I love retarded people

@AlmostAnAngel Traditionally - before PC gave a new derogatory meaning to "special" -- it meant mentally slow, or, yes, stupid.

@ChipmunkErnie It should never have meant stupid IMO.

@AlmostAnAngel Technically it meant "slow", the same way retard means to slow a reaction in chemistry, or to retard the growth of something.

@ChipmunkErnie yes I know the definition

@AlmostAnAngel I'll do you one better, and say that there are three categories Mentally challenged, uneducated, and last and certainly least Ignorant.

@AlmostAnAngel In that case then you know why it was used for so long, despite the fact you don't approve of its use. It's not a nice usage, but by replacing it with euphemisms we've just made other words insulting on the same basis.

@ChipmunkErnie I may be ignorant myself,but I don't rightly follow your logic. I don't mean to say that what you're saying isn't logical, I'm just not intelligent enough to comprehend it.

I feel that we over think some things in our society, and that we make too much of little things, while we over look the bigger problem. Is that a deliberate attempt to cloud the issue, and distract from what's really going on? I don't know, it's a hunch, and nothing more at this point. I do know that it was decided a long time ago that the use of the word "retarded" ( which I have no issue with btw, in it's proper context ) was inaccurate when referring to a person who is mentally, or physically challenged. It implies that the person as a whole is "slow" , and that I'm sure you can agree is not the case. If a word is misused, that in itself is no crime, if it is due to lack of education. However, once one is educated and realizes , or should realize that the word that they have been using up until that time, was inappropriate , then to continue the use of said word would only be ignorant .That's just how I see it, and I'm sure a few others may agree. I'm just as sure that others will disagree, and I honor their right to do so. We all have 2 cents in our pocket at any given time, and let us not be cheap about it. ;)

@SW-User I disagree, though I follow your logic. English is a living language and the meaning of any word is subject to change via usage, whether you approve of that particular usage or not. The only static language is a dead language that no one actually speaks any more in the real world.

@ChipmunkErnie accept that the meaning of the word "retarded" has not changed. It is not the meaning of the word that has changed, it's the acceptable application of the word that's changed. The word means "slowed" just as it always has, it's just not socially acceptable to refer to a person as "slowed" or "retarded". I'm not sure why it bothers anyone to use other language to describe a person, if it is agreed to be more accurate and inclusive.