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You Shouldn't Call People Retards. It's Offensive


SCB

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I think it fair to say that it's hardly my interpretation alone. Surely you must acknowledge the widespread perjorative overtones? As a rule of thumb, is it a term you'd be happy to use to somebody's face?

 

Of course not, many many people will interpret it as you have done, many others will interpret it another way. However, in no way has SCB meant any insult towards anybody with any form of mental condition. It's my belief that it's the meaning behind someones words that matters.. not the word itself, after all that's just a sound uttered by us humans.

 

I can understand where you are coming from however and no doubt the closer you are to such a situation the more sensitive you will be.

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Well, as mentioned earlier, we will have to agree to differ on it. I suspect that neither of us is going to shift from our current position and at least we've had a calm and rational discussion about it ('calm' and 'rational' not being words I bandy about too often on these pages!).

 

Indeed, I don't think either of us is right or wrong on the issue personally. To sum up, personally I think society in general is to hung up on 'words' rather than 'meanings' if that makes sense.

 

I was perhaps a little OTT on my earlier post, apologies to Dave the Mic for that.

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Precisely why one should pick one's words with some care. One wouldn't want others to misinterpret the meaning, would one?

 

Agreed in most circumstances, just that in this case I just don't see how anyone could link it to being offensive to anyone but Jon Cook.

 

Anyway, hope you have a great Christmas/New Year!

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Not crap at all.

 

It takes a warped mind to link the two as you have...

 

Context is everything and intelligent humans can understand that.

 

Those with issues don't and try and turn things into something they are not. You have the problem, not others.

 

I note you have also chosen a definition to suit your case, ignoring the fact there are other definitions of the word as well.

 

As it happens I have lost a family member who had a mentally challenged condition and as I have said on another thread if someone had called him a retard I would have been very angry about it. However he hasn't, nobody else's family has either so getting all worked up about a word used on a forum is quite simply attention seeking.

So, I have a warped mind, a problem, I'm unintelligent & I am attention seeking. Thanks very much. Have you ever met me, probably not? I am many things & have many faults, but I think it is safe to say none of these would be included. Your post is deeply offensive to me. Later apology or not.

 

And the context is vital, as you say. I accept my original comment was incorrect. The context here was obvious. Your comment concerning how young people use the word is beside the point - if you don't understand what a word means, then you shouldn't use it.

Edited by Dave the Mic
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The logic from a poster on another thread was that the test would be if you would be brave enough to say it to someones face.. and well, in the modern world, i think retard is diddly as far as offence goes.

 

I couldn,t quote this as the thread has been locked but it was posted by someone with the username Doctor, if you call someone who is in hospital with a mental health problem a R****d you will soon be going home with your P45, so yes that word is very offensive to some people.

 

SCB has enough intelligence to know that.

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Precisely why one should pick one's words with some care. One wouldn't want others to misinterpret the meaning, would one?

A common sense post that stands out amongst some of the idiotic comments that have been made.

 

Comments made on social media or forums are still subject to the laws of libel . It doesn't matter if the comment was meant as a joke or not to be taken seriously, it can in some circumstances only need one person to take it seriously to establish a libellous case. Some of the windbags on here would do well to bear that in mind.

 

In any event, abuse is always a poor substitute for debate.

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And the context is vital, as you say. I accept my original comment was incorrect. The context here was obvious. Your comment concerning how young people use the word is beside the point - if you don't understand what a word means, then you shouldn't use it.

 

Far from beside the point as the meaning of words change.. it can equally be turned about by saying if YOU don't understand what a word means you shouldn't get upset about it.

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The language problem that I find concerning is that in circumstances like this.

Where accuracy is paramount.

 

On the locked thread, the forum moderator can confuse the word 'LIBEL' with 'LIABLE'.

Whilst admonishing people for their thoughtless use of inappropriate words.

.

Edited by Grand Central
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A common sense post that stands out amongst some of the idiotic comments that have been made.

 

Comments made on social media or forums are still subject to the laws of libel . It doesn't matter if the comment was meant as a joke or not to be taken seriously, it can in some circumstances only need one person to take it seriously to establish a libellous case. Some of the windbags on here would do well to bear that in mind.

 

In any event, abuse is always a poor substitute for debate.

 

Another post that shows the problems of society today. Folk getting worked up for no reason.

 

The logic from a poster on another thread was that the test would be if you would be brave enough to say it to someones face.. and well, in the modern world, i think retard is diddly as far as offence goes.

 

I couldn,t quote this as the thread has been locked but it was posted by someone with the username Doctor, if you call someone who is in hospital with a mental health problem a R****d you will soon be going home with your P45, so yes that word is very offensive to some people.

 

SCB has enough intelligence to know that.

 

And he didn't, so that closes that objection.

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And the thread asking why SCB got a ban has been locked!

 

Apparantly its not a ban just a suspension (same thing!)

 

Just shows what the forum is like when you can get banned for what he has and then Starman and the multi alias people can just keep on posting

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Far from beside the point as the meaning of words change.. it can equally be turned about by saying if YOU don't understand what a word means you shouldn't get upset about it.

I do understand it, you cannot honestly believe I don't. I'm not upset, I am a rational & logical thinking human being. The context in which the word was originally used was meant as per the definition I highlighted, I wasn't choosing a definition to suit myself, not at all. I haven't ranted, I haven't abused, insulted or called you names. The definition of words may well change, but the word referred to here still has the meaning I pointed out & I am not the only one who pointed it out, so we are all wrong, are we?

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not part of the PC brigade, hyper sensitive or easily upset, far from it. But neither am I any of the things you called me in your earlier post, which I thought were uncalled for.

 

I have no intention of falling out with you, but please accept that I am entitled to my view on a subject that could easily offend & make your argument without the need for name calling & being insulting. I managed it, why can't you?

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Another post that shows the problems of society today. Folk getting worked up for no reason.

.

Not sure what or who that comment is aimed at but it seems to me the only ones getting worked up are the ones who think they are the ones who should be the arbiters of how forum rules are interpreted.

 

Someone gets a two week suspension in the close season. Hardly the end of the world whether it be fair or unfair. It's Phils site so Phil makes the decisions whether we agree with them or not. That's what we all signed up to when joined the forum. Those who don't like it have their remedy.

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Another post that shows the problems of society today. Folk getting worked up for no reason.

 

 

And he didn't, so that closes that objection.

It wasn't an objection, I was merely pointing out to "Doctor" that the use of that word is grossly offensive to some people, as he seems to think it is diddly as far as offence goes.

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It wasn't an objection, I was merely pointing out to "Doctor" that the use of that word is grossly offensive to some people, as he seems to think it is diddly as far as offence goes.

And sadly some who don't find it offensive carry on pointing out that point.

Just goes to show how little respect some people have these days.

 

Some are offended by the R word yet instead of accepting that and moving on they feel a need to keep banging on why it's not offensive.

 

Jeez.

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