Is "retard" as offensive as "black people"?

by Mark Posted 2012/05/03 16:47:17

Related Topics: Intelligence, American, Race, Mixed Race, Internet, Smoke, Word, Americans, Interesting, Lot

94 votes
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	black people is more offensive (wouldnt let me use the word I wanted to for some reason)	12 votes	13%
	retard is more offensive	41 votes	44%
	they are on a par	10 votes	11%
	neither is offensive	31 votes	33%

There are a lot of words I have found on the internet that are offensive to many Americans one example is "fag". I can not say "I am going outside to smoke a fag" as it will offend someone.
Nigger is highly offensive to black people, though it is OK for black people to say, not sure where mixed race people slot in on this one.
Retard seems to be used frequently to call someone stupid or generally question a persons intelligence.
Is using the word "retard" really ok? Personally, I hate it and find it even more offensive than the above examples.

As I was posting this something interesting happened.
It stopped me because nigga is offensive, but retard is obviously ok

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Centurion~PWCM~JLA 2012/05/04 03:01:13

retard is more offensive

+4
"Black People" is nothing more than a group of people with one adjective describing them by color. Quite honestly I see nothing to be offended about unless a person of that description has a deep resentment of being black.

"Retard" is hateful, cruel and insulting.

My wife, an epilepsy patient was called that growing up in her family. She is a beautiful and intelligent woman, better than I deserve.

There is one young lady which I assist with her math on occasion who has been called that insult. I see her as a bright young lady with a good future. Her outcome may very well depend on which of us she listens to. I'm hoping that she will continue to listen to me and ignore the others.

We can use our words to hurt others.......

or we can use our words to build them up.
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More polls by Mark

Galia1 2013/04/16 02:57:07
L Dub 2013/04/15 18:36:45

retard is more offensive

I'm Black and "Black People" is not offensive. I don't like 'African-American. I an American whose main ancestors are from Africa. Retarded is 'considered' politically incorrect and I'd say more people get 'offended' when we use retarded, to refer to someone who is mentally handicapped or slow, but that IS what the word means. They try to make everything an offense these days.

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Monty 2012/11/03 10:54:05

they are on a par

the n word that is,not the term black people

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Alexander T Steward 2012/10/05 22:42:14 (edited)

neither is offensive

+1
Black people would rather simply be called Black than any of the names given to them over the centuries. I can't belive some old people still think the term "Colored" still flys.

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jroll1234 2012/05/10 22:54:18

they are on a par

In my opinion, both are equally hilarious

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Figment 2012/05/08 06:50:27 (edited)

black people is more offensive (wouldnt let me use the word I wanted to for s...

The n-word is racist. Whites who call Blacks n-words are most likely racist. I do not, because we are all equal under God's eyes.

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sockpuppet to Figment 2012/05/09 22:38:39

+3
Apparently, it's not racist if black people use it.

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Figment to sockpuppet 2012/05/10 00:07:31

+1
It could have less impact because many years ago whites enslaved blacks. They're trying to take it back, but it doesn't seem to work does it?

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sockpuppet to Figment 2012/05/10 01:44:33

+2
Still... that's not how it works. If a word is proscribed for one person, nobody else can use it, either. That's a problem with limiting free speech.

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Galia1 to Figment 2013/04/16 03:00:37

Negro slaves were sold by their own family members in many instances and sent to America. So don't blame slavery just on the Caucasian race.

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Michael to sockpuppet 2012/06/03 07:45:56

Women call each other the "B" word in fun all the time, does that make them mysoginist? But I welcome you to call any black person that word, in fact I encourage it!!

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sockpuppet to Michael 2012/06/03 19:14:46

"Special Rule For Special People" is a concept that should offend any American.

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Monty to sockpuppet 2012/11/03 10:48:23

then blacks shouldn't be able to use the words honkey and cracker then lol only whites should be able to!

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L Dub to Monty 2013/04/15 18:48:42

You're right, because, generally, when we call each other these words, it's usually meant to be an insult. But, it really depends on the atmosphere...you can use the words and not be insulting...I've hear it all the times, but the people are friends and and 'the words (for Black or White) are nothing more than descriptive.

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sockpuppet to Monty 2013/04/15 19:06:55

It's a slippery slope we should never have started on. Everyone should understand that offense is never given by anyone-- it can only be taken. Then we could all get over it and stop freaking out about nothing.

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L Dub to sockpuppet 2013/04/15 18:41:54

N**** is racist, but 'black people. But it funny that we Black people use it all the time to mean all kinds of things, even as an insult at times, but most times don't want anyone else (well White people) to use it ----unless they are from where we are from.

