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"Retard"....insult?
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Post by
Patty
Right, so after having posted in these forums for quite a few months I have seen quite a lot of people use the word "Retard" or "Being Retarded" as negative terminology.
My question is, why is using a label for disabled people an insult? Surely that is like me saying "Oh my god you have blue eyes." As an insult, surely? Pathetic.
This isn't a flaming topic or anything, just thought it fit most into Randomness and wanted to hear if you, or anyone you know, uses being retarded or whatever as an insult to others, why they use it and why they think being disabled is an insult.
Any replies welcome, think this might get insightful, as I have never understood the fact that if you are disabled you are somewhat of a lesser person than someone who picks on them.
Post by
123022
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Patty
But why? Because someone has an affliction they have no control over (most of the time) they should be persecuted?
What makes a 'normal' person superior to a disabled person I wonder, especially a disabled person with integrity and a vile 'normal' person.
Normal is relative, hence the ''.
Post by
210925
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Skyfire
It's the same reason the word "dumb" is used now as a general insult. And that one's been used a lot longer than retard.
Post by
TheMediator
I mean I know it sounds harsh or whatever, but mentally handicapped persons
are
inferior, otherwise they wouldn't be called
handicapped
. Anyways, I'm sure you know the reason its an insult - you imply that the other person doesn't have a high mental capacity by associating them with retards.
Post by
MyTie
TheMediator -
The only reason you have that opinion is because you haven't been around retarded people. I spent 1 year working directly with the mentally retarded, from mild to severe retardation. Each one of those people were impressive in thier own way. They had more sense of self, and more strengths than many non retarded people I've met. Although thier intelligence may be inferrior, THEY are not inferrior. They have thier own traits that make them great. Everyone has thier shortcomings that make them 'inferior' in certain aspects, and strengths that make them great in others.
The only person who is inferior is the person that makes themself inferior. Retarded people have the courage to do things that you will never be able to do. I have seen it.
Post by
338138
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
313143
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
TheMediator
I mean I know it sounds harsh or whatever, but mentally handicapped persons
are
inferior, otherwise they wouldn't be called
handicapped
.
You are oh so sad. I've seen your past posts and I'm not impressed either. You are saying, that because somebody has a disability, EVEN IF IT ISN'T THEIR FAULT, they are deemed inferior? We are all the same, we just have different properties. We are all equal in God's eyes. Let's even put aside religion, even ATHEISTS that are civil think that we are all equal.
(I am not implying that athiests in general aren't civil)
What you said it very paphetic, inhumane, heartless, disrespectful, uncivilised, and just plain cruel. Handicapped is just a term used.
I have many friends with special needs (I.e they are unfortunately condemned to a wheelchair) that I see much better people than some. You don't judge people as superior/inferior, and even if you do don't do it by apperance.
No, not all people are equal. I am fairly certain most people don't think that either (notice how I don't claim to know what others think, only what I think others think). Also, just because one is superior to someone else doesn't mean that person can't associate with them, or that they must rub it in their face.
Its just ignorant to assume that some people aren't better - do you really believe you hold as much worth as Bill Gates or Barak Obama? If you do, then you really need to get out of that mindset, because that will make you slothful. Knowing that you're inferior to others motivates you to improve yourself; if one thinks they're equal to someone else even though they're not, then it justifies failure and stagnation.
Post by
313143
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
MyTie
TheMediator - How do you gauge personal value? You say people are ignorant if they do not follow your formula for importance.
Post by
TheMediator
However, he is not a superior human being. He is equal to me, as is the filthiest beggar.
In what sense? That you're both human? Perhaps, but one could make the argument he has superior DNA, and that the beggar has inferior DNA, therefore you are not equal humans.
Also, I don't know what it is with randomness lately and people bringing in their religious baggage wherever they go.
How do you gauge personal value? You say people are ignorant if they do not follow your formula for importance.
Its not about how I gauge personal value, its whether or not you gauge value period. If someone doesn't look at himself and others and compare his worth, he's being ignorant if he believes his life is in every way equal to everyone else.
Post by
313143
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
TheMediator
All life is equal.
Inferior and Superior DNA? Are you being *!@#ing serious?
Yes.
You think that something that is malformed to the point that it can't even sustain its own life is equal to a human like you and me?
