I know we like to call the others Freeptards

[maxpower]

But, as a nephew of a mentally challenged person, it is a little offensive to the mentally challenged. I agree with the sentiment, and far be it from me to tell anyone how to speak. But like I use to say when they called W a retard, that is an insult to mentally challenged people everywhere. He is much less intelligent than the mentally challenged. Just my two cents. Not meant to be flame bait.

Peace
Max

[Mass]

1. Thanks. I share your feeling totally.

[maxpower]

4. Thanks for your support

I not trying to be the thought police, just making a point.

Peace
Max

[TxRider]

51. Calling anyone names is silly really, it shows lack of intellect.

[Shanti Mama]

53. ABSOLUTELY.

This is what I teach my children. We don't call other people names, individuals or groups. To use name calling allows one to express frustration or disagreement with others' values, beliefs, etc, but there are much better ways to do that.
No one, including those of us on DU, likes to be lumped into a group. We like to choose our affiliations. Let's respect their basic humanity, regardless of how they choose to live their lives.

[Chulanowa]

109. Calling someone a dipshit isn't "calling names" if they really ARE a dipshit.

It's a simple statement of fact.

[kenfrequed]

112. Oh yes...

And completely ceding the trenches because they are crude and dirty and full of the uncouth is the surest way to win a war.

Hell even Adlai Stevenson knew that

Lady: "Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!"

Adlai: "Thats not enought."


That said I agree with the sentiment with regard to 'freeptard.' It really isn't that creative or interesting and I am certain we can come up with something far more insulting.

[tosh]

85. +1. I've never used that word, never will. nt.

[noiretextatique]

2. i agree...no need to offend your friends or their families eom

[madamesilverspurs]

115. Totally agree.

And defending the 'right' to continue giving offense is as self-serving as defending the right to carry a rifle to a presidential forum on health care. Just because we 'can' doesn't mean we 'should.'

[proud patriot]

3. as a mother of a disabled son

who rides the short bus to a regular ed school ..

He's had to endure that word hurled at him .

I must stand with you in agreement .

[maxpower]

10. I heard the same things growing up

When we would go places with my uncle people would be so rude. Believe me, I am not violent person, but I got in more than a few fights defending my uncle. I still do to this day and I am 40 now, only I use word now instead of the fists. Thanks for the support.


Peace
Max

[PA Democrat]

5. K & R.

[TwilightZone]

6. Agreed.

The term has always bothered me for exactly those reasons.

Besides, "Freepers" is enough of an insult.

[create.peace]

21. yes, freeper is better! besides, these people do NOT have

'diminished capacity' or 'mentally challenged' as a defense for their hatred and willful ignorance. my son had 'undiagnosed learning disabilities' but he was one of the least bigoted people i ever knew. these people could have IQs of 140, and they would still be hateful. and ignorant.

[TwilightZone]

22. Good point.

I think we'd like to believe that rampant bigotry and ignorance could be due to mental capacity issues, but of course the opposite is often true. I know some (otherwise) very intelligent people who are hopelessly bigoted and buy into everything whackos like Beck and Limbaugh spout.

[BolivarianHero]

56. I agree...

Lucien Bouchard, the guy who dragged Quebec's social democratic movement into the neo-liberal right-wing shitter, supposedly has a genius IQ.

[Prophet0621]

7. My younger brother was mentally challenged but the phrase doesn't offend me

Hell, nothing offends me. I just think it's childish and pathetic for people to call everyone and everyone right of center a 'freeptard'. Many on our side of the aisle are really no better than many on the other side.

[G_j]

8. agreed nt

[Arctic Dave]

9. Since when has the word "retard" only meant mentally challenged.

[Orsino]

11. Other possible meanings are not relevant...

...to those of us who are offended.

[Arctic Dave]

13. So it's the context not the word? What if someone uses a different word but in the same context?

[Orsino]

19. For some it's the word...

...for some the context. Personally, I'm probably going to think less of anyone who insists on using "retard" as a pejorative, equating mentally challenged with "stupid" or "bad."