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m 2012/05/05 07:59:53

neither is offensive

+2
Jeez people sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you

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mary E to m 2012/05/09 00:48:45

+2
I am with you on that! Some persons seem to think that insulting words spoken by another makes those words the truth about themselves! They then come unglued, acting as if the words were the truth.?????

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sockpuppet to mary E 2012/05/09 22:40:59

+1
I like the way you phrased that. It's such a valid point, I don't see how anyone could argue about it.

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Pat 2012/05/05 03:44:12

retard is more offensive

+1
I hadn't heard that the term "black people" was offensive. In any event "retard" is way more offensive in my opinion.

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sockpuppet to Pat 2012/05/09 22:43:11

Yeah, some soda-jerk told me that my use of the phrase "black people" told her exactly what sort of person she was dealing with... a racist. She uses "African-Americans" and expects others to do so, as well. :O)

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Pat to sockpuppet 2012/05/09 22:58:04
Linda 2012/05/05 03:01:52

they are on a par

+2
I have a grand daughter that is "mentally challenged" or "mentally disabled". The word "retard" or "retarded" is offensive. to me it a derogatory word.

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Scream 2012/05/04 10:13:37

retard is more offensive

+2
Black isn't offensive because it's not used as an insult. At least, I've never heard it used as an insult. Please, someone tell me if I'm wrong.
But the word retarded is. People use it with the intent to offend and insult. Playing basketball - "oh, that was a retard shot!"

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TheTruth1313 2012/05/04 05:56:32

neither is offensive

+3
Sorry, no outrage for either term. Retarded, as in mentally retarded, is a clinical term and my black friends(African, Dominican, etc) seem to be just fine with black.
Once again, the PC people of the world can kiss my ass. PC needs to be stamped out like vermin it is.

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Mark to TheTrut... 2012/05/04 09:37:53

+2
I wanted to use the N word for the poll, but Sodahead wouldnt let me. Kind of ironic for a freedom of speech site.

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TheTrut... to Mark 2012/05/05 06:26:34

+1
I hear ya, I hate that all that word has so much power. I mean, I'm about as politically incorrect as you can be and I can't even bring myself to say it.

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Mark to TheTrut... 2012/05/05 09:00:55

+1
Me too, but for some reason, it sticks in the back of the throat. Even when I was composing this question, I was struggling with it. In this context the intent was far from wanting to offend black people. I was hoping to make the point that black folks get lots of legal protection from verbal abuse like this, but there seems more leeway for terms of abuse from disabled people. I sometimes wonder if it is because many of them can not fight back.

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TheTrut... to Mark 2012/05/06 07:07:22

Oh, they have their advocates. Actually, I work in the field. However, it is important to also not always paint them as helpless innocent victims either. They are people just like you and I and, good or bad, should be treated as such.

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Michael to Mark 2012/05/05 15:45:30

I guess the real question is why you would want to use such a hateful and devisive word. I always laugh at people who have the "courage" to post such words online, but are such cowards in person!

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Galia1 to TheTrut... 2013/04/16 03:03:55

+1
I totally agree, The Truth 1313!!

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TheTrut... to Galia1 2013/04/16 06:46:04

Thank you for your kind reply my friend:-)

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Fashionable60s 2012/05/04 05:48:14

retard is more offensive

+1
I hate the word retard. I have a beloved relative who has Asperger and has been called retard too many times it was breathtaking how cruel people could be toward a developmentally disabled person. She is about the sweetest, kindest and the most thoughtful person I have ever known. She was dealt a bad deck of cards but she never showed any bitterness toward life, ever. My life has been made gentler and more beautiful because of her.

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Linda to Fashion... 2012/05/05 03:06:13

+1
I know the feeling Fashionable. I get very upset when I here that word. My grand daughter is totally mentally challenged. Needs 24/7 care and is the most beautiful child you could ever imagine. If people could only realize how cold and uncaring they sound.

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Gracie ~Gun Totin' Gracie~ 2012/05/04 05:40:44

neither is offensive

It depends on how you use retard. This is offensive to me...

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relic 2012/05/04 04:25:31 (edited)

neither is offensive

+2
Black people is the accepted descriptive phrase for a race, Retard is the accepted descriptive word for a progressive/liberal. Were you thinking of some other use?

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Scream to relic 2012/05/04 10:10:34

+1
Whoa, so funny! Did you come up with that yourself?

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relic to Scream 2012/05/04 15:36:13

+1

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Scream to relic 2012/05/04 23:58:28

+1

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sockpuppet to relic 2012/05/09 22:47:40

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