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I just noticed in another thread that a mod steps in every time some one uses the word slowed. Several times it was noted that slowed is not a synonym of stupid. Isn't this exactly and literally what slowed means? Is this some kind of new PC that I haven't heard of? What's the deal?

You really can't figure out why the mods wouldn't want you using a term that is usually used insultingly, and frequently causes offence, as a substitute for "stupid"?

Many people find the word used in a derogatory fashion very offensive. Usually these people have a child or a sibling who suffers from a disability that causes mental retardation. In the 90's the use of the word retardation to describe someone who had a specific mental disability almost stopped completely because the word had become used frequently as an insult. Believe me if you had a child with Down's Syndrome, you would not want some ignorant and rude person calling other people the same name as your child's disability. It is highly offensive.

Think about it with a different and more publicized word, Autistic.

Tell your friend "Quit being Autistic" when he does something idiotic and you are using it in a fashion that makes fun of him. Try using that in school next to a a teacher and you butt will wind up on suspension if the school has any sense. Different word, but it has the same effect.

Lord Scythican wrote:Many people find the word used in a derogatory fashion very offensive. Usually these people have a child or a sibling who suffers from a disability that causes mental retardation. In the 90's the use of the word retardation to describe someone who had a specific mental disability almost stopped completely because the word had become used frequently as an insult. Believe me if you had a child with Down's Syndrome, you would not want some ignorant and rude person calling other people the same name as your child's disability. It is highly offensive.

Think about it with a different and more publicized word, Autistic.

Tell your friend "Quit being Autistic" when he does something idiotic and you are using it in a fashion that makes fun of him. Try using that in school next to a SPED classroom and you butt will wind up on suspension if the school has any sense.

Mental retardation isn't really comparable to autism tbh.

and there were those who kept using "retart"...

x: thats slowed

me: wha?

asmith wrote:I just noticed in another thread that a mod steps in every time some one uses the word slowed. ?

Thankfully.

As someone who has worked with special needs populations for many years I find the use of the term offensive, as do many of my clients, associates, and professionals.

CT GAMER wrote:

asmith wrote:I just noticed in another thread that a mod steps in every time some one uses the word slowed. ?

Thankfully.

As someone who has worked with special needs populations for many years I find the use of the term offensive, as do many of my clients, associates, and professionals.

Then why aren't the words filtered by the forum? I can't say gak but I can say slowed? Yet I can't actually say it without being censored? Seems like a hole in the bucket.

ShumaGorath wrote:

CT GAMER wrote:

asmith wrote:I just noticed in another thread that a mod steps in every time some one uses the word slowed. ?

Thankfully.

As someone who has worked with special needs populations for many years I find the use of the term offensive, as do many of my clients, associates, and professionals.

Then why aren't the words filtered by the forum? I can't say gak but I can say slowed? Yet I can't actually say it without being censored? Seems like a hole in the bucket.

maybe Frazzled will get on that as soon as he stops posting weiner dog pics...

Then how would you describe how pressing the brakes in your car retards your velocity?

The Dreadnote wrote:Then how would you describe how pressing the brakes in your car retards your velocity?

It has plenty of synonyms.

"studies show that smoking retards growth"

"Debt robs Africa of Social Spending, retards growth"

edit:

testing: gay

i guess the point is we shouldnt be filtering words just because people use them in a bad way. If so inclined, anyone can make any word really offensive if it catches on quickly or pervasively enough

i for one would like to see the word "emo" get the same treatment as other more controversial words...hehehe

How are often are people gonna use the other meanings for slow?

Most people are going use the word for a insult not in the meanings describe above.

I think you can subsitute other words just fine rather then having to use slow in sentences.

hobby related: "Drying Retarder"

can be substituted with "Drying Set-er-backer" i think?

Yak9UT wrote:I think you can subsitute other words just fine rather then having to use slow in sentences.

While we're in the business of substituting words why not just switch over to Newspeak entirely?

Bakerofish wrote:hobby related: "Drying Retarder"

can be substituted with "Drying Set-er-backer" i think?

Well Retarder is a word with no similar meaning to have mental disablitie so I think that won't need a subsitute.

slow on the other hand does.

i need to go to the gakker

The Dreadnote wrote:

Yak9UT wrote:I think you can subsitute other words just fine rather then having to use slow in sentences.

