If you tick off a lot of people by asking them not to use the word "retard"

Wednesday's post about the r-word got such a great response here (check out the comments if you haven't). And it triggered good discussions with friends, including one who said I'd emboldened her to request that people not use the word, along with a flood of emails from people who said they planned to talk about this with their kids, or who already had been doing so.

The post also made its way around the web, where it ticked off a lot of people. Woo hoo! Today, for your enlightenment, a collection of comments I gathered. I have taken great care to find a lovely flowery font for those comments that I thought demonstrated particular sensitivity, understanding and intelligence.

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When anyone uses the r-word (I don't even like to spell it) in my presence, I politely and sometimes not so politely, explain that I am offended and that their use of the r-word confirms that they are of low intelligence. The r-word is just as bad, if not worse than using the n-word. I usually hear the r-word from immature teens to twenty/thirty year olds when trying the explain how stupid something or someone is. The r-word and stupid do not have the same meaning and the only stupid thing is the person who uses it.

Maybe I should start taking offense to the word cracker and start petitioning for those little white saltines to be referred to as a different name

People have no idea how offensive the r word can be unless it personally effects you. Its not about being politcally correct or taking away freedom of speech, its about being sensative to others. Its the same as using the n word in my opinion. I have young son that was born with downs and i will protect him any way i can from the ignorance of others. Its real tough to use a word or make fun of someone you think is less perfect then you...shame on you. Life is hard enough without obvious difficulties, put yourself in someones shoes to have to live with a disability they were born with they didn't ask for. Please consider how it would make you feel if it was your child...not good huh?

Your kidding I call my nieces retards and they love it. Retard is a term of endearment

I am amazed at how self-righteous people are in their defense of a term that they know, and have been repeatedly told, is hurtful. If you've ever seen a special needs kid have it hurled directly at him/her, I doubt many of you would continue to defend it so vociferously. Special needs kids are bullied at an astounding rate.

No one ever uses the word retard to harm a handicaped person. They simply use it as a term.

Saying that something dumb is "retarded" equals a particular handicap with being dumb. THAT is the point. Nobody would say anymore That's so Polish to mean That's so dumb—we know better than to make ignorant ethnic comments like that. So why is it not clear to people that "gay" and "retarded" as catch-all terms to slam something as being lame or stupid are also just plain ignorant? It makes me sigh that so many people don't and won't—or can't—understand.

If it offends you, then move to another country

Why get so angry about your right to use that word? Why not just be nice, and try to be sensitive to people who have so much going against them in their every day lives? Don't they have enough to deal with, without you getting up in arms about your right to use that word?
I have used that word many times and often feel, even as it slips from my mouth, I probably should find a better word. I've actually pretty much stopped using it because I agree, it's offensive even if you're using it about a thing. The context is of someone who is less than, and therefore not equal to me/you/us.

Jeez, what's next-a ban on midget tossing?

Free Speech, essentially, gives one the right to say whatever/whenever. Being an adult (maturing), is supposed to give one the ability to filter what they say. Apparently a lot of people with the ability to have Free Speech did not develop the ability to mature.

So if I'm working on an old V8 engine and I want to reatard the spark do I say I want to mentally challenge the spark? Just asking

One of my friends used to use "retard" almost all the time until finally one day she was at a restaurant telling a story to her friends at a large table. She has a loud voice that carries anyway, but she was speaking extra loud so people could hear her. She ended the story with, "Isn't that just RETARDED?!" and lo and behold, a table entirely made up of people with mental and physical disabilities was sitting right behind her. Luckily she has a sense of shame and felt SO badly that day that she's never used the word again. I applaud Ellen and the message she's trying to put out there! I hope it keeps catching on.

You are being a bad parent by attempting to protect your children from hurt feelings and instlling a sense of entitlement to not having their feelings hurt

I grew up with a brother that has cerebral palsy. When someone called him or anyone else that name, I cringed. It is not 'just another thing' not too say. It is rude, unthinking, unintelligent, and makes people with any limitation, physical or mental, feel insignificant. Where is compassion and care for others? If your loved one had limitations would you want their condition cause them to be called 'this term and then hear people use that term for others that they don't approve of? Believe me, you don't.

This lady must ride on the short bus

The Constitution doesn't give a person the right to be an ass! A community of people are telling you it's offensive. Stop using it. Respect is the only "R" word people need to remember.