• Oderus@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    It’s not a slur as much as it’s a definition. To be retarded means delayed or slow. It has nothing to do with mentally handicapped people.

    • Hazor@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      It has everything to do with “mentally handicapped” people. The word “retarded”, used as an insult, derived from the term “mental retardation”, which was previously the actual clinical and legal term for a person with what we now refer to as “intellectual disability”. The use of “retarded” as a slur/insult is the whole reason why the clinical term was changed. It had come to be seen as derogatory and ableist even when used in a clinical context.

      Source: the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The term “mental retardation” was used through the fourth edition, which was last revised in the year 2000. It lasted until the 5th edition, which wasn’t published until 2013. Various organizations/agencies changed their terminology prior.

      Fwiw, I’m a licensed clinician and I have diagnosed people with intellectual disabilities. I understand your perspective on the word, and I even shared a similar opinion until I learned how it has been used as a slur toward people who do have intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. Because of learning that, I now don’t use it as an insult. We do better when we know better.

    • ✺roguetrick✺@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      This my friends is a distinction without a difference. Dude really implied that being “delayed”, as in developmentally delayed, has nothing to do with the handicapped. Astounding.

      • Oderus@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        There is a difference. Morons that we call retarded are that way because they choose to be. They aren’t mentally handicapped. Mentally handicapped people don’t choose to be mentally handicapped. Which one are you?

        • ✺roguetrick✺@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Mentally handicapped people don’t choose to be mentally handicapped. Which one are you?

          Yes, I choose to be mentally handicapped right? And somehow this is not disparaging against the mentally handicapped? Like do you understand what your argument is? I’ve seen LLMs with more awareness.