Before I read this thread, I thought to myself, "How many mentally handicapped people play this game?". Assuming the amount was little to none, I had no problem saying "THE R WORD".
After looking into this thread and reading some of the responses (from the majority vote, unsurprisingly) I now realize the amount of mentally handicapped people using the website is *exceptionally* higher than I previously thought.
I am just a proponent of taking context into account, as with any report. I was not at all saying that is not an offensive word, as I said I completely understand how it does and do try to avoid it. :)
My opinion may be terrible, in your opinion, that is fine. And thus I respect your opinion, not by saying it is terrible, but by kindly avoiding the word.
I grew up in a racially stagnant part of the country and no one ever used the n-word harmfully in front of me. Doesn't meant the word is any less offensive.
Cool, another "let's get offended for the use of word that's not meant offensively" by a bunch of people that have 0 interactions with people who are actually mentally disabled.
I don't disagree, I was trying to say that people who say the word don't mean to be hateful. For many people, it slips, and I don't think it should be labeled hateful comments when people don't even mean it seriously~~if Retti is referring to something else by this thread, then nevermind.
deletedalmost 11 years
yes and my point is that the definition of words goes beyond your opinion and you can't just say a word doesn't mean what it means because you were never exposed to it that way
Peta, I'm questioning whether or not you are actually contributing to the conversation or if you think it's funny to inject your 'humor' between posts that actually are. It adds a break between large, thoughtful responses though, so your input is useful in its own special way.
deletedalmost 11 years
90%+ of people who use the term "gypped" don't know it's origins but that doesn't make it inherently offensive towards gypsies
@Bill obviously, this is an opinion poll, and since most people feel it is offensive and hateful, I'd definitely avoid the word and I never meaningfully say it. I am simply saying that it was never used to be hateful, where I come from.
You're right, it has nothing to do with the fact that (a) people began to use the term offensively rather than for the purpose of benign description or (b) the term is no longer a clinical diagnosis.
okay but it doesn't matter if you don't know any better. if you grew up in australia and never knew that black people were slaves in america it wouldn't make it okay to say the n-word just due to your ignorance. just because you didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings doesn't make it okay, because words actually do have meanings that your tiny sliver of a perspective doesn't affect at all
deletedalmost 11 years
retardation used to be the politically correct word once upon a time. then the age came when people started getting sensitive over nothing and the word took a backseat in society.
No...some people were brought up (like me) where that word, like, I didn't even know it has another meaning of someone with a mental disability...whenever we are referring to someone with one, we state the actual disability. I use this word every once in a while (on accident nowadays, since I realize it offends some people) but it is never, never meant to be hateful.
Bottomline is: some people were brought up to where this word was part of there speech, and it was never meant hatefully towards people or even to be analogous with people who have a mental disability. I completely understand where some people would be offended, but honestly, it's not a slur or cussword at all in my opinion.
deletedalmost 11 years
peta and rob have taken over the thread, abandon ship
