re: Chew on that, "Tropic Thunder"

Quoting Satan:“ I call people retarded all the time. If i feel their thought process is retarded....... I, for one, ... [snip!] ... a retard for being mentally handicapped. Therefore i wouldn't think of my child when i thought of or heard that word. period.”

 

I do too, lol.

Quoting flesh.mechanic:“ I have a bunch of thoughts on all of this, but unfortunately I'm awful at putting them in a nice big ... [snip!] ... continue 'eliminating' words, we're going to be left with 'the' 'apple' and 'is'..... (Yeah I know, it'd be retarded.)”

lmao

Quoting EmmaGrace:“ Ok guys, what about this?
”

That made me gigggle. I would love it if when Lincoln gets older him and his future brother(s) and sister(s) would do something like that. He's not making fun of himself in a bad way, he's just cracking harmless jokes, with family.

”Can i go now?

Quoting ☆ Spammie ☆:“ That made me gigggle. I would love it if when Lincoln gets older him and his future brother(s) and ... [snip!] ... would do something like that. He's not making fun of himself in a bad way, he's just cracking harmless jokes, with family.”

I love it. It cracks me up.

My sister has DS and I don't really get offended when people use the word retard or retarded, but it really depends on the intent. If someone is just being hateful toward a disabled person, that's one thing. If someone is calling someone a retard (as in dumbass) I see nothing wrong with it. I do it myself.

Quoting EmmaGrace:“ I love it. It cracks me up. My sister has DS and I don't really get offended when people use the ... [snip!] ... person, that's one thing. If someone is calling someone a retard (as in dumbass) I see nothing wrong with it. I do it myself.”

That's exactly how I feel about it.

My husband I have slightly differing opinions on the "R" word.

He cannot stand the word in any shape or form. He has never used it - even as a kid, he didn't. And now that we have a daughter with Down syndrome, he hates the word even more.

I really do not care for the word myself, never have. Mainly because it has come to be used as a word that is used to degrade someone or something.... ie calling someone a retard.

The difference with me and hubbs is that I have come to accept the term, mentally retarded, when talking about medical issues or learning issues we have with Kelly.

I personally would like to see that word removed from everyday speak because most people do not know how to use it properly and use it to shame and laugh at another individual.

I know a lot of people are rolling their eyes and thinking, Oh jeeze, something else to protest or be PC about.""When will it ever end?" Well I can tell you this.... you do not know how hurtful that word can be until you have walked in the shoes of person with a disability or the parent of a child with a disability. It has the same feeling as a white person taunting and abusing a black person with the Nword. Can you imagine how your child would feel if they had a mental disability and someone was taunting them and bullying them and using the R word at them? You may not be able to if you don't live in these shoes. As mothers and parents we have this natural instinct to protect our children. I am so afraid that when my daughter finally gets to school age, that she is going to have put up with this. And how hurt she is going to be. I can't be with her every second of everyday, so now is the time to take some sort of action to make it socially unacceptable use the R word. I mean if Mongolism has all but been erased from everyday vocabulary, why can't we work to do the same with the R word?

Can you imagine seeing this shirt out in the public??? How hurtful and devistating to mentally disabled people and the people who love them.... Can you imagine having a child with a disability and seeing some punk walking around wearing it???? How do YOU think you would feel? Or if your child could read, how do you think they would feel???

This is why this movie is a severe tarnish on our society......

http://cgi.ebay.com/TROPIC-THUNDER-T-SHIRT-Once-Upon-a-Time-STILLER-Lg_W0QQitemZ120294212925QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120294212925&_trkparms=72%3A1073%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&timeout=1218687136953&timeout=1218687136953

Quoting MrsH:“ Can you imagine seeing this shirt out in the public??? How hurtful and devistating to mentally disabled ... [snip!] ... Can you imagine seeing this shirt out in the public??? How hurtful and devistating to mentally disabled people and the people who love them.... Can you imagine having a child with a disability and seeing some punk walking around wearing it???? How do YOU think you would feel? Or if your child could read, how do you think they would feel??? This is why this movie is a severe tarnish on our society...... http://cgi.ebay.com/TROPIC-THUNDER-T-SHIRT-Once-Upon-a-Time-STILLER-Lg_W0QQitemZ120294212925QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120294212925&_trkparms=72%3A1073%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&timeout=1218687136953&timeout=1218687136953”

I think the shirts are a going too far. I'm very intersted in seeing the movie, because I want to form my own opinion. Like I've said I'm guilty of using the word, but but talking about myself or a situation.

Quoting MrsH:“ My husband I have slightly differing opinions on the "R" word. He cannot stand the word in any shape ... [snip!] ... R word. I mean if Mongolism has all but been erased from everyday vocabulary, why can't we work to do the same with the R word?”

that is exactly the point I was trying to make. It's not the "R" word that makes me uncomfortable, because that's not what myson is... Yes, people are trying to get the "R" word banned, defining it as a "Hate word" just like the "N" word. Do I think they are going to be successful in doing this...no, just because there are so many people who use it so loosely. Some in terms of describing something that think is "stupid" and some in hurtful ways. The point I was trying to make with this whole post is that there are people out there who use the "R" word to ridicule, devastate, and harass people with Mental and Physical Disabilities. Though this movie was "for a good laugh" that does notchange the fact that it's just another thing that's being put out there breeding ignorance to the "R" wordand what it does to people and their families.