[pitohui]

23. but in point of fact it IS bad to be mentally challenged

you wouldn't want to be mentally challenged, i wouldn't want to be mentally challenged

like it or not, say it as nicely as you want, being "mentally challenged" is a bad thing to be

the person can be nice, they can be kind, they can give "great hugs" as was offered on another thread -- but the fact remains -- it is not good to be less intelligent than others, there's a reason it's a handicap

being developmentally disabled/mentally challenged/retarded...it doesn't matter what the official nice buzzword of the day is...it's a bad thing to be, in fact, i'm guessing for a lot of people they would rather be crippled or missing a limb than to be missing the ability to think and reason clearly

so call it "retarded" or call it "mentally challenged," it's always going to be considered bad and it's always going to be hurled as an insult...that's just human nature and i see no way around it

the reality is that people on an internet discussion board are not very likely to be mentally challenged -- i've known exactly ONE down's syndrome person who could read and write -- and we're going to talk amongst ourselves in a casual way that assumes automatically that 1) we value intelligent discussion and the life of the mind and 2) people who don't value intelligence and the life of the mind (which would include the freepers) are fucking stupid

there is never going to be any situation where we say, it's OK to be stupid

for those of us who have friends/family who have these challenges, i think we have to accept that being stupid, retarded, demented etc. is a horrible, horrible tragedy -- and yet -- someone calling some other random person out there a name doesn't make the experience of being stupid any worse, someone NOT calling a random person out there a name doesn't make the experience of being stupid any better -- an old guy making jokes about "old timer's disease" doesn't hurt my several relatives with alzheimer's, i accept, he accept, we all accept that not being able to fucking remember stuff is coldly, factually a pretty bad thing and the only way to even face it sometimes is with humor...

this is not the same as racial slurs (it is not bad to be of a different race), sexist slurs (it really isn't bad to be a woman or shouldn't be), gay slurs (it is not bad to be gay)

it is actually a bad thing not to have as much brain as average people and there's simply no getting around that

[Orsino]

25. So use the word all you want...

...and tell every mentally-challenged person, "It's bad to be what you are."

Jesus H.

[KamaAina]

36. Awwww. You remembered my thread about Sarah. That's sweet!

they can give "great hugs" as was offered on another thread

I'm packing up to leave the island next week. And you know what? I'll miss Sarah a hell of a lot more than I will any number of people who have "normal" IQs. :(

[Arctic Dave]

38. Read my #37. it explains my view.

[Orsino]

71. That context has nothing to do with the pejorative use of the word. n/t

[bobbolink]

64. So why are you arguing? You've been told it's offensive and hurtful.

Isn't that sufficient?

Is this what we've come to... that "progressives" can't be sensitive, they have to argue with all requests for civility?

Is that really the world you want to create?

[Arctic Dave]

66. The word is irrelevent, the intent is hurtful and offensive.

[Orsino]

74. The word hurts people who cannot read the intent.

That the word hurts is the single most relevant point to those who are offended.

[Arctic Dave]

76. But how could you be offened by the word if you don't understand the intent.

I would think you would have to haveprior experience to be offended.

[Orsino]

77. Yes. Prior experience with the word is context.

Those who hear you use the word may therefore be offended--even if you somehow used it with allegedly good intent.

[Arctic Dave]

80. I do use it. Often. As I stated before.

I also use the word "nipple, tit, peckerhead and dike", all without ever refering to a person. we need to be more concerned about the bullying intent and not the words. If you just villify the word and not the intent, the bully will just change the word and not the bad behavior.

[Orsino]

81. We need to avoid using words when they will hurt.

Telling people that they shouldn't be offended just makes one look insensitive, and continuing to insist that offense is not possible is perverse.

[Arctic Dave]

84. If someone is using it to bulky then they are being an insensitive ass.

But use these words as they are intended is not insensitive.

[Orsino]

93. That statement is too general for me to argue against. n/t

[TexasObserver]

90. If I use the term "douche nozzle," it's ok, because it could mean a real douche nozzle.

For example, "the douche nozzle pretended he wasn't aware that he was being offensive and argumentative in a thread about a very real and poignant problem concerning the shabby treatment of developmentally retarded persons in America."

