The new term is "Intellectual Disability." Sounds much better, don't you think? To my students with disabilities, I KNOW it sounds better. So, I agree that the slang use is what is bad. But, now, since MR is no longer used (and has been replaced by ID), there is NEVER a place for the "r" word. I would ask your child's doctor to change the medical file! ;o)
@tfraz005 "Intellectual disability"...are you kidding me? The term is mental retardation. There's nothing wrong with the term itself. Are you too dense to realize that, in the future, people will call each other out on the playground "Dude, I cant believe you did that. That is so intellectually disabled!!" and then you'll have a fresh batch of ads asking people to eliminate the "ID" word and instead call it some new PC phrase like "cerebrally unique" or something?
Kids used to tease each other calling each other "retards". The teachers banned the word explaining that mentally retarded kids were "special needs". Soon the kids had were calling each other "special needs" and "special" with the SAME derogatory tone. Nomenclature cannot change connotation people! Any sounds you want to make with your mouth to mean "not fully functioning mentally", will eventually obtain the same stigma that the previous word had.
To Be honest Even if people stop using this word we also have to think that what about when we use other swears or curses in my eyes what this is saying is to try and stop calling others retards?All the same does that not mean as well we should get rid of the f-word cause someone else doesn't like it. Im lost there is no difference is the word retard then there is is calling someone a bastard or any other swear.I know the word is bad but its the same as any other swear so why this one only?
While I agree that using the word "retarded" as a derogatory is bad, wanting to end it makes you look no smarter than someone who believes in ethnic cleansing. Episode of South Park featuring "Nigger Guy," anyone?
i work with kids everyday kids who r the same age as me and my cousin has down syndrome i no it hurts them soo please think before u talk and stop using the r -word plz
Technically, that term is no longer even medically correct. I work with people with intellectual disabilities NOT "mental retardation." That term has been abolished within the American Psychiatric Association and changed to "intellectually disabled." So, no, the term is not a "scientific meaning" anymore.
@ShannonOMazing really they take it out of the DSM 4. my dad is a social worker and he has a copy of the DSM revised number 4 and it still has the medical term mental retardation...or they just taking out of the DSM 5 that coming out in 2012? cause if they take if out of the DSM 5 i be really glad but they haven;t taken it out of the DSM 4 yet..so til they take it out of the DSM i still have to see it as a medical term
A lot of people think "retard" is just a word meaning slow. Well, the n-word was just a word too and by definition is originally a descendant of the Latin adjective niger, meaning the color "black." HOWEVER, it is NOW used as a hateful word against a race. The word "retard" is used against a group of people in a hateful way as well. Both are derogatory against things that people are born with and cannot help. They should BOTH be treated with contempt for the people that they hurt.
Exactly what idiotninja said. My son's medical file will still say "mentally retarded," so why would I run around telling everyone that's a dirty word?
The usage that needs to change is when people say, "OMG I am so retarded" or "Stop acting like a retard." THAT is offensive.
I think it is still possible to show respect to people with mental retardation. I can understand trying to stop use of the phrase, "That's retarded" But i refuse to stop using the word in its scientific meaning just for the cause of political correctness.
@idiotninja ...its not about Political correctness.. Its about respect for those that cant fight back ..Maturity for knowing it hurts some of them when they hear it.
@idiotninja "retarded" was used by doctors in the early 1900s to describe people with cognitive disabilities as literally worthless and brain-dead. They are anything but :)
She just used the word retard...just sayin.
blank21121 9 months ago 2
Retard isnt offending anyone its the same as calling someone stupid. Do you wanna end the use of stupid too? Go ahead and try.