While we're in the business of substituting words why not just switch over to Newspeak entirely?

Well go for it.

But don't be suprised if some people won't understand it

Yak9UT wrote:How are often are people gonna use the other meanings for slow?

Most people are going use the word for a insult not in the meanings describe above.

I think you can subsitute other words just fine rather then having to use slow in sentences.

People have just about stopped using it because it is used frequently as an insult. The word also shouldn't filtered because it still has a legitimate use. The school system is already using it again on IEPs and other important documents. People really need to lay off using words like that as an insult. It is the reason why Special Education has been switched to Exceptional Education, because people have been using "Special Ed" as an insult.

Lord Scythican wrote:

Yak9UT wrote:How are often are people gonna use the other meanings for slow?

Most people are going use the word for a insult not in the meanings describe above.

I think you can subsitute other words just fine rather then having to use slow in sentences.

People have just about stopped using it because it is used frequently as an insult. The word also shouldn't filtered because it still has a legitimate use. The school system is already using it again on IEPs and other important documents. People really need to lay off using words like that as an insult. It is the reason why Special Education has been switched to Exceptional Education, because people have been using "Special Ed" as an insult.

Yes and I agree. But lets be honest how many dakkites are going to use it in those terms?

corpsesarefun wrote:

Lord Scythican wrote:Many people find the word used in a derogatory fashion very offensive. Usually these people have a child or a sibling who suffers from a disability that causes mental retardation. In the 90's the use of the word retardation to describe someone who had a specific mental disability almost stopped completely because the word had become used frequently as an insult. Believe me if you had a child with Down's Syndrome, you would not want some ignorant and rude person calling other people the same name as your child's disability. It is highly offensive.

Think about it with a different and more publicized word, Autistic.

Tell your friend "Quit being Autistic" when he does something idiotic and you are using it in a fashion that makes fun of him. Try using that in school next to a SPED classroom and you butt will wind up on suspension if the school has any sense.

Mental retardation isn't really comparable to autism tbh.

Way to go man. I put up a post trying to explain the situation and you pick that out of it?

Explain how you don't think they are comparable by the way? Half the time the kids are placed in the same classes. They both have Special Education Environment on their IEPS. Do you want a list?

Yak9UT wrote:Yes and I agree. But lets be honest how many dakkites are going to use it in those terms?

Why should that matter? I would much rather the mods continue punishing the offensive misuse of language, than having my vocabulary restricted slowed.

Yak9UT wrote:

Lord Scythican wrote:

Yak9UT wrote:How are often are people gonna use the other meanings for slow?

Most people are going use the word for a insult not in the meanings describe above.

I think you can subsitute other words just fine rather then having to use slow in sentences.

People have just about stopped using it because it is used frequently as an insult. The word also shouldn't filtered because it still has a legitimate use. The school system is already using it again on IEPs and other important documents. People really need to lay off using words like that as an insult. It is the reason why Special Education has been switched to Exceptional Education, because people have been using "Special Ed" as an insult.

Yes and I agree. But lets be honest how many dakkites are going to use it in those terms?

Hey it would happen if someone needed to discuss something with people here. I have seen plenty of topics that are comparable to a discussion regarding mental disabilities on these forums. People post some pretty serious discussions in the Off Topic forum sometimes. Granted there isn't many discussions, but that isn't a reason to filter it out. heck we are all trying to have a serious discussion regarding the word right now. Imagine if retardation was filtered out to say Hamfisted. Nobody would have a clue as to what we were referring too.

Dude grow a sense of decency and tact. Ninety Nine point TEN times out of a hundred that antiquated word is gonna be used to insult...

You have a Valid point thier Scythican.

Maybe just having the Mods look to whether its offensive or not is good enough.

And I suppose people can report the post if it is offensive.

Ok then I agree in certain circumstances I think you should be alowed to use the word.

Yak9UT wrote:You have a Valid point thier Scythican.

Maybe just having the Mods look to whether its offensive or not is good enough.

And I suppose people can report the post if it is offensive.

Ok then I agree in certain circumstances I think you should be alowed to use the word.

