Why is the r-slur so inappropriate? (PSA)

[xxcherries]

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Hello! I recently saw someone use the r-slur in chat, and I thought I might give a brief explanation as to why that is so inappropriate.

What does retarded mean?
The word “retard” is commonly used to describe intellectually disabled individuals. The word gained popularity in 1961, when it was introduced as a medical term; “mental retardation,” but in the following years, people began to use it as a hateful slur.

Why would people use a medical term as a slur?
It’s almost appalling that someone would turn a medical term into a slur, but that’s exactly what happened. Society often bases human value off intelligence, so those who are less intelligent are often looked down upon. And since people are constantly looking for new insults and slurs, the new medical term became one.

What’s wrong with that?
Though intelligence may play a factor in getting jobs, intelligence still does not measure one’s worth. Then what does, you might ask? The truth is, nobody is better than anyone else. It’s that simple. Being smart or ”dumb” dosen’t mean a thing when it comes to how much you’re worth. Someone who is intellectually disabled can still feel love, anger, sadness, regret, and joy, just like you. And that’s the most important thing.

Aren’t they too dumb to care?
Being intellectually disabled is a spectrum. It’s not all or nothing, and most intellectually disabled people can understand the word retard and its connotation. Plus, have you ever thought about how immoral it would be to talk about someone behind their back?

The word “retard” is no longer medically in use, as it has been replaced with the term “intellectually disabled,“ because there is too much history and implication behind it. The fact that the word is no longer in use does NOT give you any right to use it as an insult. It remains a word to describe unintelligent people, and the only thing it does is create a more hostile environment towards intellectually disabled individuals.

I apologize for my untidiness, I occasionally have a hard time putting some of my thoughts into words. If you have any questions or concerns, please mention them, and I’ll try to address them. Thank you.

 

[xxcherries]

For some reason I thought this post would get more attention :/

Edit: It got more attention, but I’m not sure if it’s in a positive way

 

[UnknownUser]

lol its ok ... i would say nobody should use any rude words but we all do it at times. whats best is tolook in a mirror and try our best to do whats right no for a reward but because its right. and when others decide against what is right its best to forgive and let it go. but we are all responsible for what we say and probably should at least attempt to remember this in the moments when we say things that may be hurtful to others. but unfortunately i would say there will never be a perfect world with perfect people as we are all flawed in some way and nobody is perfect. Love everybody even your enemies but also know when to walk away and not retaliate in a violent or hateful type of way to others.

 

[UnknownUser]

but i could just be full of crap so idk ignore me

 

[xxcherries]

lol its ok ... i would say nobody should use any rude words but we all do it at times. whats best is tolook in a mirror and try our best to do whats right no for a reward but because its right. and when others decide against what is right its best to forgive and let it go. but we are all responsible for what we say and probably should at least attempt to remember this in the moments when we say things that may be hurtful to others. but unfortunately i would say there will never be a perfect world with perfect people as we are all flawed in some way and nobody is perfect. Love everybody even your enemies but also know when to walk away and not retaliate in a violent or hateful type of way to others.

Thing is, if someone needs to use a rude word, I would much prefer if they used one less harmful to the intellectually disabled. It’s really ableist to use the r-slur as an insult.

 

[UnknownUser]

Thing is, if someone needs to use a rude word, I would much prefer if they used one less harmful to the intellectually disabled. It’s really ableist to use the r-slur as an insult.

yes but different people have different opinions on what is "less rude" as such i have mines andyou have yours. we cant expect all to be the same and feel the same and understand the same.

 

[xxcherries]

yes but different people have different opinions on what is "less rude" as such i have mines andyou have yours. we cant expect all to be the same and feel the same and understand the same.

In today’s society, yes, we are expected to understand the same to a certain degree. Almost everyone can agree that killing people is immoral and wrong, for example.

Many people fight to improve society’s understanding, so that more people can come to more shared understandings of what is immoral and what is not.

The question of whether ableism is wrong is not up for debate, almost everyone agrees, at least to some extent, that treating others as less than them simply because of what they can or can’t accomplish is wrong.

