Yay! It isn't just me!

[sqbr]

Essay about why someone doesn't use the word "retarded" as an insult *follows links for while, remembers I am supposed to be trying not to use the computer too much* (indirectly via lauredhel)

(I posted about a similar topic here)

Comments

i try, most of the time

[anxiolytic.livejournal.com]

I catch myself about to use the term retarded quite often, and stop. But sometimes the people/object/circumstance/process is well, retarded! That said, I don't think I've heard anyone call a disabled person retarded, ever.

One word I've stripped from my vocabulary completely is Gyped.

Re: i try, most of the time

[alias_sqbr]

One word I've stripped from my vocabulary completely is Gyped

Yeah. I didn't even realise the entymology of that one until recently.

[hipikat.livejournal.com]

Something that's amazed me a few times is that people who agree deeply with this sentiment often have no problem with the obviously derivative term 'fucktard'.

[alias_sqbr]

I know! Though that's still not as bad as the "Oh, see, no, I don't mean gay as in "homosexual", just gay as in "crap"" argument.

[hipikat.livejournal.com]

On that topic, The Boondocks can do this beautifully. The voice actor there is, of course, Samuel L. Jackson =)

[alias_sqbr]

Heh :)

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

All I have to say is that you should have heard the conversations between myself (who worked with alot of people with mental problems) and my old housemate (who looks after disabled kiddies on the weekend and is usually a special ed teacher during the week). The terms "special", "sped" and "retard" were used quite liberally, though in the context of dealing with people/children who *were* special/speds (due to being in special ed) or retards (due to having slower physical/mental processes than average).

Were we being derogatory? I'd say not, but I guess it is really open to interpretation.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, I agree that the meaning of insults etc depends very much on context. Also, calling someone "retarded" etc when it's literally true (while sometimes not ok) is a different issue to calling someone that when it doesn't apply in order to hurt their feelings. I mean it's totally ok to call people "gay" or "a woman" if you're just being accurate and non-insulting, but that doesn't mean those words can't also be used as sexist/homophobic insults.

Something I've had a post brewing in my head about for ages is politically correct language: personally I think it's a good idea in general, but it's just a form of politeness, and it's wrong to use as your primary measure of how considerate someone is. You can overall be a really supportive etc person but use the wrong words (especially if you're just old and out of touch), or use the right words but actually be really intolerant and unsupportive. Which isn't to say it's wrong to criticise people for using the wrong language, but you can't judge people by their words alone.