The term in that sentence is perfectly acceptable, because while pejorative, it aptly describes in acceptable terms such a person as would do that. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

[Orsino]

94. Win. n/t

[Arctic Dave]

97. Lol, thank you for proving my point.

[TexasObserver]

102. And thank you for proving mine.

[bobbolink]

119. Try residing in your heart for a while.

This over=intellectualization and arguing is offensive itself.

Not that it matters to you.

[maxpower]

12. It was a generally used term for a long time

And when it is said, unfortunately, most people automatically think of the mentally challenged. I don't mean to argue, because I certainly see your point.


Peace
Max

[Arctic Dave]

37. The reason I even bring it up is because I use the word often in my trade.

It has to with switches that are used for monitoring flow of liquids. When ever I hear I don't think of people.

[maxpower]

47. I completely understand

I really do.

[Curtland1015]

14. You're right. It doesn't, on its face, just mean "the mentally challenged".

But that certainly has become the most widely known use of the term. Popular usage and all that.

Still, if it upsets people, best to stop using it. For me anyways, I'm not trying to tell you what to do.

[G_j]

18. I've heard that term used in a derogatory fashion, since kindergarten

to insinuate somebody has MR. Do you live in the US?



:shrug:

[Obamanaut]

24. Well, if one is talking about the spark on an internal combustion

engine, the listener knows what the speaker means.

Likewise, if one is talking about a group of people, or a single person, upon whom one looks with disdain - that's sorta obvious as well.

[Posteritatis]

26. Since the term first started showing up as a pejorative? (nt)

[TexasObserver]

83. It's rude and thoughtless to use the term pejoratively.

Of course, if you want to use the word in a proper meaning, as "to retard the flow of the liquid," that's perfectly fine. But it seems a little silly for you to insinuate into this conversation your rationale for using the word when your stated use has zero to do with the topic.

Could the topic be any clearer which context and which meaning of the term is in discussion?

[Arctic Dave]

88. My post does have merit in the conversation.

As I have stated, improper use of a word should mean we should banish the word from our vocabulary. BullyIng is what we need to work on.

[TexasObserver]

92. Your post to the OP was bullshit, as are your defenses of it.

You say "context" matters, but then ignore the context of the thread into which you inserted your pathetic non sequitur.

Here's the post to which you replied, quoted in its entirety:

"But, as a nephew of a mentally challenged person, it is a little offensive to the mentally challenged. I agree with the sentiment, and far be it from me to tell anyone how to speak. But like I use to say when they called W a retard, that is an insult to mentally challenged people everywhere. He is much less intelligent than the mentally challenged. Just my two cents. Not meant to be flame bait."

Where in that post do you see any suggestion that the OP or anyone else has suggested that the word "retard" should be excised from the language? Nowhere. You created a straw man for the sole purpose of attacking it. You jumped into a thread that is clearly and most obviously about the use of "tard" or "retard" as a pejorative about the developmentally impaired.

You can continue your lame attempts to characterize your conduct otherwise, but you aren't kidding anyone, except yourself.

[boobooday]

15. You're right. Family experience here too.

"Freeper" is pejorative enough.

[maxpower]

48. Is that a Jackie as your avatar?

Just asking because I have one as my master.

[boobooday]

54. Yes. She is the queen of the house.

[maxpower]

55. She looks just like the king Monty

If I could figure out how to post a picture I would.

[boobooday]

63. Right click and copy the image address

If you have one uploaded to the web. Then paste the URL in your message.

[maxpower]

67. Here it goes. Thanks

Didn't work. I will try again

[Joanne98]

16. I don't call them that anymore. Now I call them the filth!

It's a better description. I hope I'm not insulting any bacteria.

[Maeve]

17. Besides, "freeper" is bad enough!

Snakes' bellies look down on "freepers"

[guitar man]

20. Actually, I prefer "Freepturds"

although I sometimes wonder if I'm being unfair to feces :crazy:

[cascadiance]

30. Maybe something like freeperpaths or freepinals

I think the problem with freeptards is that it just focuses too much on their substandard level of intellect, which is true, but as some point out here, there are many here that are mentally challenged that are totally cool people and don't deserved to be lumped together with them.

The key difference is that the freepers have malice in addition to substandard intelligence, whereas other mentally challenged are totally cool with trying to get along with other people, even if they face mental challenges each day.

