some people do appear to separate it, i think that’s why they insist it’s okay to use.
I think Lemmy is over sensitive about these things too. To me, retard is more like a funny word. But there are plenty of people who think it should never be used anymore because of actually retarded people and how they may feel.
Also, the word is banned from YouTube I think, and possibly large parts of reddit as well. :) I think its silly but whatever, I can live with not using it, sure.
It’s harder to understand why using a word would be wrong when they don’t affect you. Have some empathy and understand why for people that are marginalized and called something as a slur that it would be nicer to just stop using the word.
Nobody is banning the word, either. Just responding with their own free speech to say it’s idioitic to not understand why slurs are wrong to use.
I can tell you why people are annoyed at it. Its because more and more words are ending up being banned or seen as politically incorrect. We had a chocolate ball here in Sweden that was called “negerboll” since negro just meant dark or black. And all of a sudden, it was a bad word and we had to call it a chocolate ball instead.
Its just one example but the point is, it’s a ridiculous trend to ban words just because some people may feel insulted by the word. We have almost banned the word “fat” as well and replaced it with “big boned”. Do you understand what I mean? It becomes absolutely ridiculous.
Its almost as bad now that you can’t point out who you mean in a crowd. If you say “the black guy over there”, or “the Chinese woman”, some people think it’s racist. Come on. This is not normal.
I don’t know. Elon has done some retarded shit.
I hate Elon as much as the next guy, but we don’t need to resort to using slurs to get our point across
I think it has a very legitimate use, when used as a describing word about actions, instead of a way to mock handicapped people. And I think it’s a shame to completely dismiss a word that has a very nice length and prononciation for saying things in anger. It could just as easily be co-opted to mean something different that doesn’t mock handicapped people. There’s just not a better fitting word for many situations, since “stupid” just doesn’t cut it.
Basically, I find it okay to use it when refering to actions like “Elon has done some retarded shit”. In such a case it isn’t used to mock handicapped people, which is never okay no matter what word you use anyway.
Considering the disabled community has said Southpark handles how disabled people should be treated real well with Jimmy/Timmy, and Southpark uses the word retarded, I concur.
While I generally agree with the sentiment, you’re overlooking the inherently social nature of language. At the moment, that is a word non grata. Give it a decade on the euphemism treadmill, and it will become mostly acceptable to use in the contexts you outlined.
At the moment, I think you’re going to have a hard time using that word without offending someone outside of a musical composition situation. You’ll probably offend some folks using it in the context of musical composition too, but at least “retard” is the proper term for slowing the tempo in the middle of a composition.
It seems to very much depend on where you are. I have yet to hear literally anyone irl complain about use of the word retarded, when refering to an action. Either way, the meaning of the word is only going to change when people actively use it. It’s not going to change if we decide to stick with the “bad” version of the meaning and making it taboo.
I have. Not very often, but it has happened at some points.
I think using retarded to mean stupid could be part of the problem, actually. Like your Elon example, tbh. The fact that it is being used in a way that refers to mental faculties could cause offense to people with delayed mental faculties. Using the word to mean “slowed”, in the original meaning, without referring to mental faculties, is probably more likely to rehabilitate the word apart from the use as a slur.
Retard is a slur? Yikes.
@DrDickHandler @CoffeeGhost
Has been for decades.
Seems like its regional. Some areas really hate it. Others its totally fine to use at work. Thanks to the internet, both can interact and think the other is odd.
Without taking sides in this debate, let me just say that you’d have an easier time arguing that “slurs are sometimes okay to say” than trying to argue that “‘retard’ isn’t a slur”.
It’s like, 100% a slur. You know how ethnic slurs are called ethnic slurs? That’s because there are non-ethnic kinds. Really curious what definition you use for slur that wouldn’t include “retard”. It’s an old-timey word used to describe a specific type of person, which is now largely considered offensive by that type of person, and has become used in a general sense as an insult…I mean, what box does it not check?
personally i do consider it a slur and avoid it accordingly, but i think the difference with this one is that colloquial usage took it over entirely. i’m fairly sure the average person does not think of down syndrome when they hear that slur, they just think of a particularly stupid person. which is also how the words “idiot” and “dumb” stopped being slurs over time, even though those also used to refer to medical conditions.
this might differ between cultural backgrounds, i suspect that’s why it was categorised as a slur in contemporary internet culture. but it’s pretty hard to find another slur that doesn’t unambiguously, inseparably refer to a particular group it degrades. with the r-slur, some people do appear to separate it, i think that’s why they insist it’s okay to use.
Here’s a good test for whether it’s a slur. Would you say it in front of someone with Down’s Syndrome, or would you find another word?
Is it a slur or advanced physics? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retarded_potential
Just learning how slurs work?
I think Lemmy is over sensitive about these things too. To me, retard is more like a funny word. But there are plenty of people who think it should never be used anymore because of actually retarded people and how they may feel.
Also, the word is banned from YouTube I think, and possibly large parts of reddit as well. :) I think its silly but whatever, I can live with not using it, sure.
All slurs can be funny to the right idiots.
I think banning words are funny. :) Can’t wait to see what’s next. Probably the word Muslim will insulting soon.
It’s harder to understand why using a word would be wrong when they don’t affect you. Have some empathy and understand why for people that are marginalized and called something as a slur that it would be nicer to just stop using the word.
Nobody is banning the word, either. Just responding with their own free speech to say it’s idioitic to not understand why slurs are wrong to use.
I can tell you why people are annoyed at it. Its because more and more words are ending up being banned or seen as politically incorrect. We had a chocolate ball here in Sweden that was called “negerboll” since negro just meant dark or black. And all of a sudden, it was a bad word and we had to call it a chocolate ball instead.
Its just one example but the point is, it’s a ridiculous trend to ban words just because some people may feel insulted by the word. We have almost banned the word “fat” as well and replaced it with “big boned”. Do you understand what I mean? It becomes absolutely ridiculous.
Its almost as bad now that you can’t point out who you mean in a crowd. If you say “the black guy over there”, or “the Chinese woman”, some people think it’s racist. Come on. This is not normal.
You’re either 15 or 65. No way you’re a dense edgelord.