Should we not use the 'R' word?

[TruthSpreader]

We shouldnt call blacks the N word. We shouldnt call Jews the 'K' word and I think we shouldnt call Special Needs people the 'R' word. So what are your thoughts?

Please give me your thoughts.

[White Israelite]

I agree. It's really not necessary.

[Zelhar]

"Special needs" is a broad category and most people with special needs are not retarded. It is wrong to deliberately try to offend and make fun at persons with special needs that can't defend themselves. However I think it is acceptable to use the word in a clinical mining to describe a real condition. Not naming something doesn't make it to not exist.

[Kahane-Was-Right BT]

"Special needs" is a broad category and most people with special needs are not retarded. It is wrong to deliberately try to offend and make fun at persons with special needs that can't defend themselves. However I think it is acceptable to use the word in a clinical mining to describe a real condition. Not naming something doesn't make it to not exist.

But I'm pretty sure he's referring to using the word as an "insult" to people who are not actually clinically retarded but said something stupid, are leftist morons, etc.   I don't think he means that the clinical term should cease to be used.

[Kahane-Was-Right BT]

I vote yes.  We should not use this term to insult people.   There are many thousands of words to choose from the attack our enemies.

I have at times allowed myself to use this term as an insult or just to describe an annoying situation where people's behavior doesn't make sense, and I regret it.   I try to avoid doing so.

[Israel Chai]

I agree with the first 2, because they don't add anything descriptive, they deny the humanity of the person and indicate that a person is lesser. Mentally retarded means exactly what it means. Handicapable means nothing, and special needs means nothing at all. It's not political correctness not to say the n word, it's a desire not to insult. Mentally retarded or shorthand retard means what it means, and I'm not in favor of saying we have to say words that mean nothing so as not to offend people.

I also call dumb people retards.

[Israel Chai]

SAying  you can't say retard is like saying you have to say "laterally enhanced" to tubsters.

[Israel Chai]

If we (and i don't know of any official JTF communications with the word retard in it) say "retarded person", would that make you feel better? Or we could just say "person with nothing wrong with them who knows that is sanity lalalala la la there is no difference with anyone.)

[TruthSpreader]

If we (and i don't know of any official JTF communications with the word retard in it) say "retarded person", would that make you feel better? Or we could just say "person with nothing wrong with them who knows that is sanity lalalala la la there is no difference with anyone.)

Thats slightly less derogatory but still I don't think use it. I have many friends in Special Olympics and none of them use it.

[Tag-MehirTzedek]

I voted wrong. Im okay calling some people retarded when they behave that way.

[eb22]

As someone who has a brother who has Down's Syndrome,   I avoid using the ' R' word.   I've never been comfortable with the way the ' R'  word has been thrown around.

Regarding the poll.   I inadvertently voted no,  as I misread the question.   Hence,  you can add one more yes vote.

[TruthSpreader]

If we (and i don't know of any official JTF communications with the word retard in it) say "retarded person", would that make you feel better? Or we could just say "person with nothing wrong with them who knows that is sanity lalalala la la there is no difference with anyone.)

Israel Chai, didn't you use that word to Brittney?

[angryChineseKahanist]

As someone who has a brother who has Down's Syndrome,   I avoid using the ' R' word.   I've never been comfortable with the way the ' R'  word has been thrown around.

Regarding the poll.   I inadvertently voted no,  as I misread the question.   Hence,  you can add one more yes vote.

hehehe it was a trick question!

[angryChineseKahanist]

Israel Chai, didn't you use that word to Brittney?

c'mon don't bring that up again. he's got lots of personal problems and he smokes poison.
lets leave him alone.

[TruthSpreader]

c'mon don't bring that up again. he's got lots of personal problems and he smokes poison.
lets leave him alone.

Oh ok sorry about that. I won't ever mention her name here again.

[angryChineseKahanist]

Oh ok sorry about that. I won't ever mention her name here again.

 

[Israel Chai]

Lol "didn't you use that word" brah don't act like you're all of a sudden a concerned parent. I called her post retarded. Then I spent about 4 or 5 posts explaining to her that i called her post retarded, not her, and after "she" still couldn't get that, then yeah i called her retarded.

[Israel Chai]

c'mon don't bring that up again. he's got lots of personal problems and he smokes poison.
lets leave him alone.

You obsessed dude? You don't know anything about me, and I'm fine with cigarettes, they help me think.

[TruthSpreader]

I'm not. I just find the word extremely offensive. She thought you called her that not that I'm defending her.

[Israel Chai]

I'm not. I just find the word extremely offensive. She thought you called her that not that I'm defending her.

Ok and some people find midget offensive, but Torah uses it and its descriptive of the condition they have, like mentally retarded. Rendering language meaningless because it offends you isn't helpful. For the record, do you prefer handicapable, special needs, differently abled, disabled, or is there no way to define sanity, and really they're sane and we're insane?

It won't change my answer or my opinion, you're not a tzaddik because you have now fought people off from saying that, you're thin skinned and anti-straightforwardness.

[Zelhar]

So I am just trying to clear it so I understand, hypothetically, if I use the R word  to name call somebody or something who are not special needs person, is that end up offending people who I don't mean to- people of special needs, family of such people etc?

[TruthSpreader]

So I am just trying to clear it so I understand, hypothetically, if I use the R word  to name call somebody or something who are not special needs person, is that end up offending people who I don't mean to- people of special needs, family of such people etc?

It is offensive regardless if he or she is Special needs or not.

[angryChineseKahanist]

You obsessed dude? You don't know anything about me, and I'm fine with cigarettes, they help me think.

I'm just trying to help you out dude. See, he backed down. You should thank me for my many acts of kindness.
And yes smoking poison is bad for you. Either poison called weed or poison call tobacco.

[Rubystars]

Using retarded as a slur is probably not a good idea if it's used to refer to people who are actually handicapped, and you may want to avoid it for other uses too but we have to remember that a lot of this self-censoring has to do with political correctness and so you have to strike the balance between being kind and losing your freedom of speech. Offensive speech is protected speech unless we self-censor.

[angryChineseKahanist]

Using retarded as a slur is probably not a good idea if it's used to refer to people who are actually handicapped, and you may want to avoid it for other uses too but we have to remember that a lot of this self-censoring has to do with political correctness and so you have to strike the balance between being kind and losing your freedom of speech. Offensive speech is protected speech unless we self-censor.

R**S**rs, you're right.