Is it about time for people to stop using the word "r****d" in a casual way?

Question

You see, it does not make you "cool". It makes you rather ignorant.

Answer 1

Don't know why not, there are plenty of them around.

Answer 2

Notice how everybody who thinks it is ignorant all know somebody who is in fact mentally retarded. It seems to me that nobody would care if they didn't know a retarded person. Seriously, it isn't that big of a deal.

Answer 3

Ya, people probably should retire that word, but it is not like we are thinking of someone as an actual r****d when we say it......

Answer 4

I know! That is very insulting. My friend's little sister has down's syndrome, and my sister's friend is mentally retarded, and those kinds of things are nothing to joke about. It's very insulting and mean to say that! People think that it doesn't matter if they say that because it's "just a word", and they think that it makes the "cool", but in fact, it just makes them annoying and very ignorant.

Answer 5

This should put this to bed.

According to Merriam-Webster,

<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dic...

Definition 2: also : a person held to resemble a retarded person in behavior

It has been adopted by US culture to the point where it has been included in a leading dictionary that the term can be used to describe someone's behavior. It is no longer insensitive to use the term.

Answer 6

I think it would be a good thing for people to give up but realistically I don't see it happening. I don't think people mean it with the thought of a handicap person in mind. Not that that makes it right. I like I said, it would be great if people didn't say it, but I really doubt that will ever happen.  It comes out of peoples mouth like an everyday common word anymore.  And I will say that I am guilty of it myself.  

Answer 7

Have you been watching that movie Tropic Thunder or something? No one made a fuss until that movie.

Why is r****d wrong, but no one ever complains about people getting called a "spaz" as is spastic?

Answer 8

I think it is way over due.  I have a friend and her daughter is classified MR.  It is not funny or cool.  It is insensitive.

Answer 9

I agree.  Unfortunately, most rude and ignorant yutz's don't get how hurtful and wrong a simple word can be.

Answer 10

I think it's way past time to give that one up.  It's not funny, why do people laugh at that?

Addition: The "n" word doesn't come from the word "Neg roid", (the space was added so that it wouldn't be **'d), it was originally a word that just meant stupid or silly person.  Racist slave owners started calling slaves that because they believed they were all sub-human and incapable of intelligence.

Answer 11

Both "r****d" (and "spaz") are rude, insulting words.  Obviously no one here knows a spastic, retarded person;  it isn't funny.

Even the politically incorrect term

"n-gger" stems from ***** which is of itself not an insulting word. (didn't realize the proper term for the non-Caucacian race would be **'d)  

Then again the words moron, idiot and imbecile describe degrees of mental retardation; I doubt many people realize that as those words have become  mainstream for stupid.