Spread the word to end the word(s)

[drunkguava]

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

Along the same lines, but this time considering our use of the word gay:
http://www.upworthy.com/watch-a-lesb...ord-gay?c=upw1
^highly recommend this vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0
^and this song

http://www.nohomophobes.com/#!/today/

This might just be inviting the trolls to come out and play, but maybe the message will resonate with someone like it did with me. The language we use matters.

[classicallad]

This challenged and inspired me, thanks.

[Clam]

To me, illogical or unreasonable always seemed to be the superior and most thorough lexical method of verbally indicating my dissent.

[classicallad]

My missus works in a special needs school and the classification system is ****ed, there are kids with downs and cerebral palsy in the same class as kids that just have minor learning difficulties or social problems. Our education system is ****ed.

Why are these jokers being paid so much money to sit in an old building smoking cigars and drinking whiskey while the country goes down the toilet bowl, seriously **** those guys.

[soccernamlak]

Fun Facts:

Retard was first used in the 1400s in the English language, coming from the Latin retardāre, which means to delay

It's based on the Latin word for "to loiter or be slow:" tardāre, which you might recognize as the base for our English word of "tardy," which we know more use as a word for "being late."

Of course, retard and retardation have a few definitions:

1) A hindrance in mental development

2) To be delayed

3) A form of suspension that is resolved upward (musically)

Interestingly, the word "retarded" as used to describe a single or collection of mentally challenged individuals was not used until the 1800s, being a synonym for handicapped (mentally).

Historically, it's typically been a shunned part of culture, with only churches and families caring for those with this condition. This changed with the Enlightenment in Europe and into the 17th century with the (correct) thoughts that this was caused by brain developmental issues.




Being diagnosed with mental retardation further requires a bit more than being called it by someone with the gamer-tag xXx~*~b00bs4u~*~xXx.

Medically speaking, three criteria need to be met.

1) IQ based on Terman-Binet test of below 70

2) Significant limitations in two or more areas of adaptive behavior. These refer to things one does in living by themselves, such as communication skills, daily living skills (taking a shower, eating), and social skills.

3) Evidence that the limitations became apparent in childhood, or less than 18 years old. This helps differentiate this diagnosis with diseases such as Alzheimer's, which can happen as an early-onset.

There are two types of retardation: Syndromic mental retardation and Non-syndromic mental. Syndromic mental is intellectual deficits associated with other behavior signs or symptoms (such as adaptive behaviors), which non-syndromic is mental only with no visible signs.



In terms of prevalence worldwide, 2–3% of people of the people in the world meet these medical criteria, with anywhere between 75–90% of the affected people have mild retardation, defined as IQ of 50-69.

Non-syndromic MR accounts for 30–50% of cases.

About 25% of all MR cases are genetically related.



Finally,

The language we use matters.

The only thing I would like to say on this topic that is relevant to discussion is that language is a changing and evolving piece of us, with arguably tele-communications through phones and the internet increasing this pace. Words such as retarded, faggot, gay, tweet, ping, etc. have many different definitions depending on when it was used (historically), it's position in a sentence (verb, noun, adjective, etc.), and how it is used (the actual intent behind the word).

So while yes, language we use matters, just a friendly reminder that context and intent is much more severe than the word itself that is used. Because at the end of the day, isn't that all language is? A tool to express a thought, convey an emotion, point out a fact, or insult another player? In fact, words only have the power that the speaker and listener assign it, and if there's a disagreement it is up to the speaker to clarify but on the shoulders of the listener to understand context and multiple definitions of the words.

To think language is anything else but is, well, the picture above.

[CmdrNoval]

Well stated and eloquent speech, soccer... (As usual)

For me, it comes down to this:

Those using these words to offend... are being jerks and should be ignored.

Those using these words to be generally hateful... are perceived by most to be "haters" and should, in turn, be ignored.

Those using these words in their daily speech, unaware of their offensive qualities... prove they are overgrown, ignorant, & uneducated "children" and should be ignored.

See...simple. Just ignore them. Anything else is just a waste of effort & time.

[drunkguava]

Originally Posted by soccernamlak

So while yes, language we use matters, just a friendly reminder that context and intent is much more severe than the word itself that is used. Because at the end of the day, isn't that all language is? A tool to express a thought, convey an emotion, point out a fact, or insult another player? In fact, words only have the power that the speaker and listener assign it, and if there's a disagreement it is up to the speaker to clarify but on the shoulders of the listener to understand context and multiple definitions of the words.

To think language is anything else but is, well, the picture above.

While I agree with what you're saying to some extent, I think you're missing a larger point. Of course context is important. But if you're in school or at work, and you hear words like retard or gay thrown around as synonyms for stupid/dumb/etc, you hear gay and retard being used in a negative context. The words become stigmatized. If you are gay or have mental retardation, how can you help but also feel some of this stigma? The same word that you use to describe yourself or doctors use to describe you is also used to mean stupid/dumb/etc. Can you feel like your identity is truly accepted?

This isn't to say that people who misuse these words are bad people. So many of us just don't recognize the power of our language. Yes language is a tool, but it is the single most crucial tool that we have to connect with society. It creates, shapes, and ends our relationships with the people around us. In fact, I would argue that to dismiss language as just a tool is not giving it enough credit.

Of course you need to contextualize everything that you hear, but why is the burden on the listener? Why do we expect the listener to learn to accept it and the rest of us to continue along our ignorant paths? Additionally, you can't expect kids to be able to contextualize every word they hear. We set a bad example for the children around us when we stigmatize words like gay and retard because we make them bad words before they even find out the real definitions!

And finally, what are the emotions and thoughts you are conveying when you misuse words like gay and retard? Are you truly saying what you are trying to say? Is there a better way to say it that doesn't affect other people negatively? I think you would agree that the "alternative definitions" of gay and retard are incredibly nebulous. By misusing these words you are not being clear. Instead of conveying a proper meaning, you are revealing your ignorance and your inconsideration to your listener. That is the power of language.

[drunkguava]

P.S. a lot of the push to stop use of the word "retard" is coming from the medical community. The pejorative use of the word came from the medical community's usage of mental retardation in a clinical context, like soccer said, and now these people want to help end its use in a negative context. At the same time, there is a push to change the clinical usage of the term, and replace it with "intellectual disability." Doctors understand the power of words. This is something they drill into us from day 1. The language we use can have a real impact on the mental, physical, and emotional health of our patients as well as the relationships we maintain with them.

[Aki1024]

I still attest that Namlak knows everything.

[Clam]

Originally Posted by drunkguava

At the same time, there is a push to change the clinical usage of the term, and replace it with "intellectual disability."

That day when the burly 6 year-old on the playground with excessively prominent armpit hair shoves a small little boy off the tire swing with a sneer, callously flinging the hurtful words at him: "'Snot your turn, you prime example of a specimen afflicted with intellectual disability."

[tgleaf]

Drunkguava (InebriatedGuava? "drunk" is sort of perjorative, is it not?), what you wrote resonates with me. In fact, I wrote something less verbally powerful but with the same intentions a few years back when I "retired" from Altitude.

Anyway, going forward I will be sure to be clear about the words I am using. I will tell you you are senseless, trivial, and childish instead of relying on out-dated, ill-informed terms.

Oh, and I'm buying that song.