Retard. To be fair, I don’t feel it’s very offensive as I’ve never heard it used as a slur in my part of the world. Elon probably feels the same - as he’s not american either.
Elon probably feels the same - as he’s not american either.
He grew up in apartheid era South Africa…
To parents who fled Canada because it wasnt pro Nazi enough…
So if you’re arguing that’s ok because of how he grew up, I’d remind you the Nazis killed the intellectually disabled as well, and that word was used in reference to the killing of them.
Like, I understand the argument you’re trying to make, but it only makes sense if you were completely ignorant of the topic.
The word originates as far back as 1426. I just find it crazy that it’s the only one considered a perjorative. Idiot, stupid, moron… All acceptable, and all have similar origins of being medical terms used to describe persons with impaired cognitive abilities that are now exclusively used as insults.
“R-Word” is a ridiculous over correction. It demeans the reason why “N-Word” exists. We collectively said the N-Word is out of bounds because it’s the very least anyone can do given historical events that continue to resonate to this very day (god dammit). Now the Internet thinks “R-Word” is a good idea. Why? The word is “Retard.” It’s okay to say retard. What’s not okay is demeaning people by calling them any derogatory term, and blacklisting words thinking that will somehow correct the problem is the height of hubris – as if there are no other suitable replacements. It’s an attempt to take a shortcut to a societal problem. It is, in a word, retarded (you can look up the definition in a dictionary and see it’s an appropriate usage).
Retard just means slow, and not mentally it just means slow as in not fast. There are absolutely other uses for it than talking shit about disabled people, for instance when you make bread the step where you put the dough in the fridge is called retarding, or a cold retard.
I wouldn’t have a reason to use it here but if I travelled to another place I’d certainly be respectful of their language and customs and make sure not to accidentally offend anyone. He doesn’t seem to care since he’s an arrogant prick.
I’m not saying I haven’t heard any offensive terms for the disabled, just not that one. A lot of them are dialect or slang words, probably spaz (spastic) is the most common but there are lots.
I can’t believe I wasn’t hearing it, but maybe that was because of where I grew up, where we might say someone was slow or backwards (not meaning to offend) rather than use intellectual disability, which is quite a formal term. I thought the R one was a recent Americanism (like so much today, bah humbug).
I only quite recently learned that the word cripple is considered offensive. A lot of these words seem respectable to me somehow, but I suppose many of them started out that way and only became offensive due to how they were used as insults. Like moron, idiot etc were originally medical categories. I’ll have a look at the list, thanks. I’m sure there will some surprises for me.
It’s only because R word was being heavily censored in reddit. Any use of that word was an immediate comment removal and ban, even if the context wasn’t attacking the disabled/demeaning them.
What is “R-Word”?
Retard. To be fair, I don’t feel it’s very offensive as I’ve never heard it used as a slur in my part of the world. Elon probably feels the same - as he’s not american either.
He grew up in apartheid era South Africa…
To parents who fled Canada because it wasnt pro Nazi enough…
So if you’re arguing that’s ok because of how he grew up, I’d remind you the Nazis killed the intellectually disabled as well, and that word was used in reference to the killing of them.
Like, I understand the argument you’re trying to make, but it only makes sense if you were completely ignorant of the topic.
Wait, it was used in reference to the killing if the intellectually disabled in Nazi Germany? I thought the use of that term started in the sixties
The word originates as far back as 1426. I just find it crazy that it’s the only one considered a perjorative. Idiot, stupid, moron… All acceptable, and all have similar origins of being medical terms used to describe persons with impaired cognitive abilities that are now exclusively used as insults.
“R-Word” is a ridiculous over correction. It demeans the reason why “N-Word” exists. We collectively said the N-Word is out of bounds because it’s the very least anyone can do given historical events that continue to resonate to this very day (god dammit). Now the Internet thinks “R-Word” is a good idea. Why? The word is “Retard.” It’s okay to say retard. What’s not okay is demeaning people by calling them any derogatory term, and blacklisting words thinking that will somehow correct the problem is the height of hubris – as if there are no other suitable replacements. It’s an attempt to take a shortcut to a societal problem. It is, in a word, retarded (you can look up the definition in a dictionary and see it’s an appropriate usage).
Unless the context is about music, it’s probably not ok to say. Yes, even where you live.
Retard just means slow, and not mentally it just means slow as in not fast. There are absolutely other uses for it than talking shit about disabled people, for instance when you make bread the step where you put the dough in the fridge is called retarding, or a cold retard.
I wouldn’t have a reason to use it here but if I travelled to another place I’d certainly be respectful of their language and customs and make sure not to accidentally offend anyone. He doesn’t seem to care since he’s an arrogant prick.
That’s ritard, short for ritardando
Unless you meant a non chord tone resolving downwards but that’s retardation
Can I ask what context you hear it used in?
“Sorry I just took off my leotard. Allow me to retard”
“I need to retard the timing on my carburetor because it’s suddenly 1973 again”
I don’t think I’ve ever heard it used by an English person. It reminds me of ‘en retard’ which means late in French.
@NotLemming @MountingSuspicion fellow English and I would say it’s even more offensive here than in the US! Maybe that’s why you’ve not heard it.
I’m not saying I haven’t heard any offensive terms for the disabled, just not that one. A lot of them are dialect or slang words, probably spaz (spastic) is the most common but there are lots.
yeah I know! But it was very common for a long time. Retard was voted worst by British disabled people in the early 2000s (and of course the Spastics Society had to rename to Scope in the 90s because of the misuse of the term, so it’s significant if R is worse). Currently both on the “strong” column in the ofcom list (which is a sometimes fun, sometimes horrible reference guide). https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/tv-radio-and-on-demand-research/tv-research/offensive-language-quick-reference-guide.pdf
It took the US a *lot* longer to recognise spastic/spaz as offensive too.
I can’t believe I wasn’t hearing it, but maybe that was because of where I grew up, where we might say someone was slow or backwards (not meaning to offend) rather than use intellectual disability, which is quite a formal term. I thought the R one was a recent Americanism (like so much today, bah humbug).
I only quite recently learned that the word cripple is considered offensive. A lot of these words seem respectable to me somehow, but I suppose many of them started out that way and only became offensive due to how they were used as insults. Like moron, idiot etc were originally medical categories. I’ll have a look at the list, thanks. I’m sure there will some surprises for me.
I think it got offensive when it was used with" mentally retarded" so blatantly
In French it would be ‘attardé’ I think.
i learned about it being offensive as an “evolution” of american english. i do agree the simple form, out of american english context, means slow.
the default, in american context, now seems to be retarded mental growth.
better to not use it, or at least, know your audience. elon is a moron and can’t read a fucking room to save his life.
It’s only because R word was being heavily censored in reddit. Any use of that word was an immediate comment removal and ban, even if the context wasn’t attacking the disabled/demeaning them.