Post by
ASHelmy
TheMediator -
The only reason you have that opinion is because you haven't been around retarded people. I spent 1 year working directly with the mentally retarded, from mild to severe retardation. Each one of those people were impressive in thier own way. They had more sense of self, and more strengths than many non retarded people I've met. Although thier intelligence may be inferrior, THEY are not inferrior. They have thier own traits that make them great. Everyone has thier shortcomings that make them 'inferior' in certain aspects, and strengths that make them great in others.
The only person who is inferior is the person that makes themself inferior. Retarded people have the courage to do things that you will never be able to do. I have seen it.
You obviously don't get his point, he didn't say that they are inferior people, only that their intellect is, somewhat, less then your average man. Now, that doesn't makes them worth less as
people
, but unfortunately, they shouldn't be considered normal (note that I said normal, not on par with everyone else).
@TheMediator : I love how you just ignore "social taboos", how you don't sugar coat, and how you go straight to the point (although you can be a little mean sometimes :D :P).
Post by
TheMediator
You obviously don't get his point, he didn't say that they are inferior people, only that their intellect is, somewhat, less then your average man. Now, that doesn't makes them worth less as people, but unfortunately, they shouldn't be considered normal (note that I said normal, not on par with everyone else).
That's sort of what I'm getting at. Being mentally inferior doesn't directly equate to being lesser humans, because there are people whose lives are less meaningful than those who are mentally handicapped, but saying that someone whose mental capacity is less shouldn't be interacted with as such... well MyTie, if you didn't think there was anything different about those who has less mental capacity you wouldn't have felt the need to work with them in the first place. You are directly treating them as different people, instead of just letting them integrate themselves into society.
Post by
MyTie
well MyTie, if you didn't think there was anything different about those who has less mental capacity you wouldn't have felt the need to work with them in the first place. You are directly treating them as different people, instead of just letting them integrate themselves into society.If a doctor were treating someone for a broken leg they would put a cast on it, instead of just letting the person with the broken leg integrate themselves into society.
This isn't some sort of mental glitch. This is a physical ailment. Mentally retarded people usually have brain damage. Their treatment is to have help physically and mentally live. This is thier 'cast'. It is nothing bad or negative to have such an injury, just as it is nothing bad to have a broken leg. These people are just broken for life, and almost always due to no fault of thier own. To use thier ailment as an insult is demeaning to them, and extremely offensive. It is like using thier condition as a means to degrade someone else, as if thier condition were an extremely bad thing and reflected negatively on people with that ailment.
I know we live by totally different moral codes, but surely even you must see what I'm saying.
Post by
TheMediator
well MyTie, if you didn't think there was anything different about those who has less mental capacity you wouldn't have felt the need to work with them in the first place. You are directly treating them as different people, instead of just letting them integrate themselves into society.If a doctor were treating someone for a broken leg they would put a cast on it, instead of just letting the person with the broken leg integrate themselves into society?
This isn't some sort of mental glitch. This is a physical ailment. Mentally retarded people usually have brain damage. Their treatment is to have help physically and mentally live. This is thier 'cast'. It is nothing bad or negative to have such an injury, just as it is nothing bad to have a broken leg. These people are just broken for life, and almost always due to no fault of thier own. To use thier ailment as an insult is demeaning to them, and extremely offensive. It is like using thier condition as a means to degrade someone else, as if thier condition were an extremely bad thing and reflected negatively on people with that ailment.
I know we live by totally different moral codes, but surely even you must see what I'm saying.
Actually, it is bad to have a broken leg. You aren't going to be able to play football if you have a broken leg, in that sense you are inferior to other football players, until your leg is healed. Likewise, if someone's brain is, as you said, "broken for life", then they are mentally inferior to others, and should be acknowledged as such. If you have two toys, and one is broken and one is not, you would say that the one that is not broken is of more value, would you not? That can be directly equated (and is equated fairly often) to humans.
Anyways, I don't believe that insulting someone who is mentally handicapped is acceptable in most circumstances, but still, I'm sure you in your head judge them and compare them to yourself plenty, so don't act you're above me because you don't say it.
Post by
MyTie
You aren't going to be able to play football if you have a broken leg, in that sense you are inferior to other football players, until your leg is healed.
Stephen Hawking
>
Michael Vick
My point: It isn't your physical stature that makes you 'great'... it is what you do with what you got.
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