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[Poor GRIMES]

It's something I've been noticing this year. People online (and in "real life") seem to be using "retard" or "retarded" in greater frequency recently. I don't know if there's been any official NeoGAF policy change in this regard but I assumed this forum was a place for relatively diverse discourse that refrained from personal attacks.

I'm not mentally handicapped in any way. With that said, I work with children and young adults who may be on the spectrum or intellectually handicapped. When I talk to them, I notice that some of their refuges seem to be gaming communities. These are their "safe spaces"; places where they express themselves in earnest. It disheartens me to see places like NeoGAF (and every other gaming forum, let's be real) devolve into places that mock any and every sort of neurodivergence. I don't want to pick on any individual poster (let's be real AGAIN, it's been an overarching trend that I've noticed) using less than inclusive language, but I just wanted some of your thoughts.

In the wake of the 2016 election, we have been discussing identity politics in regards to race and gender, but I honestly believe there hasn't been enough focus on neurodivergency. Yeah "Trump mocked a disabled reporter" was a hot headline for a few days, but now that he's president, what exactly does that signify for the populace that might need assistance in that manner? Are we becoming so desensitized to Trump's behavior that we start to accept the R-slur even in progressive havens like NeoGAF?

 

[2Smashed4U]

Nah, it's never not been a thing, you've just noticed it more.

I would also not call Neogaf a progressive haven.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

I will still call people out for it and disassociate myself from people who are willing to freely toss it around as a joke or insult. If I had to guess, it'll still be looked on pretty poorly on Gaf.

 

[HStallion]

It was never not accepted. I hear even liberal folks use it without thinking.

 

[BocoDragon]

If so, it was really only a taboo word for about a decade.

I do think Trump's election put a lot of progressive social justice type ideas on the back burner.

 

[SuperStiltzkin]

Not really. Less if you ask me. I've seen more comments against its usage now than I did when growing up when pretty much everyone used it casually.

 

[TaterTots]

I've hear people throwing that word around all the time and always have. Not sure its new.

 

[HeisenbergLannister]

To me, it was used a lot more about 4-5 years ago, but it seems like hardly anyone uses it anymore.

 

[Tender Joe]

Unfortunately, it's still very common.

Calling a person a "retard" seems more taboo than calling a thing or idea "retarded". I catch myself every once in a while saying it and feel bad every time.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

the best thing is when they spell it "retarted"

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

Nah, it's never not been a thing, you've just noticed it more.

.

But yes, it is becoming more accepted.

 

[HStallion]

the best thing is when they spell it "retarted"

Its like a Freudian slip of some kind

 

[AcademicSaucer]

retard is an slur?

 

[entremet]

People never stopped using it.

 

[Deepwater]

I had a communication science disorders major for a friend in undergrad and she would always call out the usage when it was said around her. That really helped combat my ingrained tendency to use it casually. I've pretty much stopped referring to people as such, but I'll fuck up and use it to describe something that happened. I find replacing it with swears help. "That's fucking stupid" vs. "that's retarded"

Honestly, in regards to your post, I don't think it's becoming more accepted, but I don't think we're making significant process. It's a hurdle we all have to tackle as we challenge people to unlearn harmful language and behaviors

 

[rec0ded1]

Member black eye peas song?

 

[Garrett Hawke]

am i dreaming or did usage drop after that black eyed peas song?

i feel like the controversy surrounding that kinda knocked it out of usage for a while.

 

[TheAbsolution]

retard is an slur?

Yes, it certainly is. It's very hurtful to neurodivergent people such as myself.

 

[HStallion]

retard is an slur?

I mean who could be personally insulted by such a word?

 

[DECK'ARD]

It was so widely used it's going to take a while to die out.

Like spastic in the UK which was everywhere until people were educated on it being unacceptable.

There maybe hasn't been enough pushback against it though.

 

[MsKrisp]

People I grew up with used it, and many variants of it, heavily. Wouldn't surprise me that some of those folks never stopped using it.

 

[L Thammy]

I was half expecting this to be trying to turn the word "racist" into an ethnic slur, got to be honest.

But on topic, I'd have to imagine 4chan and the like play into this as well.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Yes, it certainly is. It's very hurtful to neurodivergent people such as myself.

I mean who could be personally insulted by such a word?

Maybe it carries a more offensive meaning in english? I hear people in my country use the spanish equivalent all the time, even in congress and tv

 

[Garrett Hawke]

also the "autistic screeching" meme is super gross too

 

[DECK'ARD]

Maybe it carries a more offensive meaning in english? I hear people in my country use the spanish equivalent all the time, even in congress and tv

It's slang for mental retardation.

 

[Smellycat]

I thought the thread was going to be about how "republican" is now considered a slur

 

[Skel1ingt0n]

I see a gaf post that calls something "retarded" at least once a week.

