how perfect! that belongs on the wall of our deer camp cabin, right over the spot where my retard brother usually sits...hah!
Posted by joeythelovesponge on November 07, 2007 at 2322 hrsI can’t explain it, but I haven’t been able to stop laughing! Perhaps becuase there is so much truth in it…
Posted by on November 07, 2007 at 2333 hrsSorry, but I don’t find it funny. I always reprimand student’s about using the word “retard"- it’s very childish and immature.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 0302 hrs
Might as well use the N word.I have to agree with Dan. I had a sister who was mentally retarded, she died of a brain tumor. I detest this word and made sure my children never used it. Not cute.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 0805 hrsIn my book, the “r” word is a swear word. I teach kids with cognitive disabilities, so it offends me a tad. I don’t get offended easily either. I know it is supposed to be funny, and maybe it would be so if maybe, let’s say, Jim Doyle’s face was on one of the birds?
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 0856 hrs
Write this down, because I’m probably only going to say this just once:
I agree with Dan.
Posted by folkbum on November 08, 2007 at 0914 hrsI think it’s more about the picture than the words. I don’t like that word, either, but the picture is hilarious.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 0915 hrsI can see why people are offended by that word, but personally, I am not. My mom spent 30 years educating retarded kids when they were still called retarded. Now we call them mentally challenged or cognitively disabled or whatever. That’s fine, but I don’t attach any more negative connotation to the word “retarded” than I do to the phrase “mentally disabled.” And either one could be thrown out as a childish slur.
That being said, we don’t allow our kids to say it either
Posted by Owen on November 08, 2007 at 0925 hrs
I have a brother with Down’s Syndrome. It has always been referred to as Down’s Syndrome. “Retarded” is an offensive word for a cognitive disorder.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 0949 hrsI don’t attach any more negative connotation to the word “retarded” than I do to the phrase “mentally disabled.”
How often is “retards” used in conversation among adults with the intent that it be a positive connotation rather than negative? I’ve never seen it happen. “Retards” is used when humor is intended specifically because it has a negative connotation of people with mental health issues. Using “retards” to mean “mentally challenged” is about the same as using “fags” to mean “homosexual” or “cult members” to mean “devoted Christians” (a favorite of a particular relative).
Certainly, the children in my extended family - particularly with mental health issues being present in our extended family - know not to ever use “retards” because they’ve learned how evil the word is.
Frankly, how funny the picture is doesn’t matter once someone slaps that stupid word underneath it.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 0950 hrsAh… I was waiting for the chorus of people who were offended…
I can see why people are offended by that word, but personally, I am not.
I agree with you Owen…
I’m not offended.
Words are words. They have as much meaning as people give them.
It seems we take words and political correctness turns them into “super-words” words that people become endoctrinated to be SO offended by that the word begins to have super powers.
Like the N-word, like Fag, like Retard…
A word has NO inherent meaning, its just a sound.
Over time, that sound becomes associated with something.
Once upon a time “retard” wasn’t offensive. It merely refered to a person who was retarded.
Now we have “mentally challenged” to refer to the EXACT same kind of person.
Someday “mentally challenged” will take on the same negative connotation that “retard” did. It just hasn’t been around long enough to have become target of the pc police.
Retard means SLOW. How offensive is that? Good grief…
I have to agree with Dan. I had a sister who was mentally retarded, she died of a brain tumor. I detest this word and made sure my children never used it. Not cute.
Ah… Pull that emotional card. Nice play..
You know what… I have a health issue that Jay Leno uses as a punch-line to a joke on average of about 2 or 3 times a week in his monologue and the whole audience laughs. I could either be offended and write a letter to NBC like some dumb lib that has nothing better to do, or laugh along with it.
I choose to laugh along with it.
So while I would have never called your sister a “retard” to her face any sooner than I would call her “mentally challenged” to her face, would you have been ANY less offended if the picture Owen posted has said “mentally challenged”
And if “retard” is no longer proper to use to refer to someone who is mentally retarded, then WHY in the world can’t we use it as the punchline for a joke now?
If its been retired by the PC police from use in ANY academic discussion, then why can’t we use it as a joke?
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1026 hrsWords are words. They have as much meaning as people give them.
