How do we stop it?

Amac · Veteran Member

How do we stop it?

Date: Sat Oct 27 11:26 AM, 2007

I didn't realize the word is used as a medical term. I agree with a lot of what has been said. I do have a question though, when is it okay to use the term? I heard someone say someone else is "socially retarded" on tv last night, is that okay? It just meant this person didn't have social skills. Nobody would think of anyone who has special needs when hearing this comment.

Date: Sun Oct 28 4:45 AM, 2007

Amac wrote:

Wow. In part, I cannot believe some of what I'm reading. The word retarded has not changed meanings, or lost its original meaning, or anything like that.

I have a an adopted brother. He is 12 years old, functioning around the age of 6 or 7 year old. While he will have a birthday every year, he will never function older than 6 or 7. He'll probably never be able to live on his own, drive a car, hold a job that actually supports him, or even graduate high school. He is not autistic. He doesn't have Down's. He is Mildly Mentally RETARDED. That is his actual medical diagnosis. My brother is Retarded.

I'm not saying I've never used the word. But, I would like to remind everyone that is does have a very specific meaning. It doesn't lose that meaning because you decide "that's not what you meant," or because it used to mean that but is doesn't any more. There are actual Retarded people in this world, and though people use it with no harm or pun intended, it is hurtful even if the hurt was unintentional.

You posted what I have not been able to verbalize. I have the exact same situation with my brother and I have had people get upset with me when I have used the terminology that has been used to describe his medical/mental situation. That said....I hate the way people bandy around the term "retarded". He hates that he is not like others. He is mildly retarded so he can recognize his limitations in painful ways...especially when people are being thoughtless. If you are ever being mean to a clerk or some low level employee at a store, think twice before you get snappy or mean because you are in a hurry. Maybe is it someone who is working at their maximum ability and doing the best they can. (Not always the case, I know, but if you go with the thought of treating people the way you'd want to be treated, the world would be a nicer place.) Sorry for the ramble...just a passionate hot topic for me.

Date: Sun Oct 28 6:21 AM, 2007

Beautifully put....

"It doesn't lose that meaning because you decide "that's not what you meant"