To wish that the new Inbetweeners movie didn't use the word 'retarded' twice.

[stillenacht1]

Ok okI have a pretty puerile sense of humour but I also have a severely autistic son. I went to see it today and cringed when I heard it twice. I just thought that maybe the scriptwriters could have left that out- it was totally unnecessary and added nothing to the rants of the characters.

Isn't part of it that they are puerile, insensitive, clueless, infantile? It's probably language that's quite typical for the characters they are portraying. And they're fictional people.

Yes but I suppose because I am sensitive to it and am aware of national media campaigns against the use of the word I view it in similar terms to racist language. I don't think I've heard racist language on the Inbetweeners though.

Yes, I get that, I guess. I had a similar debate on here not long ago with someone who wanted to complain to an author who had a character who used the same word.

I do think they are fictional, they are crass, etc, and realistically people like that probably still do say it. Much as we'd like to think not.

Its unnecessary and is it even legal? would racist words be legal?

Yes its disappointing and I want to see use of it just fade away and die out...it has awful connotations..and when films keep promoting the word it keeps it alive.

I feel like that when my younger BsIL say things are 'gay' when they mean rubbish, unfair, annoying knowing full well that my brother is gay.

It's annoying.

But I think yabu because they're supposed to be a young and stupid bunch of twats. They offend sooo many different types of people.

I know they do sadly. I've told one or a hundred teenagers off for using it (am a teacher)

It is a shame that the scriptwriters chose to keep this word alive, I agree

It's aimed at numpties with an unrefined sense of humour let's be honest.
And I don't know why but from your op I get the impression it bothers you BECAUSE you have an autistic son rather than the fact it's outdated disablist language?

They're not 'promoting' use of the word, they're reflecting society. We can't make art and culture pristine and wiped of anything offensive, it's not there to be a bastion of all that is good in the world.

The trouble is that, if they left out everything that could offend everyone, they would have no idiocy left

I am going to surprise myself by posting this.
when I was forced to watch them with ds and dd, I was horrified when the R word was used.
I soon realised that it kind of summed the lads up
thick and very stupid most of the time.
if anything I think them using the word, shows how thick people sound when using it(hopes that makes sense)

It bothers me for both reasons.

You see I think they are maintaining and reaffirming the use of the word.

By showing that immature idiots use it?

i disagree and I hate the word.
i felt it kind of showed that only thick as shit people use that word

Well I guess it's because I'm a teacher as well and hear it at work and this won't help matters really.

Depressing

Hopefully one day the word (and others like it) will be seen as abhorrent by mainstream society/media as some of the other more 'established' offensive words.

Sadly at the moment it seems that to use the word is still seen as fair game, and anyone who points out how and why it's offensive is still seen as PO - even some posts on this thread back this up. I honestly think many people just haven't thought at all about why it is so disgusting to use this word as a term of abuse (to NT people, not just those with LDs).

I agree bialy

the R word is disguting
but so are the inbeteeners

Shrugs.

Not fussed really- don't like the rampant homophobia. The sexism doesn't really bother me but it's hard for me to hear such offensive words being said about vulnerable people, like my son.

Its offensive but I wouldn't expect anything less of shite like the inbetweeners. It's successful because people think its funny.