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Post by Throwback on Apr 24, 2008 15:48:16 GMT -5
Can we lay off the retard talk? I'm getting tired of every thread I go into seeing this word thrown around like it means nothing. People are using it to describe something that is stupid or meaningless. why can'y you just use the word stupid or meaningless? Serious the word retard actually does hurt. I'm only using this as an example but I'm sure If I went around saying thing like. "that guy is a n*****" or "look at that spick." I would be reprimanded and possibly banned. So please can people try to lay off?
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Tim
Dennis Stamp
myers.timothyTheTimMyers
Posts: 4,358
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Post by Tim on Apr 24, 2008 16:01:30 GMT -5
There's really no reason to get hurt by it. These days it pretty much does mean stupid and meaningless. When people say it, it's not a knock against actual mentally challenged people, it's just a part of many people's everyday vocabulary.
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Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
Posts: 23,721
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Post by Bo Rida on Apr 24, 2008 16:15:12 GMT -5
There's really no reason to get hurt by it. These days it pretty much does mean stupid and meaningless. When people say it, it's not a knock against actual mentally challenged people, it's just a part of many people's everyday vocabulary. The meaning of words change over time. Take "gay" for example, it originally meant happy, then it became a homophobic insult, next homosexuals embraced it to describe themselves and now it often just means something is rubbish. I don't think these type of words in themselves are offensive, it's only if they are used in a derogatory manner.
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Annette
Unicron
Love Feels Amazing ♥
Posts: 2,533
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Post by Annette on Apr 24, 2008 16:16:59 GMT -5
Reminds me of a song we would sing in elementary school music class:
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, Merry, merry king of the bush is he, Laugh, Kookaburra, Laugh, Kookaburra, Gay your life must be.
We would yell out the last line, start laughing and get in trouble. That word is funny when you're a kid.
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bigHEADinc
El Dandy
Wanted Conway Twitty as a special title.
lest we forget...
Posts: 7,711
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Post by bigHEADinc on Apr 24, 2008 16:18:43 GMT -5
I thought the politically correct term was now "Mentally Challenged"...
That being said, I know me and my friends use several slurs against all types of people on each other, mostly because the insult has little to do with the people it originally was against and more with the negative connotations that are involved.
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Post by MiLo Duck on Apr 24, 2008 16:21:21 GMT -5
There's really no reason to get hurt by it. These days it pretty much does mean stupid and meaningless. When people say it, it's not a knock against actual mentally challenged people, it's just a part of many people's everyday vocabulary. The meaning of words change over time. Take "gay" for example, it originally meant happy, then it became a homophobic insult, next homosexuals embraced it to describe themselves and now it often just means something is rubbish. I don't think these type of words in themselves are offensive, it's only if they are used in a derogatory manner. Too true. I grew up using certain words in a certain way. Something being "gay" or "retarded" does not bring forth any sort of meaning to homosexual or mentally challenged people. What people should let sink into their brains is the word context. By simply examining the context of how words are used one can easily discern wether or not someone is trying to use a word as a slur. To me its seems some intentially take things out of context to create drama.
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Post by Throwback on Apr 24, 2008 16:23:45 GMT -5
There's really no reason to get hurt by it. These days it pretty much does mean stupid and meaningless. When people say it, it's not a knock against actual mentally challenged people, it's just a part of many people's everyday vocabulary. and that's why it a problem. It shouldn't be. I work with special needs children (not retards, the handicapped or mentaly challenged) the term is special needs. and I can tell you yes it really does hurt them. I have my own problems but I have the gift to stand up for myself. However my kid can't stand up for himself, nor can he talk. So I do the talking for him and I ask you guys to please stop. How manny years did it take for the word n***** to be stopped in normal conversation? the fact that it's filtered here should tell you the answer
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Post by gsguy on Apr 24, 2008 16:24:21 GMT -5
I don't like it either (for obvious reasons) but people are still going to use it.
Best just to tune it out.
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Mother
Samurai Cop
Possibly a virgin... methinks he doth protest too much
There's no need for this
Posts: 2,437
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Post by Mother on Apr 24, 2008 16:24:55 GMT -5
I've always believed we should have a filter that can be turned on and off like what we can do with our sigs.
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Tim
Dennis Stamp
myers.timothyTheTimMyers
Posts: 4,358
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Post by Tim on Apr 24, 2008 16:26:28 GMT -5
and that's why it a problem. It shouldn't be. I work with special needs children (not retards, the handicapped or mentaly challenged) the term is special needs. and I can tell you yes it really does hurt them. I have my own problems but I have the gift to stand up for myself. However my kid can't stand up for himself, nor can he talk. So I do the talking for him and I ask you guys to please stop. How manny years did it take for the word RACIST COMMENT BY POST to be stopped in normal conversation? the fact that it's filtered here should tell you the answer K seriously, does you kid read here? Probably not. And what is us stopping because you tell us to going to accomplish? There's still millions of other people out there. I think you're being a bit too oversensitive.
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Post by samachine on Apr 24, 2008 16:27:21 GMT -5
No.
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Post by Throwback on Apr 24, 2008 16:27:56 GMT -5
The meaning of words change over time. Take "gay" for example, it originally meant happy, then it became a homophobic insult, next homosexuals embraced it to describe themselves and now it often just means something is rubbish. I don't think these type of words in themselves are offensive, it's only if they are used in a derogatory manner. Too true. I grew up using certain words in a certain way. Something being "gay" or "retarded" does not bring forth any sort of meaning to homosexual or mentally challenged people. What people should let sink into their brains is the word context. By simply examining the context of how words are used one can easily discern wether or not someone is trying to use a word as a slur. To me its seems some intentially take things out of context to create drama. Context means nothing when it's a hurtfull slur. I havn't pointed out an names but look how many people are trying to justify what they say. Is the word that important to you that you have to defend it? Midget, Spick Skwa, mongloid, are all words that people used to feel the same way about but people don't use them anymore in public settings because they know it's wrong. I little advise if you find yourself using language that you wouldn't use around certain people. Maybe you shouldn't use it all.
