Bill Maher 6/9/17

[Anon2381]

Kind of like the way people on this forum bandy around the word "retard" i.e. creatard, etc. For those of us, like me who work with the mentally challenged, we find it hurtful and stigmatizing. At the same time we teach our members that it says more about the name-callers, their lack of class and ignorance and nothing about the mentally challenged. They won't let other people take away their dignity as human beings. In that way they are stronger than more noble than anyone using the word retard or derivatives like creatard.

Yea but there is a limit to taking things out of context. Nobody sane when using that is equating that to the mentally challenged. It is merely a blunt way of saying your logic sucks, so it isn't remotely the same context.

If you are trying to justify a old fantastic claim out of an old writing that has no basis in scientific fact I see calling that "retarded" as being no different than saying "That's bullshit".

And yea, if you think the earth was created in 6 literal days and or think the earth is only 6 to 10,000 years old, then yea, you are a creatard. If you instead claim the universe was farted into existence by a giant invisible unicorn, I'd call you a unitard.

But no, sorry, that isn't the same one bit as poking fun of the mentally challenged. Everyone agrees nobody should do that. 

I am a liberal, but even I think PC goes too far. And my fear is that my well intended fellow liberals are going to put the far right bigots in a position of using the "never say ever" position against us.

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I think devaluing the comment and its maker is a great way to educate people about the stupidity of cruel and hurtful words. So many offensive things are said daily and responding to dumbass gives them more power. I love your perspective your teaching.

I love this intent, but we don't live in a utopia and if everyone got to dictate to others about what can or cannot be said by law, there is not one person reading this that could not think of something they'd rather not hear. The problem with "never offend" is that is always point of view and subjective. You cant have blanket solutions to solve that problem because then it becomes "who gets to decide"? 

Some theists find the mere word "atheist" offensive, and would consider the existence of this website offensive or the existence of ANY atheist website offensive. Do you really want those people to to decide for you in that case? Could you imagine what a government full of nothing but Pat Robertsons would do to atheists and even gays and liberals in general?

I'm all for freedom of speak and don't desire to dictate what can and cannot be said. I like the idea of educating the offended or bullied about the stupid and ignorant name callers to devalue their power. "Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself. " Hermione from Harry Potter.