In 20 years? People are already saying how the word "disabled" is offensive. I think we, as a society these days, sometimes goes overboard on trying to not offend. I work with a local special needs agency and even I get irked at how far some people want to go.
Even what we call those that we serve, some are so touchy about it. It seems like every few years they change the name of what we call those that we serve. They were last called "clients", then that was also deemed disrespectful. They are now called "consumers" but I'm sure that will be disrespectful any time now as well. It's a never ending cycle of being scared to offend.
I do however get the offense taken at the word "retarded". I try not to use it, but before doing what I do now I rarely thought twice about it. Working so closely with them made me at least understand it.
I mean, I understand where you guys are getting from. Hell, I stated in the T word thread that thug is a normal word over here.
However, it is not like the word retard suddenly gets a different meaning now, isn't it? The word has been used as an offensive term since the 60's , ever since it was formally recognised as a scientific classification for the mentally disabled people. Therefore, using the term always clearly meant using the mentally disabled as the offense.