Modified "rules" proposal

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 18 Mar 2008 04:03

I think a socialist way is the way to go.

a communistic way of life is the right way of life.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 18 Mar 2008 04:07

crazylegs32 wrote:Is the term retard deemed offensive when it is used to describe actual retarded people? Retarded people have an IQ below 70 and aren't offended by the term.

Retard is a derogatory term. In this context it means somebody who is mentally "slow." That's why the term is no longer used in any kind of official manner, and why it would certainly be deemed inappropriate if used by a person in the public eye.

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 18 Mar 2008 04:16

-Threats of violence will not be tolerated, such threats will be deleted.

heh...

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 19 Mar 2008 21:35

They taught me retarted was below 70 IQ in college. Maybe pc has changed the term. IMO its inappropriate to call people retarted in a derogatory manner but when used in context people know what you mean. In the same way that I call black people black instead of african american.

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » 19 Mar 2008 22:55

I think it stopped being pc around the same time kids in the school yard started calling each other retards... same with "idiot" and "imbicile."

Fun fact: We used to have Idiot Asylums.

And why would you need to ask if using "retard" on the forum is allowed if you would only use it in an "appropriate" case? "He is mentally retarded" or "he has mental retardation" sounds way better than "he's a retard" anyway. The Online Etymology Dictionary says retard is an "offensive noun meaning "stupid person" (with accent on first syllable)-- from 1960s slang."

Muffinman · Post by **Muffinman** » 20 Mar 2008 00:07

I think that the politically correct term nowadays is "mentally challenged". I don't think that using any form of "retard" is proper when referring to a mental condition, as opposed to, say, a retardant used to slow the drying of paint...

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 20 Mar 2008 00:30

developmentally delayed is the current pc term.

Bringerofpie · Post by **Bringerofpie** » 20 Mar 2008 11:53

crazylegs32 wrote: In the same way that I call black people black instead of african american.

I think African-American is actually a pretty racist term. Hey, let's make a distinction between different kinds of Americans!

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » 20 Mar 2008 12:06

From what I'm told, the term "African American" gained popularity in the 90's but the more appropriate term is again "black." There are people with really really dark skin who are not African and I can understand getting offended if people label you as something you are not.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 20 Mar 2008 14:33

Mental retardation is still a term used in school systems nation-wide; it is still a term used by US educational law (IDEA '04), and developmentally delayed is NOT a term meaning the same thing.

Developmentally "delayed" connotes that there is a delay in the acquisition of age-appropriate skills/knowledge, however a person who is "mentally retarded" is called such due to a low IQ. IQ is a fairly stable construct (meaning it doesn't change much over time), as measured by standardized tests. This person will not likely "catch up" to his peers and is thus not really delayed, since delay implies a temporary condition.

Just the facts.