In the 19th century, someone who had a disability would be put into a “hospital“ where people would attempt to treat them with all kinds of cruel methods. Hospitals like that are barely around anymore. Similarly, the word ”retard” is slowly seeing a decrease in use. We are making progress, and I would just like to give a little nudge to anyone still stuck in the past.

 

[Chatter]

It is morally wrong to mistreat people who are "intellectually disabled". I agree with you there. And it's good to have general etiquette with whoever you meet. Manners are important.

Though our alleged "progress" in reducing the use of the "r-slur" is completely POINTLESS. In the future, society will only invent even more vile and offensive terms. Hate is an endless cycle.
Generally speaking, humans crave power and violence. Until the end of humanity, there will be a conflict between minorities and majorities.
Humans will act hostile to one another. They will use vulgar speech on one another.
"Peace on Earth" is nonsensical. Your lecture will not only make matters better, but worse.

Nowadays, societies have a lower tolerance for conservative ideologies, generally speaking. Which resulted in this mindless, uneasy culture.
Someone will get infuriated over something as insignificant as a slur. It is absurd how emotions have this much effect on society now.

Most "intellectually disabled" are familiar with what the word "retard" means, right? Instead of criticizing it, we should teach them to disregard it.
Wait... Can the "intellectually disabled" learn how to make wise decisions? Perhaps they're too... Only kidding.

Viewers will more likely refer to them as "intellectually disabled" or "retarded" in their speech as a result of your lecturing.
You win some. You lose some.

 

[MarquizdeGuillotin]

It is morally wrong to mistreat people who are "intellectually disabled". I agree with you there. And it's good to have general etiquette with whoever you meet. Manners are important.

Though our alleged "progress" in reducing the use of the "r-slur" is completely POINTLESS. In the future, society will only invent even more vile and offensive terms. Hate is an endless cycle.
Generally speaking, humans crave power and violence. Until the end of humanity, there will be a conflict between minorities and majorities.
Humans will act hostile to one another. They will use vulgar speech on one another.
"Peace on Earth" is nonsensical. Your lecture will not only make matters better, but worse.

Nowadays, societies have a lower tolerance for conservative ideologies, generally speaking. Which resulted in this mindless, uneasy culture.
Someone will get infuriated over something as insignificant as a slur. It is absurd how emotions have this much effect on society now.

Most "intellectually disabled" are familiar with what the word "retard" means, right? Instead of criticizing it, we should teach them to disregard it.
Wait... Can the "intellectually disabled" learn how to make wise decisions? Perhaps they're too... Only kidding.

Viewers will more likely refer to them as "intellectually disabled" or "retarded" in their speech as a result of your lecturing.
You win some. You lose some.

The thought that somehow oppression or the crave for power is natural within human beings (which I don't fully doubt) becomes a self-justifying cycle more than anything, it breeds an environment of apathy, barrenness, and lack of change since people are just going to take societal oppression and structures for a given and not do anything to act upon them. The social and cultural conditions that lead to oppression of minorities by majorities should be eliminated, rather than just accommodated, as well, since that'd be far more efficient.

On the subject of emotions affecting this society so much, this isn't anything new. In various areas part of the Earth during the middle ages, an insult would incur such infuriation over one's honour that they would lead to a duel, or am exchange of insults would descend into a brutish, violent brawl. Emotions have had always been strong, our modern societies aren't anything special in that regard.

Hate, violence, and the thirst for power are inimical to a prospering and stable society, even if they are natural, it would be best to gain mastery over one's nature, for virtue in part consists in this, rather than succumb to those base and vile instincts. It should be a duty of the commonwealth to strive towards absolute peace, even if this peace won't ever be truly achieved in a flawed and imperfect world.

 

[UnknownUser]

In today’s society, yes, we are expected to understand the same to a certain degree. Almost everyone can agree that killing people is immoral and wrong, for example.

Many people fight to improve society’s understanding, so that more people can come to more shared understandings of what is immoral and what is not.

The question of whether ableism is wrong is not up for debate, almost everyone agrees, at least to some extent, that treating others as less than them simply because of what they can or can’t accomplish is wrong.

