Yes, i think it is very offensive. Coming from someone who has a retarded uncle... I never liked the word retarded or retards...

Quoting Mama k ♥:" Yes, i think it is very offensive. Coming from someone who has a retarded uncle... I never liked the word retarded or retards..."

Even when the context isnt meant for mentally handicapped?

Quoting Bearer of Kings:" I dont. I would NEVER call a mentally handicapped person a retard. However, I would call an smurf one  "

What is the difference, you are still making fun of a retarded person and the way they act by saying it at all. Wether you're making fun of an acutal retarded person or not.

Doesn't offend me.

Quoting Living-Dead Girl:" Even when the context isnt meant for mentally handicapped?"

Mentally handicapped or retarded. It's the same thing.. Yes, regardess if it is used toward a retarded person or not. It's picking fun at them. It's rude, ignorant and immature.

Quoting Mama k ♥:" Mentally handicapped or retarded. It's the same thing.. Yes, regardess if it is used toward a retarded person or not. It's picking fun at them. It's rude, ignorant and immature. "

Its the same thing only because everyone lets society label them as "Retarded."

re·tard

   [ri-tahrd, for 1–3, 5; ree-tahrd for 4] Show IPA

verb (used with object)
1.
to make slow; delay the development or progress of (anaction, process, etc.); hinder or impede.

Quoting Living-Dead Girl:" re·tard    [ri-tahrd, for 1–3, 5; ree-tahrd for 4] Show IPA verb (used with object) 1. to make slow; delay the development or progress of (anaction, process, etc.); hinder or impede."

noun
3.
a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.
4.
Slang: Disparaging .
a.
a mentally retarded person.
b.
a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in someway: a hopeless social retard.
5.
Automotive, Machinery . an adjustment made in the settingof the distributor of an internal-combustion engine so thatthe spark for ignition in each cylinder is generated later inthe cycle.


Verb definition is what I refer to. A mentally handicapped person isnt retarded to me.

Quoting Living-Dead Girl:" noun 3. a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine. 4. Slang: Disparaging . a. a mentally ... [snip!] ... is generated later inthe cycle. Verb definition is what I refer to. A mentally handicapped person isnt retarded to me."

To be completely honest, if we keep getting so offended over such words then they are going to continue to be offensive. I mean, if you don't let a word bother you then it holds no meaning.

Quoting Mc Lovin:" To be completely honest, if we keep getting so offended over such words then they are going to continue to be offensive. I mean, if you don't let a word bother you then it holds no meaning. "

Exactly. Its like calling someone a whore. Does that make you one? NOOO. Its a term of endearment for my friend, she calls me sleeze. I dont let the word bother me.

Quoting Living-Dead Girl:" Its the same thing only because everyone lets society label them as "Retarded.""

Whatever way you'd like to put it, it's picking fun at a mentally retarded person... Idiots decided they wanted to start using the word retarded to insult their dumbass friends so now under the definition of retard you see "a person who is stupid"   its a word that was transformed into that... Mentally retarded, is just as innocent as that but, dumb smurfs one day thought they were funny... and it went from there.

I just don't like the word, there are 1,000 words to chose from other than retarded. It's disrespectful.

Quoting Mama k ♥:" Whatever way you'd like to put it, it's picking fun at a mentally retarded person... Idiots decided ... [snip!] ... it went from there. I just don't like the word, there are 1,000 words to chose from other than retarded. It's disrespectful."

perhaps to you. And it would be disrespectful to you to use that word in front of you. But I don't see it as offensive or disrespectful. It's all really up to interpretation. Even the dictionary defines it as "a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way" It really is all in how you take it, the english language is so fluid now. It's your right to be offended, but you shouldn't take it offensively b/c unless they're calling your uncle that name, it's not personal, or anything about mentally handicapped people.

Quoting ♫Kaibutsu♫:" Omg I'm so offended right now. But no..not really. And I have 3 autistic brothers. You can refer to ... [snip!] ... a lot of people (not special needs) are just plain smurfing retarded and I think that is what the picture is talking about. "

^ I agree!

No way I'm not! I liken it to someone going "That's really gay!" Kind of like the world "cool" gained a new meaning. I would NEVER refer to a handicapped person as a retard, but you can sure as hell bet I will call my siblings retards because they're total dumbasses, I call my husband an r-tard too because he's dumb sometimes lol.

Quoting Mc Lovin:" perhaps to you. And it would be disrespectful to you to use that word in front of you. But I don't see ... [snip!] ... offensively b/c unless they're calling your uncle that name, it's not personal, or anything about mentally handicapped people."

Regardless if they are calling a mentally handicapped person retarded or not.. It's offensive and it's a disgusting, disrespectful word. There is no way around it...