this is not my experience at all people around me know that it’s offensive and not to be used as a casual insult i suspect this might be generational but to me the word is unacceptable and i hate that we almost got rid of it and now it’s being flung around with no care or consideration - ThreadSky

atheistgirl.bsky.social • 216 days ago

this is not my experience at all
people around me know that it’s offensive and not to be used as a casual insult

i suspect this might be generational but to me the word is unacceptable and i hate that we almost got rid of it and now it’s being flung around with no care or consideration

Reposted from John

I do find it a bit silly that people find retard to be taboo in today's lexicon. I can certainly see it being offensive if used in a derogatory way to insult someone with a mental handicap, but the overwhelming majority of the time, it is used to express someone said or did something fucking stupid.

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not-a-npc.bsky.social•216 days ago

You know what word I also detestl? The “f” word. And I don’t mean f$[k. I mean the gay slur.
The n, r, and f words are vile.

not-a-npc.bsky.social•216 days ago

Some words simply should not be said allowed. The N word and the R word are two of them.

vegabond85.bsky.social•216 days ago

You can feel the way you feel about the word, but conflating it with the N word is disingenuous at best. They just do not have the same history and one is pure hate.

atheistgirl.bsky.social•216 days ago

they are both pejorative words used to describe people in a negative way with similar histories of hate

vegabond85.bsky.social•216 days ago

I am gonna have to agree to disagree here, the connotation just is not close to the same in my opinion.

atheistgirl.bsky.social•216 days ago

agreed

cinciheathen.bsky.social•216 days ago

Agreed. Language evolves and words like the R word that were once accepted are now not. I would guess that if you tried to refer to him as she then he might understand how language and words matter… but sadly I don’t think he would get it.

ronnyb001.bsky.social•216 days ago

100%

dewind.bsky.social•216 days ago

When I was young it was fine to use, but we improved when we realized it was hurtful to more people than the person we were insulting. There's lots of words like that.

I'm embarrassed at how insensitive I was when I was young, but at least I got better. Most have. Some refuse.

cirroccojones.bsky.social•215 days ago

It's relatively recent that it became unacceptable. But it was always an insult, just never towards those who genuinely had developmental issues. I've used it myself but never towards someone with a medical issue. That would just be bullying, and the lowest kind.

You know, like Tr**p did.

nyebodnye.bsky.social•216 days ago

Jfc handicap ????

vegabond85.bsky.social•216 days ago

Definitely could be generational, or geographic, or a bit of both. Growing up in southern Massachusetts in the late 80's early 90's we had pretty colorful language.

danocubs.bsky.social•216 days ago

People too stupid to find a word other than "retard" to use shouldn't be allowed to ever speak or write their opinions about anything ever again.

itevin.bsky.social•216 days ago

I agree but I just care about this way less now than I have in the past. At this point, I personally care more about establishing paths to class solidarity over offending or being offended. Obviously there are exceptions, but yeah.

krnlaux.bsky.social•216 days ago

I had a conversation with a (former) friend who is an orange man suppporter. She saw nothing wrong with that word. I told her it was offensive and had been for decades. She shrugged. That's why she's a former friend.

lostlovegrimm.bsky.social•215 days ago

People always have excuses to normalize the unacceptable. I’m not buying it. I hate that word.

maxchch.bsky.social•216 days ago

Not my experience either
"but the overwhelming majority of the time, it is used to express someone said or did something fucking stupid", is BS. It has been used against me many times when I've shown MAGAs facts
"Retard" is their go-to word when they've lost an argument
"Commie" is their other one

stillscruffyaaty.bsky.social•216 days ago

I think despite the fact that the literal translation is not intended as derogatory, the fact that the colloquial meaning is offensive should be considered and given weight.
There’s other word choices available.

realunderogkc.bsky.social•216 days ago

Oh, fuck that bullshit. If they think that it's an acceptable rejoinder, they are reprehensible excuses for human beings. And the world will be vastly improved by their absence.

trumpmatized.bsky.social•216 days ago

I think the word is disgusting and if it has been normalized in any way, that's even worse.

undersearexievt.bsky.social•214 days ago

I've been making a moderation list of people that say it, cause it pisses me off too.
https://bsky.app/profile/undersearexievt.bsky.social/lists/3laji3nt5hl2k

gunnyfustercluck.bsky.social•216 days ago

People like our boy John here are far too shallow and narrow minded to understand why a word like "retard" could be seen as offensive. If he grew up in the same time I did, he would remember how viciously that word was used in the 50s and 60s.

vegabond85.bsky.social•216 days ago

I didn't grow up in the same area or era as you, it's not possible for me to remember your experiences. I'm sure there are plenty of words or phrases this same thing could be said about that people rarely take into consideration, "going postal" for instance.

gunnyfustercluck.bsky.social•216 days ago

Just trying to add a little context John. I realize it's a waste of time and effort, but had to try.
Cheers

oogieboogeyman.bsky.social•216 days ago

It's just an unacceptable word. It's used by people that have very small vocabularies

atheistgirl.bsky.social•216 days ago

yes i agree
using it will immediately skew my opinion of the person towards negative

madmerlyn.bsky.social•215 days ago

I know a woman who had several brain-disorders as a result of a premature birth and she gets absolutely livid if she even hears that word.

It's hateful, and even if in some contexts it's not meant as an insult to that group of people, it's still denigrating to them. There is no reason to use it.

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