For all the other things that feel so "PC," I've always found it odd that the word gets thrown around so much in these parts.

 

[BassForever]

Of all the words that used to be extrmely common place as a general slur against someone it's by the the one still used the most. If I had to guess it's because people who suffer from mental retardation aren't as capable of educating or confronting those using the slur. The lgbt community was able to help quell the use of homophobic slurs as a general criticism by advocating for themselves.

 

[zulux21]

.

But yes, it is becoming more accepted.

really I would say that it's becoming less accepted.

It's always been used as a way to say something to the effect of "really dumb" by people around me for most of my life. (and I am talking about kids 20 years ago were using it constantly)

my coworkers use the term all the time. I try to avoid saying it myself, but my observation has been that most of my life people haven't had a real issue with the word.

people taking issue/offense with the word seems to be a far more recent thing in my experiences as the majority of people I know who have ever taken offense to the word have only been in my life the last few years.

I mean it's still an issue, but I wouldn't remotely say it's becoming more accepted.

 

[timetokill]

I use it all the time in french now

Spoiler

it doesn't mean the same thing in french

 

[Tragicomedy]

I don't allow it in my workplace. I imagine there are plenty of places it still flies, but it's definitely not normal language in corporate America.

 

[L Thammy]

If so, it was really only a taboo word for about a decade.

This too. This and "gay" were flying around my elementary school playground and my high school; I know some people who didn't go to university and don't grow out of (or at least don't try to grow out of) them.

 

[Brianimaniac]

I mean, saying that someone's intelligence is sub-standard is the oldest insult in the book. You're never getting rid of it.

 

[SuperStiltzkin]

.

But yes, it is becoming more accepted.

I'd argue less. I've seen more awareness being brought up over its usage than I ever have years ago. Pretty common on forums and I'm sure if you look back through old GAF threads, you'll see people throw that around pretty liberally without much contention. Might be a bannable offense now here.

 

[Wafflecakes]

I don't see it. I teach middle school and it never has not been common vocab, no matter how much I caution against its use.

 

[lostsupper]

"Neurodivergency."

I guess you found your personal offense crusade.

 

[Strangelove77]

It's actually become less accepted in the last decade or so. At least by adults.
I imagine kids and teenagers probably still use it as much as we(my generation) used it when we were kids.

 

[BriGuy]

I don't use it, but I don't wince too much if others do. I see the word as taking its place in the lexicon among terms like "stupid and "idiot." Most of us wouldn't bat any eye if someone used one of those words, and I think "retard" will eventually have the same effect. Still, it's best to be respectful. There's too much nastiness in the world today without contributing to it.

 

[L Thammy]

"Neurodivergency."

I guess you found your personal offense crusade.

....Am I misunderstanding this post?

 

[Chumley]

I call people out in person and online every time I see it used, as politely as possible.

Also, it's not the same as idiot or stupid at all, its context directly refers to a specific group of marginalized people.

 

[jstripes]

It was a thing in primary school in the '80s.

 

[Tragicomedy]

....Am I misunderstanding this post?

Looking at their tag, I don't think so!

 

[Deepwater]

"Neurodivergency."

I guess you found your personal offense crusade.

why are people so allergic to trying to be a better person?

 

[DECK'ARD]

I mean, saying that someone's intelligence is sub-standard is the oldest insult in the book. You're never getting rid of it.

All sorts of words fall out of use, it's like fashion.

Your post was rad though.

 

[mdubs]

I don't know, I think it's probably used less now than it has ever been in the last 20 or so years. I find that the amount I hear it in every day life has steadily decreased over the last 10 years

 

[GSR]

also the "autistic screeching" meme is super gross too

I always assumed it was supposed to be a generic "nerd rage" joke so I was really bummed to learn that was where it came from. I guess I shouldn't have assumed 4chan would go for self-examination over making fun of the "other".

I definitely still see the "r-word" getting thrown around, OP. Not as much as I used to but certainly more than other slurs. It's pretty depressing.

 

[99Luffy]

Retard was removed as a medical term a few years ago so it shouldnt really be all that offensive anymore. The same thing happened with dumb and stupid.
I realize these things take a few years though so I can see how it can still be insulting.

 

[Moonkid]

It was a thing in primary school in the '80s.

Can confirm it was also a primary school thing in the 2000s from experience.

 

[Emerson]

Might be a bannable offense now here.

Could possibly use some clarification by a mod, honestly.

I don't tend to use it, but for a long time after other slurs e.g. "gay" were banned, "retarded" was specifically still allowed by the mods and defended as being different from those insults on multiple occasions.

The attitude here has certainly changed since, though, so I don't know what the policy is.

 

[Metalingus5150]

From what I've seen in my life, it's been less used but it's still a big problem.
Since most people know that it's not acceptable, they've moved onto using autism in the same connotation. Which is equally offensive and fucked up.