Retard

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jollyjack's avatar
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A couple of people (literally only two, but it's a matter worth mentioning) emailed me after they had read the most recent Sequential Art strip, in which the fictitious element “Retardium” is mentioned. Both messages voiced disapproval at my using the word “Retard” due to its slang referencing of the mentally disabled.
That interpretation of the word, in my eyes, is outdated.
Used in describing a mentally disabled individual, “retard” is a slur, and (as with any slur) anyone who says it in that context deserves a sharp blow to the head. However, used to describe a “wilfully ignorant, able-bodied idiot”, I think “retard” is perfectly acceptable. I’ll wager that everyone reading this knows someone that can accurately be described as a "f**king retard", none of whom are disabled in the slightest, nor in using the word is a mentally disabled person even thought of.
I’ve not heard “retard” used to describe anyone with mental problems in over 20 years. Its common usage has moved on in the same way as many other words before it. Sometimes it's for the worst:

“….reluctantly Gandalf himself took a hand. Picking up a faggot he held it aloft for a moment, and then with a word of command, naur an edraith ammen! he thrust the end of his staff into the midst of it….”

- The Lord of the Rings, written between 1937 and 1949.


But in this instance, I think the change in association is a good thing. It's a splendid, cutting word to describe the complete and utter morons out there that are stealing our oxygen.

Of course, if my little theory gets communally torpedoed: I'll look like a total retard.
© 2014 - 2024 jollyjack
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CYSYS8993's avatar
Another instance:

Anyone remember that incident in a Starbucks where this woman was shit-talking Koreans all because she heard some people speak the language? The staff called the police on her and they rightfully escorted her out. Anyways, I first learned about this in a Facebook page and, now I use my own best possible judgment on what words to use in what situation, and at the time I felt calling that racist bitch "retarded" was necessary because she was already displaying obviously unacceptable behavior in a public place to begin with, so that's just what I did. Then, just like in the previous instance below, this girl came out of nowhere and berated the fuck out of me over it SOLELY because I brought up the word "retarded", calling my behavior "unacceptable" like she was my fucking school teacher or something. I called her out on her sheer judgmentality but she was like "I have every right to be judgmental". She even had the nerve to compare me to that racist bitch.