why is 'mentally retarded' a proscribed phrase?

[rae121452]

i mean, i get the term 'retard'. but mentally retarded is a perfectly succinct description of a condition, just as physically retarded is. in an argument i asked, 'are you mentally retarded?' and i was told that that is a horrible phrase that shouldn't be used. why not? it beats the hell out of 'developmentally disabled' for specificity. and fucking forget 'special needs'.

 

[oggbashan]

Because, like spastic, and other similar words, it had become a general term of abuse for people who didn't have the particular condition and it (they) were too generalised because the condition covers a whole range from mild to severe. Something less offensive and more descriptive was needed.

 

[Pookie]

i mean, i get the term 'retard'. but mentally retarded is a perfectly succinct description of a condition, just as physically retarded is. in an argument i asked, 'are you mentally retarded?' and i was told that that is a horrible phrase that shouldn't be used. why not? it beats the hell out of 'developmentally disabled' for specificity. and fucking forget 'special needs'.

The phrase is used pretty much in the same vein as 'retard'. 'Intellectual disability' and similar are preferred now.

 

[OldJourno]

Leading psychologists agree now that "rides the short bus" is the preferred alternative to any term that includes the word disabled.

 

[Dribble]

Well...those on my ignore list must be called something...but I am ok with pond scum

 

[Wrong Element]

This was before my time, but my understanding is that back in the middle of the last century, "mentally retarded" started out a milder alternative to words like idiot. There's a tendency in language whereby a onetime euphemism comes to seem outdated. Think about "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People."

 

[IrezumiKiss]

i mean, i get the term 'retard'. but mentally retarded is a perfectly succinct description of a condition, just as physically retarded is. in an argument i asked, 'are you mentally retarded?' and i was told that that is a horrible phrase that shouldn't be used. why not? it beats the hell out of 'developmentally disabled' for specificity. and fucking forget 'special needs'.

Language is a fluid, living thing that changes and evolves socially alongside the human beings that created it. When we are unsophisticated, so is our speech.

We are also a culture that, increasingly in a modern age where tech gives any voice on the planet an instant and wide broadcast, loves and craves to insult, belittle and tear each other down. Words and terms flip at the drop of a dime and in the social current, these re-engineerings are virtually irreversible.

I don't think I can even remember a time when "retarded" wasn't used as an insult. Don't get me wrong, I get what it means technically. But socially speaking? Not in my lifetime.

Hey, remember when a snowflake was just that? Better hold onto that memory like your old cassette tapes!

 

[dolf]

If people with learning disabilities, as a group, say it's a slur and upsets them, then it's a slur and it upsets them. You don't need to understand why in order to oblige.

Don't be a cunt.

 

[thør]

Bumper sticker

Don't be a Cunt.

 

[sigh]

If people with learning disabilities, as a group, say it's a slur and upsets them, then it's a slur and it upsets them. You don't need to understand why in order to oblige.

Don't be a cunt.

This is pretty much it. I found out recently that "special needs" isn't cared for either. Back when my kid was having IEPs written for school, special needs was pretty much THE term to use. Now those kids are grown up and remember those words with distaste. They were at those meetings too. They knew exactly what the words meant and it was never a good thing to have special needs.

 

[Champakian]

i mean, i get the term 'retard'. but mentally retarded is a perfectly succinct description of a condition, just as physically retarded is. in an argument i asked, 'are you mentally retarded?' and i was told that that is a horrible phrase that shouldn't be used. why not? it beats the hell out of 'developmentally disabled' for specificity. and fucking forget 'special needs'.

Because, to paraphrase from a Clint Eastwood movie --

Doing good's (right) got no end.

Whatever they are calling it today, will be abomination tomorrow
and a new word/phrase will be instituted to protect the feelings
of those who do not even understand the phrases being used,
but what is really being protected is the sensibilities
of the freaking campus snowflakes...

 

[bellisarius]

Because, to paraphrase from a Clint Eastwood movie --

Doing good's (right) got no end.

Whatever they are calling it today, will be abomination tomorrow
and a new word/phrase will be instituted to protect the feelings
of those who do not even understand the phrases being used,
but what is really being protected is the sensibilities
of the freaking campus snowflakes...

Exactly right. It's not what you say but the tone of voice when you say it. There is no word or phrase you can use that eventually won't be considered insulting. Making up new words and phrases aren't going to change anyone's condition and those that make light of those conditions will continue to do so.

 

[Champakian]

Amen and pass the plate...



There are too many guardians of the culture
who seem to feel that it is their duty to discover offense...

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I'll be watching you
Every single day
Every word you say...

 

[dolf]

This is pretty much it. I found out recently that "special needs" isn't cared for either. Back when my kid was having IEPs written for school, special needs was pretty much THE term to use. Now those kids are grown up and remember those words with distaste. They were at those meetings too. They knew exactly what the words meant and it was never a good thing to have special needs.