So whatever slang is given them, it should also imply malice instead of or in addition to lack of intelligence to not confuse them with those with mental challenges but who are great people!

[zbdent]

27. that's why I say "freepturds" ...

because mentally challenged have no say in their condition. Freepturds are willingly ignorant, and would rather gouge out their own eye with a rusted spoon than to admit when a liberal is right ... or give a compliment to Ted or Hillary ... or Obama ...

[intheflow]

28. My son's last name is 'Moran.'

I have been attacked by DUers for suggesting it not be used as a synonym for the Idjit Right, despite the fact that they brought the title upon themselves. And of course our GLBT members are often attacked for insisting "gay" should not be used as a pejoritive adjective. There are a lot of thoughtless, insensitive people out there. I see some have shown up in your thread too. *sigh* Well, the best you can do is to try to educate the ignorant.

[cascadiance]

31. My middle initial is W too, which I avoid identifying much any more.

I feel sorry for folks like Kate Bush, etc. who at times might feel pressure to change their names.

[jsamuel]

33. My son's last name is 'Idjit'

j/k, but I see your point

[intheflow]

43. ..

:spray: What nationality is that? :rofl:

[whopis01]

78. at least that isn't really targeting him or a group hi is in...

I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't be annoyed by it - but keep in mind that the people using 'moran' that way are not targeting hatred towards your son or any group of which he is a part.

When someone using 'retard' (or some form of it) as an insult, they are clearly stating their disdain for the mentally challenged and are trying to show their disdain for others by insinuating that they are mentally challenged. Likewise, saying something is 'gay' is a direct reference to homosexuality. However in your son's case, it is just an unfortunate homonym.

hmmm... I guess you could make the argument that it was a form of homo(nym)phobia...

[bvar22]

29. Never used the word.

Never will.

I got over name calling in high school.

The WORST name I will ever call someone is "Centrist",
and that is much worse than "Right Wing".

[bvar22]

32. Never used the word.

Never will.

Got over name calling in high school.

The worst thing I will call someone is "Centrist",
which is worse than the pejorative you used in the OP.

[stray cat]

34. not in favor of demonizing entire subgroups with denigrating terms in general

[KamaAina]

35. Mahalo (thank you), max!

I've been calling people out on that (as well as "Paultards", etc.) for years!

How about "Freepturds", "Paulturds" (or "Paulbots"), etc.?

[maxpower]

49. No Worries

Peace

Max

[BolivarianHero]

57. Hehe...

I like calling them Limbaughts.

[emilyg]

39. k/r

[pipi_k]

40. And as the wife of a former

police officer, I should be offended when cops are called "pigs", often by DU members.

When I was young I was very thin, and there's a whole bunch of names out there to be used against thin people.

Now I'm older and a bit overweight.

I see people here hurling around insults at people like Rush Limbaugh, calling him a "fat ass", etc. The other day I read a thread in which there must have been a link to a picture of an overweight Freeper/Conservative woman and people were using weight-based insults against her. If overweight Freepers/Conservatives are fat and disgusting, then what does that make me...or anyone else here with a weight problem?

Why should one particular group get to say, "Well, I'm offended by this word so people shouldn't use it"?

Which is not to say that I think it's OK to use certain words, but that you don't have a monopoly on hurtful/offensive words. Maybe what we need to do is have a nice long thread going in which people specify what words are offensive to them and why...and then we all pledge NEVER to use those words, in speaking or writing, ever again.

Please understand that I'm not minimizing the hurtfulness of the word "retard". I'm only saying that it's NOT the only hurtful word on these boards, and if we're going to consider the feelings of one group of people, then we really need to be fair and consider the feelings of everyone.

[G_j]

42. it's an ongoing tension

free speech vs. the use of various words and phrases.
My own view is much like yours, if this is a 'community', then hopefully, people can learn how to communicate without hurting others.
What generally works best in a community, is a critical mass of people being aware.
Of course, that's a lot to hope for on a discussion board.

[pipi_k]

75. Yep, that's part of it...awareness...

and then there's the free speech vs use of offensive/hurtful words concept.


anyway, thank you for your reply. I really expected there would be more than one reply, but one is better than none, I suppose.


Perhaps I'm not explaining this the right way.

