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'Retarded' used to be the polite word. Terms like idiot, imbecile, and moron were commonly used depending on one's IQ. Calling someone mentally retarded is one thing...
Any idea what the policitally correct term is for someone that in the 60s, 70s and 80s would have been (politely) referred to as "retarded"? I'm not up on the PC term of the week.
Conservative commentator Ann Coulter posted a tweet this week, encouraging followers to watch Republican Christopher Barron be interviewed by a "retarded" MSNBC host.
In music, "retard" means to slow down. I think that is the general use of the word, like someone else mentioned spark timing. People who are retarded learn slower so I think that is why they call them that. It only became an insult when people applied it to people who really aren't retarded. The terms "idiot" and "Moron" also covered specific IQ ranges. I think 40-60 was Idiot and 61-80 was Moron. Today those terms are just general insults to 99% of the population.
Most people would also think that calling someone ignorant is also an insult but it is not, if it is accurate. It just means a lack of knowledge of something. Recently, when my wife made a mistake about something because she didn’t know how to do it she said she was stupid. I responded telling her "No you're not; you're ignorant". A friend who was with us gasped and thought I had just insulted her. People are too hung up on words and half of the time (or more) they don't even know their true meaning.
I'd have to see who she was referring to. I've seen a few replacement hosts on MSNBC that came across as unpleasant and unprofessional and seemed to be chosen just based on lack of talent. Anne Coulter is mean, mean enough to be a liberal but her IQ was just a few points too high. If Coulter ever receives a head injury and brain damage, Rachel Maddow should be worried about being replaced.
In music, "retard" means to slow down. I think that is the general use of the word, like someone else mentioned spark timing. People who are retarded learn slower so I think that is why they call them that. It only became an insult when people applied it to people who really aren't retarded. The terms "idiot" and "Moron" also covered specific IQ ranges. I think 40-60 was Idiot and 61-80 was Moron. Today those terms are just general insults to 99% of the population.
Most people would also think that calling someone ignorant is also an insult but it is not, if it is accurate. It just means a lack of knowledge of something. Recently, when my wife made a mistake about something because she didn’t know how to do it she said she was stupid. I responded telling her "No you're not; you're ignorant". A friend who was with us gasped and thought I had just insulted her. People are too hung up on words and half of the time (or more) they don't even know their true meaning.
So being referred to as an ignorant retard would not bother you in the least?
'Retarded' used to be the polite word. Terms like idiot, imbecile, and moron were commonly used depending on one's IQ. Calling someone mentally retarded is one thing. Calling someone a 'retard' is something else.
Yes, 'retarded' used to be the polite word. . . for someone who is mentally handicapped. That is what Coulter is saying about Cenk Uygur.
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