Political Correctness

[BrokenQuill92]

How about using negative words like "retarded?" I'm perfectly comfortable using this word when I think someone/something is stupid, exactly because a retarded person is stupid. But then I have to listen to the outrage from my aunts, and how her special-needs students are "differently abled" and all that. Fine, let them help my daughter with her calculus homework, then. I don't like it when the simple reality of the human condition, and the words about it, take a backseat to a kind of condescending "support."

only stupid people say differently abled. And I try not associate the word special with disability because it unminds equality. We don't special treatment we want EQUALITY.

[Cato]

Actually handicap is considered rude as well.  It's not a slur the same way cripple is, but I'd still give you a nasty look.

This in large part is what this thread is about. I would refer to you by your name. If for whatever reason blindness was the topic of conversation then I would say you were blind. I don't get crippled being considered a slur. When I was growing up the word 'crippled' was only pejorative if used in a certain way, now you're telling me it's a slur. This is an example of why PC is bullshit. Replace crippled with any acceptable term or phrase (for now) and I can use it pejoratively. Changing the terminology also doesn't change the condition.

[Edwardo Piet]

I say disabled.

[Clueless Morgan]

How about using negative words like "retarded?"  I'm perfectly comfortable using this word when I think someone/something is stupid, exactly because a retarded person is stupid.  But then I have to listen to the outrage from my aunts, and how her special-needs students are "differently abled" and all that.  Fine, let them help my daughter with her calculus homework, then.  I don't like it when the simple reality of the human condition, and the words about it, take a backseat to a kind of condescending "support."

I don't personally advocate using words like "retarded" pejoratively.

[Edwardo Piet]

I say it of behavior, but not of the person itself. I will say "that's retarded." But never "you're retarded."

However, I have been trying to get out of the habit of saying it at all. Habits take a while to break once they've been developed... but I will break this habit.

(It kind of comes from watching so much South Park, to an extent).

[Thumpalumpacus]

If someone called me a cripple I wouldn't give a shit. No one can offend me unless I let them.

[Edwardo Piet]

Everyone is different, I try to be sensitive to people (and not everyone is a tough cookie).

[CapnAwesome]

Everyone is different, I try to be sensitive to people (and not everyone is a tough cookie).

That's really their problem.

[CapnAwesome]

I say it of behavior, but not of the person itself. I will say "that's retarded." But never "you're retarded."

However, I have been trying to get out of the habit of saying it at all. Habits take a while to break once they've been developed... but I will break this habit.

(It kind of comes from watching so much South Park, to an extent).

If you quit saying retarded completely, I'm going to start saying it twice as much. It's the perfect word for using when someone is acting like a retard.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

The terms 'handicapable' and 'differently abled' make me want to punch people in the throat.

Boru