Exactly. That applies even moreso to the deliverer than the recipient. If Joe Schmo #1 introduces his brother Hal to me by saying, “this is my brother Hal, he’s a retard” and Joe Schmo #2 by saying, “this is my brother Hal, he has Down’s Syndrome,” am I really, as the recipient of the message, supposed to believe that Joe Schmo #1 has the same respect for his brother as Joe #2? It’s MY FAULT if I find Joe #1 to be an insensitive lout?
Yes, words are just sounds. But those sounds are chosen by those who deliver them to produce a certain message in a certain manner with a certain point of view. We can certainly, as individuals and as a society, choose to ascribe negative or positive connotations to any words or phrases or sounds as we please. And those connotations may change over time. But the fact remains that most people understand most of these connotations before they choose to deliver a message. I wouldn’t call a homosexual a fag and not expect that person to understand that I’m cutting him down. It would be ridiculous for me to claim ‘it’s your fault if you’re offended.’ I wouldn’t call a devout Christian a cult-joining Jesus freak and expect him or her to continue the conversation with me. Nor would I call someone with Down’s Syndrome (or anyone else) a retard and expect the connotation to be taken as positive or even neutral.
It’s not about outlawing words or sounds or even coming up with stupid lists of what can and should be said. Everyone can say whatever they want. But those who hear, or read, must then interpret the message and decide whether this is someone whose point of view and intent merits our continued participation in communication with this person. Unless I believe that someone is truly and completely devoid of ill intent with their word usage, I avoid further communication with folks who use words like fag, nigger, retard, fatso, etc. Because, almost without exception, they intend for the words to be demeaning when they use them...and don’t care.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1132 hrsWell said, Patrick.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1145 hrsThe offensiveness is that people are not their disabilities.
They are people with disabilities.
Thus, there is a difference between calling someone retarded, or a person with retardation, and calling someone a “retard.”
(Similarly, for example, I know people with epilepsy. They prefer to not be called adjectives—that is, epileptics. They are people first; their conditions are the identifying thing about them.)
If we don’t get the distinction, we are the ones with social challenges—as it’s just polite to call people what or as they prefer to be called.
All that said, it is a funny photo—and it would have been funnier and a lot more fun to just crop out the stupid part of the poster and call for captions for it.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1348 hrsxxpilot:
Retard means SLOW. How offensive is that? Good grief…
I have to agree with Dan. I had a sister who was mentally retarded, she died of a brain tumor. I detest this word and made sure my children never used it. Not cute.
Ah… Pull that emotional card. Nice play..
then:
If its been retired by the PC police from use in ANY academic discussion, then why can’t we use it as a joke?
Me: Ah...pull that PC card, nobody’s ever done that before.
Posted by Mike on November 08, 2007 at 1419 hrsGroan. Correction to the above: They are people first; their disabilities are NOT the identifying thing about them.
And again, it’s not about being PC or not PC, really—since long before someone came up with that term, it still was impolite to use terms that are insulting to people.
And it’s still simply rude to do so, in any era, even if it doesn’t bother you. That’s not the point—unless you’re using it to describe yourself. Then you’ve got other problems. . . .
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1516 hrsI would challenge anyone to use this term directly to my face when describing my kid brother. They would learn within a matter of moments of what it is to suffer from severe brain damage.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1529 hrsWell this is an issue that jumbles alliances.
I’m as politically incorrect as they come. I defended my son once at the age of 12 for using the word “nigger” (no one else remembers how to spell it?) because he was told to write a historically correct description from a gunslinger point of view, and the word was historically correct. He got detention anyway.
That said, the picture is a hoot (sorry couldn’t resist), but the caption does nothing for me.
I do understand that such a post does wonders for hits. I don’t think that’s why you blogged it, though. Hate to say it, Owen, but I think I’m a tad bit disappointed in your choice on this one.
Posted by Cindy on November 08, 2007 at 1555 hrsLiberty is an inherently offensive lifestyle. Living in a free society guarantees that each one of us will see our most cherished principles and beliefs questioned and in some cases mocked. That psychic discomfort is the price we pay for basic civic peace. It’s worth it.