I guess the bottom line is, when does being considerate to others become overdone to the point of being ridiculous? How many people on DU could come up with a word that upsets/offends them, and if we all requested that those words never be used again, would there be many words at all that we could use without upsetting someone else....What if the admins here took it all seriously and blacked out every single word that DU'ers found personally offensive? There would be very little to read at all.

And just so people don't think it can become ridiculous, I actually know a couple of people who cannot STAND to see or hear the most ordinary words....these words are:

panties
cup
belly button
clown


In the end, isn't it up to each of us to grow up and stop being so perpetually offended by everything we hear unless it's directed toward ourselves or someone we care about?

Personally, I can think of things that are a whole lot worse and a whole lot more hurtful than words. Do people ever sit and put things into perspective anymore? I dunno...maybe it's just me...

:shrug:

[skygazer]

99. I don't think it's an all or nothing thing

Clearly if someone refers to police officers as pigs, they're using the word in a denigrating way. On the other hand, if I tell my kid he's eating like a pig, it's a far more benign comment. Frankly, I like pigs, think they're lovely animals and don't consider the word itself to be an insult. It's the way it's used that makes it inflammatory.

Hence the OP - when people refer to Freepers as Freeptards, it's an obvious negative connotation. And I think that puts things clearly in perspective. Getting hung up on the individual word without the accompanying context is disingenuous.

Words ARE hurtful. Did you ever watch the documentary about the teacher who separated her third grade class on the basis of eye color for a lesson in racial discrimination the day after MLK's assassination? She taught in a totally white community and wanted the kids to understand the concept so she divided them into two groups of blue eyed and brown eyed kids. One day the blue-eyed kids were designated as "inferior" and not allowed to use the water fountain, play on the playground equipment and were told they were less intelligent and the following day, the brown-eyed kids were. The kids knew it was an arbitrary division and yet within a short span of time, they began behaving towards each other in ways consistent with discrimination. One boy hit another boy on the playground because the first boy had called him brown-eyed (which was the group that was designated as inferior that day). The teacher asked why that was worthy of hitting the other child, since the boy had been brown-eyed before they had ever done the exercise and it hadn't made any difference. Now though, it was an insult and it stung.

Even more interesting (and alarming), in an exercise in which the children were timed on responses to flash cards, it was shown that the group designated as inferior got significantly lower times than the same group did the alternating day when the roles were reversed. Words DO hurt, they have lasting repercussions, no matter how irrational that may seem. And it seems to me that it is far easier to think about how another person might feel and use more inclusive language than it is to expect everyone to not be offended.

[lib_wit_it]

108. Later, that exercise was banned, as it was thought to be too difficult for children to endure. I

wonder if the lesson learned isn't more important than the discomfort endured for that short time.

[create.peace]

111. so well put, thank you! another 'community' board i am on has had the same conversation

and i think i will use your comment to bring some closure to it. the 'communities' we try to establish online are more subject to this than in real life, people say things online they would never say face to face (well except now the troubled rightwingers).

[Uncle Joe]

41. Kicked and recommended.

Peace to you Max.:thumbsup:

[reflection]

44. Good stuff. I agree.

I like the idea upthread of changing it to 'freepturds' (if one must call names).
:thumbsup:

[Octafish]

45. Thank you, maxpower.

Words can harm the innocent.

[maxpower]

46. You are most welcome Octafish

I have always been a little offended by the term. For reasons posted above. I appreciate the open minded responses from almost all.

[maxpower]

50. Peace to all

Max

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

52. Agree completely.

[maxpower]

58. Don't follow leaders... just feed the parking meters

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows

I couldn't help it seeing your sig line. Love me some Bob Dylan.


Peace
Max

[burning rain]

59. I like to say "FReaks" & "FaRtknockers."

.

[rhett o rick]

60. I agree completely. nt

[babylonsister]

61. I never use that term, and also hate it. Eunice Kennedy made it so

uncool! But even before her, it turned me off.

[bobbolink]

62. Thank you for saying what we should NOT have to be saying at this point in our history!

I take exception when any person uses that "r" word... I just won't tolerate it. It wouldn't be acceptable to use the "N" word, and other prejudical words are every bit as offensive.

