How Ret- err.. How Retro
Dear Mouthy Housewives,
I recently learned that it is not politically correct to use the word “retarded” in a pejorative sense. I must be some kind of neanderthal because I still use that word. Is that so wrong?
Signed,
Politically Correct Me If I’m Wrong
_________________________
Dear Politically Correct,
Here at The Mouthy Domestic Engineers, we are extremely sensitive to language, and therefore must report that using the word “retard” as synonymous for “stupid” is indeed frowned upon.
But I see your dilemma. Is political correctness taking over and where do you draw the line? If you can’t say someone is “retarded,” why is it be OK to call that person a “moron”, a “cretin” or even an “imbecile?” After all, those terms were all used medically in the past, so by using them as slang, aren’t we still perpetuating stereotypes? Or something? The point is that when we need to alert that person about his substandard intelligence, we may be at a loss of words.
However, consider it good training. Get creative. Read “King Lear”, the Bard’s best hurler of insults with nary a reference to retardation. (By the way, I hope “nary” means “not one.” As in “I’ve had nary a drink tonight, but two”.)
Besides, you can still totally think it. Because certainly the mental midget can’t read minds, right?
Love,
Marinka, TMH
7 Responses to “How Ret- err.. How Retro”
Comment by Lizzie.
i love your site! i have been reading through the Q & A cracking up!!! 
(and i am so glad someone asked this before i did, haha)
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Comment by Amber in Albuquerque.
In my house we use (I’ll give you the phonetic version) doomah…it’s French for dumbass.
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Comment by Aludra.
Meh. I still say “retarded”. If some retard can get away with saying “thats gay”, then I refuse to feel even a little remorseful for calling them retarded.
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Comment by Sophie, Inzaburbs.
Isn’t the whole point of an insult that it is going to be offensive to somebody?
Also I would like to know the politically correct term du jour for a retarded person. I mean, a real one. Because half the packers (the best ones) at the supermarket are and when my children ask about them I don’t know what to tell them.
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Comment by admin.
Sophie–you have two options. The first is to pretend that you don’t know what the kids are talking about (this one comes naturally to me). The second is to adopt a politically correct term like “differently mentally abled”. Good luck!
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Comment by Chris.
I was a student at about the time the phrase “mentally retarded” became politically incorrect according to our professors. Correct terms should put the person first so it was changed to “person with mental retardation”. Try to write a whole paper using that phrase. Also try telling somebody that their outfit looks totally like a person with mental retardation rather than their outfit looks totally retarded.
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Comment by christy.
Mental midget! I love it! It’s entering my vocabulary right now. Only to be used in the company of close friends and family who won’t be offended by midget. Because they’re ‘small people’ right?! Hilarious post and answer!
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