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Post by Throwback on Apr 24, 2008 16:30:19 GMT -5
and that's why it a problem. It shouldn't be. I work with special needs children (not retards, the handicapped or mentaly challenged) the term is special needs. and I can tell you yes it really does hurt them. I have my own problems but I have the gift to stand up for myself. However my kid can't stand up for himself, nor can he talk. So I do the talking for him and I ask you guys to please stop. How manny years did it take for the word RACIST COMMENT BY POST to be stopped in normal conversation? the fact that it's filtered here should tell you the answer K seriously, does you kid read here? Probably not. And what is us stopping because you tell us to going to accomplish? There's still millions of other people out there. I think you're being a bit too oversensitive. I'm not telling. I'm asking. the choose is up to you. what will it acomplish? probably nothing. But do you think this is the only place I've asked people to stop? maybe if I reach enough people and they understand rather then go on the defensive they too will start asking people to stop. I'm I hurting anyone by trying? no. Have I gotten PM's thanking me for this thread? yes
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Post by Kash Flagg on Apr 24, 2008 16:33:59 GMT -5
I'm not big on the term either, but people aren't gonna stop because it's been used for so long to describe something stupid that they don't really think about what context it's been used as before. Same with the word gay. I think it's asinine to use it to describe something lame, but it is and me not liking it isn't gonna get it to stop.
I'll gladly take a warning for this, but this board is a good example of how the real world works. You got some good people here, and a lot of morons. The best thing to do in life is to ignore as many of the idiots as possible and focus your energy on the people who care.
Not sure if that made any sense or not...I'm a bit tired.
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Post by MiLo Duck on Apr 24, 2008 16:34:42 GMT -5
Too true. I grew up using certain words in a certain way. Something being "gay" or "retarded" does not bring forth any sort of meaning to homosexual or mentally challenged people. What people should let sink into their brains is the word context. By simply examining the context of how words are used one can easily discern wether or not someone is trying to use a word as a slur. To me its seems some intentially take things out of context to create drama. Context means nothing when it's a hurtfull slur. I havn't pointed out an names but look how many people are trying to justify what they say. Is the word that important to you that you have to defend it? Midget, Spick Skwa, mongloid, are all words that people used to feel the same way about but people don't use them anymore in public settings because they know it's wrong. I little advise if you find yourself using language that you wouldn't use around certain people. Maybe you shouldn't use it all. Context means nothing if you don't use it. Don't preach at me telling me what I mean by what I say when I say it. You got a problem with certain words? Don't use them. I'll go ahead and know what I mean when I talk. You go ahead and tell me I'm a bigot.
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Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 42,002
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Apr 24, 2008 16:35:44 GMT -5
Or perhaps people should stop changing words, trying to attach dignity to them. Special needs is a bullshit term, really we all have special needs. So the term "special needs" or "differently abled" or about a dozen others have no meaning. The word retard describes exactly the conidtion of that person, they have a mental retardation. There's no shame in it whatsoever. Instead, others come along and attach shame to it for the mentally retarded.
It's not just that, there's tons and tons of other examples.
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Post by Kash Flagg on Apr 24, 2008 16:36:27 GMT -5
And before anyone gets upset, I didn't call anyone in this thread a moron.
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Post by Throwback on Apr 24, 2008 16:40:58 GMT -5
Context means nothing when it's a hurtfull slur. I havn't pointed out an names but look how many people are trying to justify what they say. Is the word that important to you that you have to defend it? Midget, Spick Skwa, mongloid, are all words that people used to feel the same way about but people don't use them anymore in public settings because they know it's wrong. I little advise if you find yourself using language that you wouldn't use around certain people. Maybe you shouldn't use it all. Context means nothing if you don't use it. Don't preach at me telling me what I mean by what I say when I say it. You got a problem with certain words? Don't use them. I'll go ahead and know what I mean when I talk. You go ahead and tell me I'm a bigot. there ya go. getting upset and going on the defensive. that's the first sign that you know your doing something wrong. we can mature about this an have a discussion or we can get all pissed off and try to say I'm to sensitive. what ever fits your bill is fine with me. I prefer to be mature and talk about things without get upset. plus. But I will sort of agree with you about context. Saying something is retarded. Altho I don't like it. I understand that's it doesn't really mean anything. But to say somebody is retarded when ever they do something stupid is another. I don't like to be called stupid just because I wasn't born typical. and by calling things that are stupid retarded. that's exactly what you are doing.
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bigHEADinc
El Dandy
Wanted Conway Twitty as a special title.
lest we forget...
Posts: 7,711
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Post by bigHEADinc on Apr 24, 2008 16:44:32 GMT -5
It's cool, I'm taking it back...
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Post by Throwback on Apr 24, 2008 16:46:15 GMT -5
well it's obvious people would rather defend what is wrong then leave the thread alone and not post at all. what ever floats your boat. I'm just asking you nicely to please think of other people when you post. The same way that if was saying something that hurt other people I would expect them to ask me to stop. I'm sorry I believe we should treat humanity with respect instead of helping the earth down the cesspool. I know this is just one little forum. But did I hurt anybody by polietly asking them to stop? No I didn't.
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