What I see of these lovely people is that they are so much more accepting and loving than those who judge them!

They show us how we SHOULD be as human beings... they remind us, if we would only pay attention!

Thank you so much for posting this.... I hope some here finally LISTEN.

[maxpower]

68. Great post many thanks

I feel the same way about the N word. I refuse, and have never used it. I am a WASP to the core. And I feel a need to apologize for the crazy shit the whites on the right say. Truer words were never spoken. My uncle and his housemates are the most beautiful souls you can ever meet. So I thank you for your post.

[bobbolink]

118. Please give them a hug for me!

I think you understand what so few do.

Calling it "BS" shows just how far we have to go on this.

:hug:

[maxpower]

120. Thank you so much bobbolink

I truly appreciate your words. Your words comfort me. And I will give them all a big hug for you. If I were there I would give you one too.

Peace to you
Max

[TheKentuckian]

104. While I understand the offense, it is BS to conflate the use of the two terms

since a nigger is clearly meant to be disparaging describing laziness, lack of trustworthiness, childishness, contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc. See nigger doesn't mean black. People were described as niggers without any context of folks of African descent and that meaning was then transposed upon a group at large, irregardless of intellect, maturity, or work ethic.
The word retarded even though hurtful and misused was used as a literal descriptor.
One may elect to make both terms equally hurtful with similar malice but I have to say that is fairly simplistic thinking. Every person of color isn't some shiftless, shady, silly, and infantile being but every mentally challenged or disabled person does actually have a real and measurable development issue.

It is perfectly reasonable to ask for a more respectful dialog but it is rockheaded to act like all words taken as disparaging are equally offensive or have comparable context. Retarded is a crappy way of saying developmentally disabled like crippled is hamfisted way of describing a person with a handicap but those terms aren't inherently or intentionally used to dehumanize like nigger. People are called niggers that in no way reflect the actual meaning of the word, very often such people may well exemplify the reverse.

All words of offense are not on an equal footing. If you can't differentiate between retarded and nigger then get a fucking dictionary and a clue. If that doesn't work take a logic class.

[Dorian Gray]

65. Thank you...

That is one pejorative that drives me batty. I hate when people throw around "-tard" in any manner when takling negatively about another person.

[eridani]

69. Bush isn't intellectually challenged. He's a lazy, ignorant spoiled brat

Refusing to use the brains you have is far more reprehensible than being born mentally challenged.

[Cherchez la Femme]

70. That is an insulting appelation

towards those mentally challenged.

MinusMensans? no... Freep ought to be in it....
Freepfools? Freepidiots? (too close? But I like the way it rolls off the tongue: Free-PID-idiots : )

Actually, Freepers is a term that automatically includes their lack of intelligence, whether that lack is deliberate or natural to the individuals;
so Freeptards is, along with being insulting, redundant.

[salguine]

72. Point taken. I posted this once before, but since it's relevant to this, I'll restate:

I'm sick to death of seeing Republicans referred to on this site as Rethugs, Repugs, Repukes, Pukes, and whatever else. I understand the loathing of them—I share it unreservedly—but the constant name-calling is so fatiguing. It's juvenile, it's childish and it doesn't elevate the discourse. It's not clever, it's the kind of immaturity I expect from Ann Coulter and her kind, and it makes me take posts in which I read it less seriously.

What's wrong with just saying "Republicans"? Is that not that a grotesque enough insult?

[lukasahero]

73. I agree, I hate the term eom

[TexasObserver]

79. Agreed. I unrecommend threads that use any form of "tard" in the OP disparagingly.

This kind of thread is the exception, because it discusses the topic.

freeptard, fucktard ...

I don't like it and I don't use it. My kids are grown and in their mid 20s, and two very dear friends of theirs are the same age, and have been dear to us since middle school. They're retarded, or impaired, or whichever term one prefers. Two sweeter boys you've never known. They and their parents have dinner parties with us, and their boys are always invited. They were in one of my son's wedding party.

Retarded people are treated less than by many, as jokes by others, and it's never funny to the family members who must suffer such completely unjustified aspersions.

I've never accepted such conduct in my presence. It's just wrong.

[madmax]

82. Thank you, we need to be called out and set straight.

One of the reasons I'm proud to be a DU'er. We challenge each other to be better.