Actually, I've heard more people use the term 'retard' to describe 'normal' people doing stupid stuff. IE: Retarding the process or whatever is going on. I've heard this word be used in attempts to devestate 'normal' people, not in reference to those with mental/physical handicaps.

I find it ironic that so many are jumping to the conclusion that Down's equals a retard. It seems the people who are trying to ban the word view it like this. The only retards I've ever seen are people will full mental capabilities.

It's kind of like calling something gay.

IE: "That shirt is gay."
Translation: That shirt looks dumb or is stupid.

Does this mean homosexuals or dumb or stupid?! Absolutely not. There are recorded definitions of words, but then there are socially exceptable meanings for the same word.

Quoting Pr0nkBeth:“ Actually, I've heard more people use the term 'retard' to describe 'normal' people doing stupid stuff. ... [snip!] ... Absolutely not. There are recorded definitions of words, but then there are socially exceptable meanings for the same word.”

People with mental disabilities are techinically considered mentally retarded, at least to some degree. For people to use the R word disbaringly to ridicule and harrass typical people is like saying, "Boy you are as dumb as a retard". So your arguement on that point doesn't hold water with me. It is saying that someone with a mental disability is less of a person.

I personally do not aggree with the homosexual lifestyle, but I do not go around calling things "gay" that I think aren't quite right. I do not gay bash in anyway shape or form. Matter of fact my favorite neighbors are a lesbian couple and are great neighbors and friends. Their personal life is none of my business. So that arguement doesn't hold water with me, either.. I personally feel that term should be used correctly as well. If I remember correctly the word gay is meant to describe happy.  


And who said the R word should be socially acceptable? For instance, like I pointed out before, the term "mongolism" use to be an "acceptable" way to refer to some one who has Down syndrome. And with the exception of very very few old old people stuck in the dark ages, that term has been eliminated from "acceptable" vocabulary.

Quoting MrsH:“ People with mental disabilities are techinically considered mentally retarded, at least to some degree. ... [snip!] ... exception of very very few old old people stuck in the dark ages, that term has been eliminated from "acceptable" vocabulary.”

You took the word right out of my mouth!!!
People are using the word Retard or Retarded to describe something they think is "dumb, ridiculous, silly, or stupid,..." though, to us, that term is what was used to describe our child's medical condition. How in any way, shape or form is that "dumb, ridiculous, silly or stupid? And it's not just people with DS or parents with a child with DS that is advocating. This word is also trying to be banned by other organizations as well, I have personally seen 2 autism organizations join the fight as well.

My second child actually has developmental delays. Up until his testing, they believed he was DS. Does the word 'retard' bother me? Not in general terms. Would it piss me off if someone called my son a retard? Absolutely.

But then again, it would piss me off for anyone to pick on a child or person with any sort of disabilities. I really haven't come into contact with anyone who actually called someone with disabilities a retard. So, why ban the word?

The word has as much power as you give it.

First off I'd like to counter the OP with Ben Stiller's quote from a link in the article:

Q: Obviously, you know it’s a derogatory word. You surprised by the reaction?
Stiller: Well, we screened the movie so many times and this didn’t come up until very late, and I think the people who are spearheading it, at least the guy who is spearheading it, hasn’t seen the movie yet. So in the context of the film, it’s really clear we’re making fun of the actors, and actors who try to use serious subjects to win awards. It’s about actors and self-importance. So I think in the context of the movie it’s pretty clear.

So there it is. The word is not used to describe the mentally handicapped, rather it is used to poke fun at actors who use the topic to their advantage.

That second video about the retarded policeman was not at all offensive, IMO. I think it actually presents how kind-hearted people with mental disabilities usually are... as in, it would be silly to make a "retard" a cop because they'd just be nice to everyone. Its cute, not offensive.

Personally, I'm with Carlos Mencia on this... if we make a big deal about a word then that word will only serve to divide us. If we use that word to make people laugh-- mentally handicapped people included-- then the word loses its meaning as a derogatory term and becomes something more positive. Just like the much feared "N-word," or using "gay" to describe something bad, or moreover, referring to gay people as "fags." I have black friends I jokingly call nigger who know I'm not racist so they don't get offended. I have gay friends I jokingly call fags, again, because they know I'm not a homophobe, they don't get offended. I think its fair to assume that none of the actors, writers, producers etc. who made this film really feel that the mentally handicapped are sub-human individuals, therefore I don't see anything wrong with it.
I think, perhaps, the t-shirts may be offensive since they take the word out of the context of the film and presumably not everyone will actually see the film to understand the t-shirt. Maybe that should be the main concern here rather than the film itself.

I'm gonna concede, though, that I haven't seen the film, so my opinion on it is based solely on what I've read about it... has anyone actually seen it? I'd really like more clarification on the actual context of the joke.