bathhouseterror
Banned
Going to a forum governed by retards or retard-lovers would net the same result.
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Why do you think calling someone "retarded" is alright but "faggot" gets you banned?
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radioheadrule83
Banned
I don't want to see "retarded" banned or anything. I'm in the crowd that wants as few things banned as possible for free speech's sake.
However, if its ever used hatefully and blatantly with a certain connotation -- the way "faggot" sometimes is -- then I'd trust the Mods here would exercise some sound judgement.
In my experience they do. Retard and retarded do seem to offend on average less people than the other-F-bomb, but I think thats to be expected. We have to figure out whos being a genuine asshole from those who are just being naive / daft.
However, if its ever used hatefully and blatantly with a certain connotation -- the way "faggot" sometimes is -- then I'd trust the Mods here would exercise some sound judgement.
In my experience they do. Retard and retarded do seem to offend on average less people than the other-F-bomb, but I think thats to be expected. We have to figure out whos being a genuine asshole from those who are just being naive / daft.
Ignis Fatuus
Banned
Getting back to the retarded argument, here's what I think:
The distinction between the two terms is that there is nothing wrong with being gay. However, there is something wrong with being retarded. I don't mean this in a sense that retarded people are less human or unworthy of dignity. I mean that there is objectively something wrong with your development causing you to act stupid.
To then ascribe those traits to someone else as an insult in order to point out that they're acting dumb is not malicious against someone who is actually retarded.
If you come up with a "politically correct" term for the developmentally challenged, then that could and will easily be repurposed just like "retarded" was, because it's not about the term it's about the negative traits.
No intelligent person will say that homosexuality is a negative trait. Almost all people will agree that stupidity is.
The distinction between the two terms is that there is nothing wrong with being gay. However, there is something wrong with being retarded. I don't mean this in a sense that retarded people are less human or unworthy of dignity. I mean that there is objectively something wrong with your development causing you to act stupid.
To then ascribe those traits to someone else as an insult in order to point out that they're acting dumb is not malicious against someone who is actually retarded.
If you come up with a "politically correct" term for the developmentally challenged, then that could and will easily be repurposed just like "retarded" was, because it's not about the term it's about the negative traits.
No intelligent person will say that homosexuality is a negative trait. Almost all people will agree that stupidity is.
Well it was news to me. And apparently I'm not the only one.Blackace said:
I'm ignorant? You either don't understand the meaning of that word, as well, or you're just being silly. I said I wouldn't get into this again (and I won't) but while I'm leaving I'd just like you to tell me the main similarities and differences in these two situations.lawblob said:
Your gay friend and you go out to eat. Do you use the term faggot?
Your mother's friend has a mentally disabled son who you are taking out to eat. Do you use the term retard?
This reply intrigues me but I'm not biting! I said I'm leaving the thread and I am, there is a lot of ban bait in here...Hitokage said:
Ignis Fatuus
Banned
Um, if you read my other posts I already said that I've heard it used as an insult but never in a context that made me think it meant "gay."Blackace said:
Ignis Fatuus
Banned
Ignis Fatuus
Banned
Well I know that now. You wanted to know what I thought it was.Blackace said:
SimpleDesign
Member
Should we ban "idiot", "imbecile" and "moron" as well?
If the use of "retard" is banned I'll be sure to start using "special" and "challenged" instead.
If the use of "retard" is banned I'll be sure to start using "special" and "challenged" instead.
TurboLibre
Member
Maybe someone can clear this up, but how come the word "retard" is offensive, but stupid, idiot, and moron are perfectly fine? They were all used to classify people with a low IQ, so what happened that caused the word to warrant blacklisting, while the others are used casually?
polyh3dron
Banned
First thing I thought of.
Regarding fruit cake or fruit:
I think that the association has to do with the fact that homosexuality was considered indicative of mental illness for some period, and could result in involuntary institutionalization.
In Canada, for instance, one of the creations of the anti-gay witch-hunts of the 1950s was "the Fruit Machine," which was designed to detect homosexuals among Canadian civil servants. It worked by measuring how the pupils of a person's eyes changed size in response to sexual stimuli. The logic was that a photograph of a nude male would cause a male homosexual's pupils to expand.
It lasted about four years and was, needless to say, completely ineffective.
I think that the association has to do with the fact that homosexuality was considered indicative of mental illness for some period, and could result in involuntary institutionalization.
In Canada, for instance, one of the creations of the anti-gay witch-hunts of the 1950s was "the Fruit Machine," which was designed to detect homosexuals among Canadian civil servants. It worked by measuring how the pupils of a person's eyes changed size in response to sexual stimuli. The logic was that a photograph of a nude male would cause a male homosexual's pupils to expand.
It lasted about four years and was, needless to say, completely ineffective.
That is redundant seeing as that idiocy is a form of retardation, and also my point. If you(not you sprsk) feel that this board needs to forbid the use of the word "retard" in all it's variances, be ready to give up the words "stupid", "idiot", and "moron". Just because they are widely accepted words in modern society doesn't change their meanings. They are still all technically psychological words used to describe a person of low intelligence. And I am curious OP, how many times have you used those words?sprsk said:
Idiot:
Moron:
Stupid:
Fake edit: Beaten like a redheaded stepchild.
2 Minutes Turkish
Banned
I.F. said:
You really didn't know fruitcake was one of many derogatory terms used to descibe homosexuals?
wow.
Ignis Fatuus
Banned
If it'll make people happy I'll gladly accept a week ban. I would say month, but I have to get my Spread contribution in.
TurboLibre
Member
Trurl said:
I would wager that if someone was willing to make fun of someone with a learning disability (which, luckily, I haven't seen), they would call them all of those words.
SimpleDesign
Member
Who is saying you should be banned?I.F. said:
2 Minutes Turkish
Banned
In all honesty, 'retard' doesn't hold the same meaning it used to.
'faggot' is still as vicious as it's ever been. I think that's the biggest difference.
'faggot' is still as vicious as it's ever been. I think that's the biggest difference.
adamsappel
Member
Same.Wraith said:
I hate the word "retard," but I've come to accept that younger people mostly use "retarded" non-pejoratively. I also feel that "gay" is evolving, like it or not.
Ignis Fatuus
Banned
Well honestly I feel guilty. I just don't express guilt well.SimpleDesign said:
Stupid, Idiot and Moron are not used to currently describe someone with developmental disabilities but a lot of people still use the word retard/retardation to describe someone with developmental disabilities even though the word is no longer used. A lot of people are pushing for a ban to get greater awareness that the term is no longer used and its no longer appropriate to use it to describe someone. Kind of like the term faggot which is never appropriate to describe someone who is gay (even if they are gay) its never appropriate to describe someone as a retard (even if they have developmental disabilities).Tkawsome said:
The Faceless Master
Member
lately, i've noticed that people use faggot as a generalized curse word... like when some chick cuts in line at a mall store... or when some random cabbie cuts someone off in traffic, etc...
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