In the 19th century, someone who had a disability would be put into a “hospital“ where people would attempt to treat them with all kinds of cruel methods. Hospitals like that are barely around anymore. Similarly, the word ”retard” is slowly seeing a decrease in use. We are making progress, and I would just like to give a little nudge to anyone still stuck in the past.

yes but morals have to come from somewhere. what might seem good or fair to us may not in reality actually be true. Just because a majority says something is ok doesnt make it actually real and true. Most morals and rules tend to come from biblical type things. but thats a whole different conversation that can become very biased or opinionated and also become heated.

 

[EdithIsBored]

@MarquizdeGuillotin yesssss if we just get rid of haters in society we can allow minorities to be accepted without any hate or disagree ment towards the intellectually disabled and trans and jews and gay ppl. Ppl like @UnknownUser and @Chatter will try to justify hate towards minorities. If we give more power to these "hated" minorities we can get rid of hate and violence in our civilizations. We can all be happy together witout disagreement and violence.

 

[xxcherries]

@MarquizdeGuillotin yesssss if we just get rid of haters in society we can allow minorities to be accepted without any hate or disagree ment towards the intellectually disabled and trans and jews and gay ppl. Ppl like @UnknownUser and @Chatter will try to justify hate towards minorities. If we give more power to these "hated" minorities we can get rid of hate and violence in our civilizations. We can all be happy together witout disagreement and violence.

I’d just like to say, the solution probably isn’t to get rid of haters, but to educate them instead. If we were to “get rid“ of the haters, we’d become just as bad as them. Plus, if we get rid of them, we’re just giving the problem to someone else.

 

[EdithIsBored]

@xxcherries true but the prisons wouldn't mind having some hate filled lunatics join their company. There are ppl educated about these topics who still hate towards minorities. They'll try and try to make reasons to justify it but they'll still be considered bigots in society. We'd be doing everyone a favour in removing ppl like chatter and unknown user out of society.if They're too stubborn to accept me for who I am they shouldn't be allowed to share their opinions. Chatter has a serpent tounge he writes things in a certain way just to cause confusion and conflict. He uses his manipulative personality to share his antisemiric transphobic homophobic views. I wish I kept the link to his site just to show u how disturbed this bigot is

 

[Chatter]

if we just get rid of haters in society we can allow minorities to be accepted without any hate or disagree ment towards the intellectually disabled and trans and jews and gay ppl. If we give more power to these "hated" minorities we can get rid of hate and violence in our civilizations. We can all be happy together witout disagreement and violence.

When immorally principled minorities are accepted into society by a morally principled majority, what happens when they are given positions of authority, and what will happen when they indoctrinate the majority with their degeneracy? The minority will become dominant. The majority will progressively deteriorate and abandon their values over time.
Before you know it, those minorities are in control. The new civilization will promote immorality and later collapse. It's nothing but repeated history.

Societies will never prosper if they accept and promote immorally principled minorities.
Throughout the 20th century, certain nations accepted more immorally principled minorities. Which eventually lead to historical tragedies such as the October Revolution and Gulags.

It's nearly impossible for society to thrive when the state's corrupt. To achieve "peace" society must engage in violence against the corruption of the state.

In contemporary American culture, Liberalism and Radicalism go hand in hand. Eventually, the two will come together to create Socialism. And Socialism has a history of evolving into Communism. Good luck!

Each person is born with different capacities. Some better. Some worse.
If we're free, we are unequal. If we are considered as equals, we are unquestionably imprisoned.

 

[UnknownUser]

first off im not being a hater. so dont fucking put some stupid shit like that and throw me into a generalized statement that revolves around that type of stuff. if you cant be polite about anything im trying to talk about and not assume things then please dont comment or respond to any of my stuff id appreciate it

 

[UnknownUser]

I’d just like to say, the solution probably isn’t to get rid of haters, but to educate them instead. If we were to “get rid“ of the haters, we’d become just as bad as them. Plus, if we get rid of them, we’re just giving the problem to someone else.

nobody justified anything negative we are just chatting. so ignore this prick trying to make me sound like something else. pretty lame somebody decides to do that when we were all being friendly and not targeting anybody