I am glad we could have a rational discussion regarding the issue. The thing is, some people think it is demeaning only if you are talking about those with disabilities. They give out their sympathies but continue to use the word to describe their friends, Bush, etc. What they do not realize is that even if they are not referring to those with disabilities they are reinforcing stereotypes of people with disabilities as being stupid, even if it is not used against them.

Some people believe it is a minor thing to complain about the word being used in such a way and believe that those who are concerned with the wellbeing of those with disabilities should be concerned with more important issues than the use of one word. Even though there may be lots of important issues, if it matters to one person, a parent of a special needs child for instance, people should be respectful to them. I know that is a lot to ask for on the internet, but I should warn you: No matter what your beliefs are Karma is a bitch. People get God Smacked everyday. My wife's father used to make fun of a girl when he was a teenager when she had seizures. They laughed and said she was possessed by the devil and made a joke of it. Guess what, the guy's daughters (my wife and her sister) were both diagnosed with epilepsy when they were teenagers.

The Dreadnote wrote:You really can't figure out why the mods wouldn't want you using a term that is usually used insultingly, and frequently causes offence, as a substitute for "stupid"?

I always thought they were calling the person mentally handicap.

Lord Scythican wrote:Many people find the word used in a derogatory fashion very offensive. Usually these people have a child or a sibling who suffers from a disability that causes mental retardation. In the 90's the use of the word retardation to describe someone who had a specific mental disability almost stopped completely because the word had become used frequently as an insult. Believe me if you had a child with Down's Syndrome, you would not want some ignorant and rude person calling other people the same name as your child's disability. It is highly offensive.

Think about it with a different and more publicized word, Autistic.

Tell your friend "Quit being Autistic" when he does something idiotic and you are using it in a fashion that makes fun of him. Try using that in school next to a a teacher and you butt will wind up on suspension if the school has any sense. Different word, but it has the same effect.

This.

ShumaGorath wrote:

CT GAMER wrote:

asmith wrote:I just noticed in another thread that a mod steps in every time some one uses the word slowed. ?

Thankfully.

As someone who has worked with special needs populations for many years I find the use of the term offensive, as do many of my clients, associates, and professionals.

Then why aren't the words filtered by the forum? I can't say gak but I can say slowed? Yet I can't actually say it without being censored? Seems like a hole in the bucket.

Why not filter the pathway between your brain and mouth/fingers? Why should Mods be held responsible for your actions and inappropriate use of a term?

This also goes for people incorrectly labelling something that they disapprove of or disagree with as being 'gay'. I am not personally homosexual, but many of my friends and colleagues are and I respect them enough not to label things as such.

Bakerofish wrote:
testing: gay

i guess the point is we shouldnt be filtering words just because people use them in a bad way. If so inclined, anyone can make any word really offensive if it catches on quickly or pervasively enough

i for one would like to see the word "emo" get the same treatment as other more controversial words...hehehe

@avatar form

i can think of a number of pop-culture terms for a social demographic that would get me banned if i use them right now

Bakerofish wrote:"studies show that smoking retards growth"

"Debt robs Africa of Social Spending, retards growth"

edit:

testing: gay

i guess the point is we shouldnt be filtering words just because people use them in a bad way. If so inclined, anyone can make any word really offensive if it catches on quickly or pervasively enough

i for one would like to see the word "emo" get the same treatment as other more controversial words...hehehe

The issue being slow and slowed isn't a bad word, it's subject sensitive in consideration only and the PC police don't like it's use in reference to people despite the alternatives (handicapped for instance) meaning the same thing. The descriptive definition doesn't really change when it becomes applied to people, yet it somehow becomes a "bad word". If it's a "bad word" then the board should censor it as such, if not then whats the big deal? If it's describing a situation through definition that is not immoral or taboo to describe then why is it somehow special? How did it become "their word" to dislike. I mean, gay has always been a taboo term since it's only ever really meant homosexual in a taboo way. It's not a word with that definition by design. The same holds true for most forms of racial slur. slow and slowed are dictionary definitions correctly applied, yet because of the stigma of the subject matter the word itself became unusable despite the descriptive term simply changing to something else.

Never mind. I think I explained it already...