TheIphone4thewin 9 months ago
@TheIphone4thewin retard was meant for people with disabilities.....stupid wasn't
Lincolnlogpoo 9 months ago
The new term is "Intellectual Disability." Sounds much better, don't you think? To my students with disabilities, I KNOW it sounds better. So, I agree that the slang use is what is bad. But, now, since MR is no longer used (and has been replaced by ID), there is NEVER a place for the "r" word. I would ask your child's doctor to change the medical file! ;o)
tfraz005 1 year ago
@tfraz005 "Intellectual disability"...are you kidding me? The term is mental retardation. There's nothing wrong with the term itself. Are you too dense to realize that, in the future, people will call each other out on the playground "Dude, I cant believe you did that. That is so intellectually disabled!!" and then you'll have a fresh batch of ads asking people to eliminate the "ID" word and instead call it some new PC phrase like "cerebrally unique" or something?
VicInNocal 9 months ago 3
7 months ago
Kids used to tease each other calling each other "retards". The teachers banned the word explaining that mentally retarded kids were "special needs". Soon the kids had were calling each other "special needs" and "special" with the SAME derogatory tone. Nomenclature cannot change connotation people! Any sounds you want to make with your mouth to mean "not fully functioning mentally", will eventually obtain the same stigma that the previous word had.
x1134x 1 year ago
To Be honest Even if people stop using this word we also have to think that what about when we use other swears or curses in my eyes what this is saying is to try and stop calling others retards?All the same does that not mean as well we should get rid of the f-word cause someone else doesn't like it. Im lost there is no difference is the word retard then there is is calling someone a bastard or any other swear.I know the word is bad but its the same as any other swear so why this one only?
godwin882 1 year ago
Zo is the best he uses his money for the good of humanity
kerpal3 1 year ago
While I agree that using the word "retarded" as a derogatory is bad, wanting to end it makes you look no smarter than someone who believes in ethnic cleansing. Episode of South Park featuring "Nigger Guy," anyone?
bakbak5 2 years ago 7
this is weird... " i am going to stop saying retard and retarded be cause the words retard and retarded.." get the picture they get to say it more.
littlefurrydude 2 years ago
i work with kids everyday kids who r the same age as me and my cousin has down syndrome i no it hurts them soo please think before u talk and stop using the r -word plz
katybearc 2 years ago
Technically, that term is no longer even medically correct. I work with people with intellectual disabilities NOT "mental retardation." That term has been abolished within the American Psychiatric Association and changed to "intellectually disabled." So, no, the term is not a "scientific meaning" anymore.
ShannonOMazing 2 years ago 2
I think people just use it in the pejorative sense now which makes it even worse.
davidrp 2 years ago
@ShannonOMazing really they take it out of the DSM 4. my dad is a social worker and he has a copy of the DSM revised number 4 and it still has the medical term mental retardation...or they just taking out of the DSM 5 that coming out in 2012? cause if they take if out of the DSM 5 i be really glad but they haven;t taken it out of the DSM 4 yet..so til they take it out of the DSM i still have to see it as a medical term
ivanova88 1 year ago
A lot of people think "retard" is just a word meaning slow. Well, the n-word was just a word too and by definition is originally a descendant of the Latin adjective niger, meaning the color "black." HOWEVER, it is NOW used as a hateful word against a race. The word "retard" is used against a group of people in a hateful way as well. Both are derogatory against things that people are born with and cannot help. They should BOTH be treated with contempt for the people that they hurt.
delaina910 2 years ago
Exactly what idiotninja said. My son's medical file will still say "mentally retarded," so why would I run around telling everyone that's a dirty word?
The usage that needs to change is when people say, "OMG I am so retarded" or "Stop acting like a retard." THAT is offensive.
libnabib 2 years ago 15
I think it is still possible to show respect to people with mental retardation. I can understand trying to stop use of the phrase, "That's retarded" But i refuse to stop using the word in its scientific meaning just for the cause of political correctness.
idiotninja 2 years ago 2
@idiotninja ...its not about Political correctness.. Its about respect for those that cant fight back ..Maturity for knowing it hurts some of them when they hear it.
vmax4ya 2 years ago
@idiotninja "retarded" was used by doctors in the early 1900s to describe people with cognitive disabilities as literally worthless and brain-dead. They are anything but :)
zzzzzzzoe7 1 year ago
i pledge to end the word, and i have done so since i was in 6th grade. :)
JaniceEmelia 2 years ago 2