re: #378 GeneJockey

The weird thing about the word ‘retarded’ and its various versions, like ‘libtard’, ‘fucktard’, etc., is that yes, back when ‘retarded’ was the proper term to call the developmentally disabled, it WAS really offensive to call someone that as a term of derogation - by using ‘retarded’ as an insult you were insulting those who actually were retarded.

Now that it’s NOT the proper term, is it still offensive? ‘Moron’ used to be the proper term for certain lower levels of intelligence, but we stopped using that, so now nobody says, ‘it’s offensive to morons to call people aren’t morons morons!’

Dunno, man, it’s hard to keep up.

People are dicks, news at eleven.

I think it comes down to intent, if you’re making fun of an intrinsic trait in a person, i.e. punching down, or just talking shit on a more or less equal footing.