quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
From time to time, I get complaints about posts in this forum that use the words retard or retarded.

Now that's just retarded.

It is a term I tend to use time to time, color me traditional; it's has been an accepted term when I was younger, why not now. A few of my friends groan when I use it, but I always point out "who says I can't use the word. Who says that it is unacceptable? Who is the authority? And they usually have no answer for it.

I think it's retarded how offended people get by words.

Actually, I think it's retarded that people even get offended? What does that mean? My t-shirt ruined your day? My word upset you and ruined your day? You're weak AF if others can affect you so easily.

That's ridiculous. I'm glad to know I have so much power over so many simpletons.

Retarded!!!!! If I ruined your day, good. You're an idiot and you can't ruin mine.

Now what?

Metard, Youtard, Retardnation!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
From time to time, I get complaints about posts in this forum that use the words retard or retarded. Do you know what I do about these posts? Not a Goddamned thing.

you should write a book,,


titled,

the most retarded stuff I deal with on a forum



serious about the book, or at least a thread here,,

I'm not for banning words--free speech and all that. But I will say the use of the word "retard" as a derogatory comment about someone bothers me because I have a relative who is mentally retarded. I know the struggles she deals with and she can't help it. She was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck which cut off oxygen to her brain. And so I never use the word myself out of respect for her and everyone else who is mentally retarded but who have equal dignity as those who are mentally sound. But again, free speech and America. . .do what you want.

quote:

Originally posted by Rigby470:
But I will say the use of the word "retard" as a derogatory comment about someone bothers me because I have a relative who is mentally retarded.

Yeah, that's the usual argument used by members who report the use of these words in a post.

Forgive me, but so what?

Now, if you take the next step and conclude that I'm callous and unfeeling because I don't correct or admonish members who use the word 'retard', simply because there are mentally disabled people in the world and you happen to know someone like this, congratulations, because you are on your way to being a Social Justice Warrior. They, too, want to suppress the speech of others, simply because they are offended.

Not good enough, Not even in the same zip code as good enough. If everyone in the world has to refrain from using any words that offend someone else, then we'll all have to become mute and eliminate written language as well.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
From time to time, I get complaints about posts in this forum that use the words retard or retarded. Do you know what I do about these posts? Not a Goddamned thing.

So are there any banned words on SF?

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
So are there any banned words on SF?

Yes

quote:

Originally posted by Rigby470:
And so I never use the word myself out of respect for her and everyone else who is mentally retarded but who have equal dignity as those who are mentally sound. But again, free speech and America. . .do what you want.

But you just did, three times in your post

Gues I'll have to continue/increase my use of the term Window Licker so as not to cause any offense.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
So are there any banned words on SF?

Yes

I think I just hit one in another thread.

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
So are there any banned words on SF?

Yes

I think I just hit one in another thread.

Cantaloupe?

I shit you not...

When retired from Norfolk Southern railway in 2011 there was an ongoing movement from upper management to change the term for the "retarder" (which controls the speed of rail cars rolling down the hump into the class yard) to something like "railcar speed manager" or "railcar speed reducer" or some such...because the word retard/retarded was, even back then, being termed offensive...it never caught on...it's still called the retarder...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retarder_(railroad)

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
So are there any banned words on SF?

Yes

I think I just hit one in another thread.

The word 'cunt' is not prohibited in this forum. It's currently in the filter because I am trying to discourage its use to a degree. We were being just a bit too free with it. When you use the word 'cunt' in this forum, you'd better be sure that the person in question is deserving of it.

You'll notice that your post has been approved and now shows on the board, as was the post that you quoted.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
So are there any banned words on SF?

Yes

I think I just hit one in another thread.

The word 'cunt' is not prohibited in this forum. It's currently in the filter because I am trying to discourage its use to a degree. We were being just a bit too free with it. When you use the word 'cunt' in this forum, you'd better be sure that the person in question is deserving of it.

I recall using it in a post about HRC; it stood for I assume this very reason. It is not a word I bandy about often either.

quote:

"Retarded" became "mentally challenged", just as "handicapped" became "physically challenged". In any case, they all refer to people who don't have the normal functionality common to most people.

You can change the words, but you can't change the condition. The condition is what the problem really is, and as such, the words used to describe it will always be attacked.

It won't be long before "challenged" can't be used because it too is deemed offensive.

Look at words used to describe various races. The exact same thing. A word is commonly used to describe an ethnicity, is deemed offensive, is replaced with another commonly used word, which is found offensive, only to be replaced with yet another word.

The ethnicity never changes, the words always do, and will always be deemed offensive as time goes on.

quote:

Originally posted by Abn556:
Evidently Mongoloid is also a word that you cannot say. My wife is a recently retired teacher who went through 30+ years of PC training. She is constantly telling me all the things that I can’t say. I have to say that it makes me feel like I’ve turned into Archie Bunker.

There are a bunch of things that we used to say regularly in South Louisiana in the 60s and 70s that irritate people now.

+

I played the DEVO album for wife. The album with the He's a Mongoloid." She made me turn turn down the stereo. (She works as an interruptor, lady across the street is a teacher, and the one three doors up is an elementary school principle - the school around the corner.

This discussion reminds me of this bit from George Carlin.

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
Is fucktard still on the table?

Only if twatwaffle and shit-for-brains are acceptable.

quote:

Originally posted by Rigby470:
I'm not for banning words--free speech and all that. But I will say the use of the word "retard" as a derogatory comment about someone bothers me because I have a relative who is mentally retarded. I know the struggles she deals with and she can't help it. She was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck which cut off oxygen to her brain. And so I never use the word myself out of respect for her and everyone else who is mentally retarded but who have equal dignity as those who are mentally sound. But again, free speech and America. . .do what you want.

I think you fail, like many, to recognize the context when you allow feelings to drive your perspective. I've used the terms retard or retarded frequently to refer to people who are disingenuous, dishonest, and/or willfully ignorant. I have never, nor do I believe any of the membership here would ever, use either of those terms in any way to disparage those who are indeed mentally challenged.

We as a culture have become incredibly retarded when it comes to the use of words in general. Everyone is offended by everything any more. Everyone just needs to buck up and stop being such pussies. Hey there's another word that usually offends the perpetually offended.