:hug:

[Political Heretic]

86. It's so incredibly childish and ignorant when people do that.

And yes, it is offensive.... sigh.

[Echo In Light]

87. The over-reliance on name-calling grows tiresome for a host of reasons.

... not that most of us aren't guilty of it from time to time.

Rec

[pubic option]

89. Thank you. And it's also 'fucktards'... Even as a kid, I never enjoyed that term

and it's baffling that people with supposed sensitivities to these types of issue, as I always imagine progressives to be, would use such a term.

[swishyfeet]

91. Is it okay to call people "fat"?

A lot of people can't help that they're fat. More people die or kill themselves because they're fat than because they're "retarded". Calling someone fat (especially wives), is always an insult, but we get to use the word freely.

Wop, spic, kraut, chink, gook, nigger etc. are offensive and were probably always intended to be so. It's not okay to use those. I get that. Unlike those (and "fat") I doubt calling someone "retarded" was originally an insult; in fact it was probably better than a lot of the alternatives. It became a pejorative because 11 year old boys prefer it to "mentally challenged". I'm sure if 11 year old boys were willing to call everyone "mentally challenged" it would fall out of favor with the PC police just the same.

[Gman2]

95. I dont agree with any idiotic names, but one. I called Bush the dictator. True though

[Vincardog]

96. Freeptards is not an insult to mentally challenged people it is an insult to Leotards

These people put no their "thoughts' as easily as you put on you socks

[Kajsa]

98. Thank you, Max!

"--tard" or "retard" used as a put down
is an epithet.

It is the 'N' word to disabled people, and it has
the same impact, per my disabled son.

http://www.r-word.org/

Thanks so much for posting this, Max!

:) :pals:

[mistertrickster]

100. I totally agree. And they call us Libtards. It's not right either way. nt

[ItNerd4life]

101. Isn't Freeptards hate speech anyway?

I always find it amusing when people claim the other side is full of hate speech when it's done here many times.

My spouse works with special needs kids as well, it never ceases to amaze us how prolific words like 'retarded' are used.

[inna]

103. "freepturds" is much better, imo. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

105. Thanks for posting this - I never use that term, for the reasons you've just described.

[On the Road]

106. To Me, Their Positions Look Much Stupider

without name-calling. Much better to stick to the facts. Believe it or not, people who are uninformed or on the fence can actually be swayed, even if they don't admit it at the time. Name-calling of any kind can immediately kill that effect.

[TheKentuckian]

107. While I understand the offense, it is simplistic BS to conflate the use of the two terms

since a nigger is clearly meant to be disparaging describing laziness, lack of trustworthiness, childishness, contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc. See nigger doesn't mean black. People were described as niggers without any context of folks of African descent and that meaning was then transposed upon a group at large, irregardless of intellect, maturity, or work ethic.
The word retarded even though hurtful and misused was used as a literal descriptor.
One may elect to make both terms equally hurtful with similar malice but I have to say that is fairly simplistic thinking. Every person of color isn't some shiftless, shady, silly, and infantile being but every mentally challenged or disabled person does actually have a real and measurable development issue.

It is perfectly reasonable to ask for a more respectful dialog but it is rockheaded to act like all words taken as disparaging are equally offensive or have comparable context. Retarded is a crappy way of saying developmentally disabled like crippled is hamfisted way of describing a person with a handicap but those terms aren't inherently or intentionally used to dehumanize like nigger. People are called niggers that in no way reflect the actual meaning of the word, very often such people may well exemplify the reverse.

All words of offense are not on an equal footing. If you can't differentiate between retarded and nigger then get a fucking dictionary and a clue. If that doesn't work take a logic class.

repost

[nyc 4 Biden]

110. K&R

I agree totally. It is a hurtful term, even if unintended.

[SnowCritter]

113. I've taken to calling them

the Brawndo Brigade™

[PatSeg]

114. I prefer "freepers"

I know many people share your feelings. Hopefully people can be more sensitive.

[Roon]

116. I cringe when people say "tard" anything

I think a lot of people forget where the term originated from.

[leftofthedial]

117. I'm not so big on freeptard.

But I do like republitard.

I've also heard Chuck Tard.