STOP using the word "retard".

[Sparklysilversequins]

This has been done many times before and I can't think why I am needing to do it again, except I have seen it used twice on here this morning already .

It's offensive. It's not JUST a word. It's no less offensive if you prefix it with "emotional" or use it to describe some silly thing you or a friend did, or some bloke you saw with his trousers half way down his backside as young men sometimes choose to do.

It may be that some believe that the use of this word is considered acceptable in other countries (ie the US) and this often trotted out as a reason for its use but that is not actually true here. As of 2014 the American Psychiatric Association plans to replace the term 'mental retardation' with 'intellectual development disorder'" in the 2013 edition of their manual.

most offensive terms used in relation to disability.

HTH.

[Jan49]

I agree. I have a ds on the autistic spectrum and I wince every time I see that word.

[waikikamookau]

I cnat believe mumsnetters use the word
it is very common in American tv programmes still.

[saulaboutme]

I've heard children use it and my ds copied them. They'd heard it on a you tube video from America.
I explained to him it's not a word I want to hear him use again and why.

[DontPanicMrMannering]

Wtf does "brave" mean, just looking at your list have never ever heard that.

Which is I suppose a terrible thing that I have heard all the rest.

[DiamondMask]

It's a horrible word and I cant understand why, after numerous threads and campaigns, people still use it.

[CoffeeTea103]

Hear this word so often, don't know if people will ever stop using this word. It's horrible

[Pagwatch]

[sigh]
I know.
And you know some dick will rock up talking about censorship and how language evolves in a minute. Oh and PC brigade.

Twats

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Not to be confused with "tardy" which means late.

Agree it's a nasty nasty word.

Is it still used medically in this country? As in when they talk about mental retardation? Or has that been stopped now?

[TheVermiciousKnid]

Why the fuck would anybody use a word that is so offensive to so many people, when there are so many other words that could be used?! Fuckers.

[skylerwhite]

EeTraceyluv, are you being ironic?

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

I hate the word. I overheard ds1 using it the other day. He'd picked it up on YouTube. We had words. He won't be using it again.

Inexcusable to use it on Mumsnet.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I still hear the word "spaz" being used a lot by school kids round here too.

[K8Middleton]

Yes see also fucktrd

It is not a contraction of fucking bastard. It is a contraction of fucking retrd.

Not clever.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Would also like to see the word gay being used as an insult.

"That's so gay" seems to be disturbingly popular when taking piss out of school friends.

[EeTraceyluv]

No, I'm relating the responses I got when I asked people to stop using the word.

[skylerwhite]

I was referring to your calling those people 'fucking morons'.

[skylerwhite]

Their original comments and responses were hateful, to be clear.

[PlayedThePinkOboe]

EETracey Am killing myself (allowed to say that?) laughing at your turn of phrase - and yet it is wholly demonstrative of why demonising a word is backwards (see! You can't say anything!). People do dumb (ooops, there we go again!) things - we use language to describe them.

[LauraShigihara]

I agree, it is a horrible word and I would be furious if someone used it in my hearing.

I saw it on here in the week and winced but by the time I had though of a response that wouldn't end with me being deleted, I had been distracted by RL.
I wish people would think before they speak.

[DiamondMask]

It's used lots at ds's school but when I brought it up with the Head he wasnt bothered. He'd suspend someone for using a racist word however, but disabled people and vile disablist words are fair game.
I pointed that out long and loud and he said 'you cant stop teenagers using words'
Except you can and do when its racist.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Agree, OP.

While we're about it (pet hate), the word 'cretin' means someone with congenital disabilities. Lots of people don't know that, but if you do, it really gives you a shudder to see it.

Some people are nincompoops.

[newfavouritething]

There's an epilepsy drug Tegretol Retard, always makes me go hmmm.

[perceptionreality]

YANBU - it's a vile word to use and there is no excuse whatsoever.