For those of you offended by the choice of a word, some advice:
Get over it. You do not have a right to not be offended. The majority of humor is based on the pain of others. Welcome to human society. Everybody thinks it’s funny until someone loses an eye.
Then it’s hilarious!
Posted by Kevin Baker on November 08, 2007 at 1621 hrsFor those of you offended by the choice of a word, some advice: Get over it. You do not have a right to not be offended.
When one Illusory Tenant tried to make that argument, he was driven to shut down his blog* despite a lot of added contrition. Where you all to defend his liberty?
(*Among those driving IT out of business: Charlie Sykes, who stretched “you don’t have a right not to be offended” into one chapter of his latest claptrap.)
Posted by folkbum on November 08, 2007 at 1628 hrsGet over it. You do not have a right to not be offended.
I have no interest in preventing people from having the right to say or do things that offend me. Nor does, I believe, anyone commenting here.
Did I say people should never visit Boots & Sabers again? Did I say Owen should take down the picture? Did I say I want him to promise to never display or say the word again? No, no, and no.
We are expressing our view that we find it tasteless and insulting language. It’s called criticism. Those criticized can choose to do with that criticism whatever they will. Don’t like it? Get over it. People do not have the right to not be criticized.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1644 hrsI would challenge anyone to use this term directly to my face when describing my kid brother. They would learn within a matter of moments of what it is to suffer from severe brain damage.
lol…
Keyboard Commando
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1721 hrsI don’t understand this “PC Police” victim role. These words are not illegal. You can use them freely without fear of government persecution. You’re entitled to say whatever you’d like, but you’re not entitled to have other people celebrate it. So the fact that nobody laughs at your racist jokes, or high fives your racial slurs is not a product of some kind of political correctness conspiracy. Say whatever you want, but don’t whine when nobody backs you up (and expect to take a beating once in a while if you’re a real prick).
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1723 hrsIt always amazes me how far out of their way people will go to be offended
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1725 hrsIt always amazes me how far out of their way people will go to offend others.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 1748 hrsSorry. That was kind of a cheap shot.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 2015 hrsI saw this last night and was too angry to trust myself to post a comment at the time.
Mental Retardation is an acceptable term and is used both in the DSM and is a genuine diagnoses. I work with disabled adults, specifically those that are mentally retarded, usually with a dual diagnoses of mental illness. I had to be certifed as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional by the State of Wisconsin to serve this population.
But the key is that these people have a mental retardation, or a cognitive disability or a cognitive limitation. They are not retards. That is a immature, unsophisticated attempt at humor. I do not blame B&S;for its creation, but they chose to post it, which says a lot, in my humble opinion. It is easy to ridicule a certain population, especially if one is not experienced with them or the challenges they face for the only crime of “being different”.
Using the term retard is just another form of discrimination and prejudice, even if unintentional, which I believe is the case in this incident.
Posted by on November 08, 2007 at 2312 hrsGood grief.
- I didn’t create it, I found it. I don’t remember where.
- When I saw it the use of the word ‘retard’ meaning ‘disabled person’ didn’t even register. It’s been used for years as a colloquialism. In the field special education teachers use the term ‘MR’.
- I posted it because it reminded me of my two boys. The younger one is not MR but he is - compared to his older brother - goofy and has an exuberant sense of humor.
Posted by Brian on November 09, 2007 at 0021 hrsGeez, this whole discussion is retarded…
Posted by on November 09, 2007 at 0103 hrsWow, I didn’t expect this kind of response.
Posted by on November 09, 2007 at 0414 hrs
I do find the word “retard” offensive because of the job I am in and also my career and the people I see every day.. That being said, I am not saying Brian and Owen can’t use the word. (Jay agreeing with me, dogs and cats must be lying together tonight) I just think the word is offensive.
It’s just my personal opinion, that I find the word “retard” offensive.
Plus, I really don’t find the picture- maybe after working a 78 hour week, I guess my humor part of the brain is deadened.I guess it goes to show that people really perceive things differently. I see the bird on the right, and think of my always silly sibling who I affectionately refer to by using the never again to be spoken r-word.
Others see it as dark and humorless and mean.
