And neither are the people who don't give a damn about hurting other people's feelings, unfortunately. Admitting even to yourself that maybe you could be wrong, maybe you could do better, is a really hard thing and I admire people who show evidence of it.

It takes a special person to drive the short bus. I used to drive the long bus.

I'm not one to call people names whether it be retard, gay or something else. But you are correct, those who do so most likely will not change.

Good point. When I worked at the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton house one of the residents said that she wasn't mentally retarded. Back in 83 you didn't have to have a license to dispense meds. Most in the facility were on pychotrophics. All I did was open the cabinet and give them their medicines. They actually dispensed it to themselves. They were challenged to the extent that they could not live on their own but they weren't stupid.

On December 18, 1959 Elizabeth was declared Venerable by the Sacred Congregation of Rites. She was beatified by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963, and canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975, making her the first native-born United States citizen to be canonized.

Well, I believe in the old saying Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me. Goodness knows having served in the military; I have been called all kinds of names; including baby killer. People will say what they will and not much I can do about it other than to ignore it. No point stressing out over it as it though as I have more important issues to deal with.

the last time a 'short bus' thread was started it was locked up....

Say...nice gams.

Thank you sir.

Political corectness will get you nowhere.

Same here. I've always tried to learn by expressing myself. Like when I called skin art grafitti. Now I know it's skin art. We all gotta learn through experiences.

There is nothing wrong with the word retarded! People are becoming sissies, if you got something to say then say it and don't sugar coat with some PC bull **** term like "special"!

Can you use retarded in a sentence?

Edit: I'm just trying to understand this. You seem to think that calling Pit Bulls "the dog most likely to kill a human" (including their owners) is wrong-headed and hurtful, but calling another person a "retard" is perfectly okay?

Really? Sounds to me like something the first amendment would protect.

Do you have details. I do see an article that NJ banned the usage in government documentation.

I saw some references to South Carolina, I cannot find the actually law however.

I have not searched that hard or long yet . . this ought to be interesting.


I agree, but also what does it mean to say "people who are not capable of defending themselves."

Isn't that just as derogatory?
Isn't that what retarded means? Less Capable, as in slowed down, behind the curve, without ability that is developed later on? If the meaning is the same, how does the usage change its ability to be offensive?

Words can be used in many ways with many differing intentions. Most people agree the intention is what should determine if a person is offended or not.

The fact that retarded means slowed down, or reduced capability is not in itself intended to be offensive. It was a medical term for a long time before society decided to use it as a pejorative.

It is this very concept of free usage of language that the first amendment protects.

I agree people should not use the word to hurt peoples feelings, however I think creating laws to ban language is more harmful, and ultimately a slippery slope leading to bad bad things for a free society.

There is nobody lesser than anyone else.

Wrong yet again Mr.! If we were good friends and jokingly I said knock it off retard you would be hurt by that?

Then yes, some will change! That was good you were able to see that they hurt people and stopped using them.

It has actually been a long time since I've heard an adult say something like that around here. It happened much more when we were younger, though.

If we were good friends, I would expect you to know that my son is mentally retarded and that I find the use of the word "retard", when you mean stupid, uncouth and unseemly.

Of course I am correct, I'm SpiderCMB. That's what I'm known for, I'm always right. I would hate to ruin my perfect track record on a thread like this.