One of the wonderful things about social media is that people who are actually part of the group being described can have as much of a voice as the crusty old establishment fossils who think they're the only ones qualified to decide such things.

 

[Champakian]

dolf, you're a bit old and crusty too...

 

[nowisthetime]

Because, to paraphrase from a Clint Eastwood movie --

Doing good's (right) got no end.

Whatever they are calling it today, will be abomination tomorrow
and a new word/phrase will be instituted to protect the feelings
of those who do not even understand the phrases being used,
but what is really being protected is the sensibilities
of the freaking campus snowflakes...

Terminology constantly changes, get over it.

Why do you enjoy being such a patronizing, unlikable, anti-social grouch?

Speaking of snowflakes, that would be you, part of the deplorable crew.

 

[dolf]

dolf, you're a bit old and crusty too...

1, you've forgotten that, technically, I'm part of that group. My needs aren't special.

2, I'm not dictating terms. I'm saying we should listen to the opinions of the people being described over the opinions of stuffed shirts and fossils when deciding which terms to use.

 

[stickygirl]

1, you've forgotten that, technically, I'm part of that group. My needs aren't special.

2, I'm not dictating terms. I'm saying we should listen to the opinions of the people being described over the opinions of stuffed shirts and fossils when deciding which terms to use.

At least we can rely on cunts still being cunts despite the passage of time. Haters the same

 

[hobbit.]

At least we can rely on cunts still being cunts despite the passage of time. Haters the same

wait a minute.. isnt yours not really a cu ? PC gone mad

 

[sigh]

Exactly right. It's not what you say but the tone of voice when you say it. There is no word or phrase you can use that eventually won't be considered insulting. Making up new words and phrases aren't going to change anyone's condition and those that make light of those conditions will continue to do so.

All true. Except that I'm not trying to change anybody's condition, or anyone's response to it. I'm just choosing to not use those words myself in case there is someone nearby who is disabled, and who would find the words demeaning because they've been teased about them their whole life. So it's not AJ's "freaking campus snowflakes" making the call here (he's such a drama queen). It's the disabled people themselves who are choosing what they'd like to be called. And in turn, I'm choosing to respect that. It's not hard. It's just being good (and I see no reason to put a limit on doing good).

So you can calm AJ and let him know it's not an evil, left-winged, cultural-adjustment agenda coming to sweep away his lifestyle. It's just people asking not to be called something they feel really uncomfortable about.

 

[stickygirl]

wait a minute.. isnt yours not really a cu ? PC gone mad

Not had any complaints so far

So it's not AJ's "freaking campus snowflakes" making the call here (he's such a drama queen).

Can you call him a queen?

 

[oggbashan]

In England, we used tio have 'village idiots'. They were tolerated and some enjoyed the description. But not now. They are 'special' and someone else's problem.

 

[mayfly13]

Exactly right. It's not what you say but the tone of voice when you say it. There is no word or phrase you can use that eventually won't be considered insulting. Making up new words and phrases aren't going to change anyone's condition and those that make light of those conditions will continue to do so.

If people with learning disabilities, as a group, say it's a slur and upsets them, then it's a slur and it upsets them. You don't need to understand why in order to oblige.

I'm just choosing to not use those words myself in case there is someone nearby who is disabled, and who would find the words demeaning because they've been teased about them their whole life.

Insults can often be fun, if used properly.
I remember growing up, "mentally retarded" & (translations) were used to express disagreement, gossip or josh around. The 'perpetrators' would never dream of insulting or disrespecting intellectually disabled people.
Also - it was used with hilarious effect in the comedy "Never been kissed".

The next tear are those who use it with malice, when they try to insult you.
Followed by those who discriminate and bully the intellectually disabled.

I wouldn't bear living in a PC, self-righteous, humorless environment in which you have to measure every f... word. The far Left have lately gone crazy.
By the same token, dolf and sigh are right, one needs to consider the feelings of those who are often targets of bullying.

It's a difficult balance to achieve.

 

[Goldenfinger]

Thing my parents said were inappropriate when I grew up. Now things I say are inappropriate to my children. And I’m sure thing my children say will be inappropriate to their children.

All words if used with malice can be inappropriate.

 

[Pookie]

Thing my parents said were inappropriate when I grew up. Now things I say are inappropriate to my children. And I’m sure thing my children say will be inappropriate to their children.

All words if used with malice can be inappropriate.

It's the connotations that become associated with words.

"I love words. I thank you for hearing my words. I want to tell you something about words that I think is important. Words are my work, they’re my play. They’re my passion. Words are all we have really. We have thoughts, but thoughts are fluid. And, then we assign a word to a thought and we’re stuck with that word for that thought. So be careful with words. The same words that hurt can heal." ~ George Carlin