Posted by joeythelovesponge on November 09, 2007 at 0918 hrs- When I saw it the use of the word ‘retard’ meaning ‘disabled person’ didn’t even register. It’s been used for years as a colloquialism. In the field special education teachers use the term ‘MR’.
- I posted it because it reminded me of my two boys. The younger one is not MR but he is - compared to his older brother - goofy and has an exuberant sense of humor.
Thats exactly how I took it.
There is a difference between using the word retard in a non-specific manner as above VS. specifically calling a person a retard.
Noone on here would look at a Mentally Retarded person and call them a “retard”
But everyone on here who is related to someone who is MR, or who’s brothers friends dads, step-cousin is MR has chosen to place themselves inside of the target of the word as used above. A manner in which it was clearly not intended.
But hey… we are a country of victims.. should we expect any less? I guess not.
If this was my blog I’d post something like this once a month just to weed out who the resident victims are…
Posted by on November 09, 2007 at 0937 hrsDang xx, that was my thought exactly as I just read this thread for the first time. If anyone calls a person with any mental disability a retard, they deserve whatever punishment Mr Pelican pants or anyone else within hearing metes out. To take a non-specific joke as a personal affront...well, we are a nation of victims.
Quite honestly, Mr P.P. when I saw the picture and caption it gave me a fond memory of a retarded cousin who has since passed away from a complication of his disease. Perhaps the misapplied problem in my perception is that the two retarded kids/adults I have known well were always so cheerful and doing goofy things to make them and me laugh, I thought the picture and its caption were both appropos and inoffensive. It also reminded me of goofy people who I have traded that particular insult with on many occasions. I find it saddening that the epithet did not give an immediate fond reminder to Mr Pelican Pants about his kid brother as it did me about my cousin. I can see that people with members of families with say, violent or life threatening, mental disabilities would feel different, but offended… that is not only up to each person’s own interpretation, I would not think one whit less of any person that laughed long and hard at the caption and picture.
Besides, I know the ‘demotivators’ catalog is not for everyone, but I find it hilarious as a general rule.
Posted by on November 09, 2007 at 1130 hrsLOL ... the easily offended really are a bunch of ‘tards.
Posted by Kristopher on November 10, 2007 at 2138 hrsRetarded people are inherently funny.
Posted by on February 17, 2008 at 1938 hrs
http://www.cracked.com/article_14837_raising-your-menta lly-retarded-child.htmlI guess it goes to show that people really perceive things differently. I see the bird on the right, and think of my always silly sibling who I affectionately refer to by using the never again to be spoken r-word.
Posted by oferta paste 2008 on March 01, 2008 at 0613 hrsLove this image,makes me laugh every time i see it I want a poster of it to go on my wall!
Posted by fire damage restoration on April 11, 2008 at 1126 hrsI have mixed feelings about the word “retard” I never really payed attention to the word untill my mom married her recent husband who had a sister with down syndrom and she changed my world around.. I will admit I used to use the word all the time untill I met her and learned about her and others like her… The other day in one of my classes a girl decided she wanted to throw out an analogy to make her seem big and bad.. she said “it is like putting a gun to a retards head” tell me that is not offensive.. tell me she was right and I was over reacting… because it wasnt right and I wasnt over reacting.. the word may not offend you but it does offend other people.. why be disrespectful and use a word that may offend someone around you.. why not just use another word.. or another analogy… its much better then hurting someone elses feelings and causing a scene.. right?
Posted by on May 06, 2008 at 2242 hrsIs it just me, or is it the bird on the left that seems to be goofy? I mean really, who could have a scowl like on their face on a bright sun-filled day?
It is all about perception people, the world only exists as each of us sees it through our own eyes. If a word is offensive to one and not another, it is because each has different experiences in their past
Posted by on May 07, 2008 at 0247 hrsAnd thus, elovrich, political correctness was born. You see it has long been proven by liberals in their own eyes that they know better than both us selfish conservatives and the angry white masses that carry guns, believe in hokie religions, and are racists. (And by default the large contingent of religious minorities) So it is obvious that their perceptions are better than ours and liberals should choose for all what we are offended by, how much we should give to the less fortunate through Government, etc.
And you’re right, they are both goofy, but not in the Disney sense.
Posted by on May 07, 2008 at 0726 hrs
Ol' Army
