Sorry....didn't think ya' got the memo........

I HAVE read 1984 and that is NOT relevant to this discussion!!! We are talking about HUMAN feelings here, not philosophy, Why is it soooo hard for U to think that some word U might use can hurt someone?

I think the book is very relevant. The book isn't about philosophy either, is it?

In that book people were told what words(and thoughts) are acceptible.

The point is, where do you stop? Ban one word, then we would have to ban others too, right?

Its not soooo hard for me to realise than my words can hurt someone. If i called one of your special friends a 'retard', i would expect them and you to be offended. If i say something like 'the law is retarded', then i am afraid if you get offended by it, that is completely your own problem.

U dont have to ban a word to make a racist and hurtful coment obsolete!!!

Well since all you can seem to come out with is utopian mumbo jumbo and cannot discuss this subject in context of this real world we live in, the discussion is over.

Have a nice day

And I suppose U think people cant change the world one step at a time, it sO K to be STUPID!!!!!!!! I will give U that right, cause U are DAMN good at it!!

Yeah, who cares about the other demeaning words like whore, b**ch, tramp, slut, among a number of rascist words (and there are loads of those)...let's just get rid of retard, even though it is clinically a valid term and medically a valid condition...

Rather than simply calling me stupid, you could have tried to prove me stupid by replying to my posts with intelligence, rather than in the way you chose. It is also pretty stupid to call someone stupid when they clearly are not.

If i cared, i would have reported that post.

Dont forget words CAN offend, Mikey.

This is definately my last post in here.

Whssup Fear? It's almost as if nobody paid attention to Lenny Bruce, huh?

Lenny Bruce was the man!! I think a lot of people are using Developmentally Disabled, the old categories were actually moron, idiot, imbecile, but the changed them when people started using them without the proper medical definition. This to shall pass.

wouldnt it be nice if those terms were avoided too? WHAT the F**k is wrong with trying to do the RIGHT thing?

Here is what is wrong with doing away with a word like 'retarded', it is a legitimate word:

Main Entry: re·tard·ed
Pronunciation: \ri-ˈtär-dəd\
Function: adjective
Date: 1895
sometimes offensive : slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress

Now here is the contradiction in wanting to do away with one word 'retarded'. We still have douche, dumbass, stupid, slow, mental, etc. etc.

So what do we do with those words? Well, I suppose they are on the next list of words to do away with...

Are you now the arbiter of what the right thing is? Who is? Who should be?

I'll repeat what I said before only louder this time. FIRST WORDS THEN BOOKS.

All I know is some words hurt certain people, what is wrong with avoiding using those words when they dont apply to material things? I am not saying do away with them, just be mindfull that when U use them (*****, whore,etc.) It CAN really hurt someone U dont mean too!!

I transcribe psychiatric reports all day long. The diagnosis of Mental Retardation is still used by medical professionals.

I think the difference is when the words are used in a derogatory manner and not in a clinical manner that is the issue.

Alas, you cannot legislate compassion and sensitivity, but I think your heart is in the right place, Mikey.

First of all let me remind all that if you want to debate a subject not all will agree with your outlook.

Second of all please do not direct insults towards another member for their opinion.

And third we must remember the N word was not taken out of the dictionary even though many felt it should be instead we grew to learn to use other words instead in order not to hurt others with the words we use.

As could be done with the word retard. You see the words are there to stay what we should push for is not using those words towards a certain group instead we should incorporate other words to use that would not be demeaning to them.


Just a note of thought!

With that said please keep it within the rules.


Thanks
Site Mod
Kristi

Being mindful of how you use words is quite different than eliminating them. People should always be mindful of the precise nature of words and how they impact others.

Apparently, you've never tried to influence people to spell better....

All this sugary-sweet, "be nice to the fencepost" mentality that so many people have been trying to implement lately is just as sickening as the particular words that you abhor. The world is NOT a kind place. Deal with it.

Thank you Fear! :)
If anyone has read my profile, I am the parent of two disabled kids
My oldest is classified by fedral law as having Mental Retardation and Autism.
Yes, she is mentally retarded but is not a retard.She has global retardation
There is a big difference is saying "She's mentally retarded" and saying"She's a retard".
One implies a condition and the other is a put down saying that she's stupid.