Definition Time!

[basildestiny]

I've been thinking about this word: retard and its variations. People who know someone (or someones) that suffer from... it's hard to define the word without using it...someone who suffers from a slowness get really offended by this word.

I use this word all of the time. Often to describe myself. I just don't see the problem that other people see for two reasons. The reason being I know what the word means. At least for me, it means literally "late." I heard the word all the time in my French classes and I took French for 5 years (7th grade - 12th grade). When you're late, the phrase is "Je suis en retard." I know I've mentioned this in previous entries so I won't beat it too much. The other reason is that I didn't realize people even were retarded in that form. Everything is so PC anymore and there are usually different names for the slowness, a disease which is the source. It's not correct to call anyone retarded because they have a mental illness. I guess the problem is that I'm so liberal that I forget to remember there are still ass-backwards people in the world who mean it with as much venom as they can muster. To me, the word is just funny and people who use it with mean intentions are ...well, retarded, fucking dumbasses, and stoopid!

Which leads into the funny my mom cracked last night. We were in the restaurant and she busts out with telling the waiter "She's retarded," pointing at me! I was so shocked and awed! It was so funny. I wanted her to insult me again because it was so hilarious!
~Bas

Comments

[nikgirl.livejournal.com]

Using the word "retard" for someone who is mentally ill is perfectly fine with me. To me, that's not insulting them, (unless you say it to their face). I believe that using this word in it's correct context makes calling someone without a mental illness a retard much more meaningful.

In 3rd grade I called the SpEds "retards". This girl told me that "retards" was a bad word, and I should call them "special". Well, I did, and then my grandma got mad at me. She says we're all special. So I reverted back to the "r" word.

In conclusion, it's safer to call real retards "handicapped". That way there's not confusion when you're calling a plain, normal asshole a "retard". Hence, no one is offended.

Then again... fuck people for getting offended. They're retarded.