Special Olympics aims at ending the derogatory use of the "r-word"

[DGTess]

As the mother of a mentally retarded man, I am, on the other hand, offended that some feel "intellectual disability" accurately describes my son's condition.

He is moderately mentally retarded, with ADHD, and autistic tendencies. Yes, his cognitive abilities and language abilities are retarded. He is NOT a "tard".

Like using "gay" to mean "lame", when it can mean homosexual or happy, individuals can use the word "retarded" in a hurtful manner. Those people are generally beneath me.

I'm disgusted that the national "Association for Retarded Citizens", in fact, changed their name simply to "ARC" (like KFC dropped "Kentucky Fried Chicken" because "fried" is apparently bad), and even more disgusted that the politically correct are folding to the too-sensitive.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DGTess

As the mother of a mentally retarded man, I am, on the other hand, offended that some feel "intellectual disability" accurately describes my son's condition.

He is moderately mentally retarded, with ADHD, and autistic tendencies. Yes, his cognitive abilities and language abilities are retarded. He is NOT a "tard".

Like using "gay" to mean "lame", when it can mean homosexual or happy, individuals can use the word "retarded" in a hurtful manner. Those people are generally beneath me.

Exactly. There is a vast difference, at least in my mind, between using mentally retarded in a medical/diagnostic sense and calling a situation or attitude "retarded" or a person a "retard" or "tard."

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I'm disgusted that the national "Association for Retarded Citizens", in fact, changed their name simply to "ARC" (like KFC dropped "Kentucky Fried Chicken" because "fried" is apparently bad), and even more disgusted that the politically correct are folding to the too-sensitive.

Yeah, I agree that kind of stuff is over the top. Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the deaf community as a whole said recently that they prefer "deaf" to "hearing impaired"? I mean, I go past WPSD (Western PA School for the Deaf) frequently, not WPSHI.

I looked at the wikipedia entry on gypsies, and IMO it doesn't ever seem to have been the most complimentary term.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsies

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I'm disgusted that the national "Association for Retarded Citizens", in fact, changed their name simply to "ARC" (like KFC dropped "Kentucky Fried Chicken" because "fried" is apparently bad), and even more disgusted that the politically correct are folding to the too-sensitive.

In biology there is a lab procedure that tests the binding of a protein to DNA and it used to be called a 'gel retardation assay'. Now, it is called a 'gel shift assay'.

[DrPhil]

So, shall we change it to "mentally shifted" instead of "mentally retarded?"

"Shift" would constitute a shift in mindset.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

So, shall we change it to "mentally shifted" instead of "mentally retarded?"

"Shift" would constitute a shift in mindset.

Yeah, but one's mindset could shift without any mental detriment.

"Retarded" means "slowed down" and that seems pretty accurate.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

Yeah, but one's mindset could shift without any mental detriment.

"Retarded" means "slowed down" and that seems pretty accurate.

I agree.

Oh well.