End the "R word"?

[trashcanman]

And political correctness once again crosses over into fascist territory.


www.popcrunch.com/jane-lynch-r-word-psa/

re·tard
   [ri-tahrd, for 1–3, 5; ree-tahrd for 4] Show IPA
–verb (used with object)
1. to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.

–verb (used without object)
2. to be delayed.

–noun
3. a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.
4. Slang: Disparaging .
a. a mentally retarded person.
b. a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard.
5. Automotive, Machinery . an adjustment made in the setting of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine so that the spark for ignition in each cylinder is generated later in the cycle.


So here we have all of the available meanings of the offending word. Out of the 5 uses of the word "retard", only one of them is potentially offensive and only half of that one refers to those who are born with a disability. And none of them is often used as hate speech. It's simply a word to describe a thing. A sad thing that will not go away if we force people to call it an condescendingly clinical name. Is there a proper use of words like "faggot", "kike" or "nigger"? No. Those words are not acceptable in polite conversation and are not tolerated due to common decency. There was no celebrity PSA, just common sense. Retard is not a hateful a word in and of itself and it is not for some rich bitch to tell us what we can and can not say in a democratic society. We can make these decisions for ourselves. Sorry, Glee-lady, but you forgot soemthing:

[The Curmudgeon]

Sadly, I think this is the start of something that's not going to go away any time soon. Lady Gaga gave an interview to NME a few weeks ago, and was asked about the similarities regarding her song "Born This Way" and Madonna's "Express Yourself".

"I'm a songwriter," she said. "I've written loads of music. Why would I try to put out a song and think I'm getting one over on everybody? That's retarded. What a completely ridiculous thing to even question me about."

Now I read the full interview and didn't even blink at any of it. Funny, honest, genuine, weird... but hateful and prejudiced? Looks like it.

The pop star came under fire after she dropped the "R bomb" -- calling plagiarism accusations against her "retarded" -- in an interview.

"I consider it part of my life's work and music to push the boundaries of love and acceptance. My apologies for not speaking thoughtfully. To anyone that was hurt, please know that it was furiously unintentional. An honest mistake requires honesty to make," Gaga, 25, said.

Surprise surprise, that interview was with professional hand-wringing, soap box queen (oh, I'm being hateful!) Perez Hilton, so take the "outrage" with a pinch of salt. But, really. "The R Bomb"? Oh, fuck off. There's a world of difference between saying something is "retarded" (especially when the dictionary gives totally different meanings) to referring to someone as a "nigger."

Calling someone with a mental disability a retard? Yeah, that's offensive and unacceptable. Of course it is. But calling the end of a stupid movie "retarded"? 100% different.

I do get where they're coming from, and it's hard to argue the point when watching this.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfMlrTV_5vY

But to quote Dr Hibbard from the Simpson's - "Hillbillies would like to be called Sons of the Soil. But it ain't gonna happen!"

[Mrs_C]

It doesn't stop there. The Black Eyed Peas had the same problem with their song Let's get retarded. Which by retarded I think they mean drunk. Anyways they had to change the title to Let's Get It started instead. Just in case anyone was offended. I don't think retarded if used in the right context is particularly offensive. I bet if some one with mental illness used the word 'retard' that no-one would bat an eyelid though. Just like its OK for black people to use the N-bomb when talking about themselves. So alot of people use the word bastard how is it socially acceptable to call someone a bastard and for no-one to get offended especially if said to someone born out of wedlock. Same thing as retarded. You don't necessarily call someone a bastard because they are born out of wedlock just like if you call someone retarded you don't mean they are mentally ill. Now a friend of mine DID come up with spongo (he said it is a cross between a spastic and a mongo) now THAT would be offensive.

[The Curmudgeon]

Nice to see the word "tard" hasn't really caught on in the UK press though.

[trashcanman]

Knoxville too? Crimony. I know Rush Limbaugh called somebody retarded a while back and one of my more obnoxiously politically-correct online friends had a big ol' fit about it. I grew up with both an aunt and na uncle who are mentally retarded. It's not a big deal. They do fine. I refer to them as mentally retarded because that is what the fuck they are. I would never call them retards because that is just being a jackass, but I reserve the right to apply that title to anybody I feel deserves it. What sickens me is how condescending people are when dealing with the disabled. Like they feel SSSSSSOOOOOOO good about themselves for appearing next to one on-camera or volunteering for an hour with the Special Olympics or some shit. "Oh look, I'm touching one without flinching away in horror, give me a medal!"


Fuck those guys. It's nice that they are helping other and whatnot, but that does not give them the right to talk down to other people and dictate their vocabularies. Calling a "normal" person (if there is such a thing) a retard simply implies that their behavior indicates to you that something in them is not functioning properly. It's a legit complaint regarding other people's behavior and not a hate slur in most contexts.

Also, Ga-Ga clearly ripped off that Madonna song. Just like the Offspring ripped off The Beatles for an easy hit, just like KISS ripped off Alice Cooper when they ran low on album filler, just like any number of other artists whose creative reach extends past their grasp and they have to cut some corners. Nothing retarded or unusual about that. I'll respect you more if you just fess up.

[Mrs_C]

I agree. But I would like to point out that I think GaGa's "rip off" was more of a homage. Well I would like to think that anyways. The Offspring are just a bunch of cunts.

[trashcanman]

It's only an homage if you admit it.

[nellabella]

WTF? We cant use the word 'retard' anymore? My vocabulary is already limited. Im speechless.

[trashcanman]

Yup. No more "retard". That old lady from Glee said so and told a whatever the fuck she wants us to call them to reaffirm her opinion, and that makes it law. We'll either have to go with "spastic" or "deformed" or cave in and call then "super smart normal special nothing at all unusual about them people", which I believe will be the fashionable choice.

[Mrs_C]

Im telling you. Spongo is the way forward....

[trashcanman]

I like it. Milady, you win the internet.