HOME | DD
jollyjack — Retard
Published: 2014-01-23 14:18:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 17561; Favourites: 121; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
A couple of people (literally only two, but it's a matter worth mentioning) emailed me after they had read the most recent Sequential Art strip, in which the fictitious element “Retardium” is mentioned. Both messages voiced disapproval at my using the word “Retard” due to its slang referencing of the mentally disabled.That interpretation of the word, in my eyes, is outdated.
Used in describing a mentally disabled individual, “retard” is a slur, and (as with any slur) anyone who says it in that context deserves a sharp blow to the head. However, used to describe a “wilfully ignorant, able-bodied idiot”, I think “retard” is perfectly acceptable. I’ll wager that everyone reading this knows someone that can accurately be described as a "f**king retard", none of whom are disabled in the slightest, nor in using the word is a mentally disabled person even thought of.
I’ve not heard “retard” used to describe anyone with mental problems in over 20 years. Its common usage has moved on in the same way as many other words before it. Sometimes it's for the worst:
“….reluctantly Gandalf himself took a hand. Picking up a faggot he held it aloft for a moment, and then with a word of command, naur an edraith ammen! he thrust the end of his staff into the midst of it….”
- The Lord of the Rings, written between 1937 and 1949.
But in this instance, I think the change in association is a good thing. It's a splendid, cutting word to describe the complete and utter morons out there that are stealing our oxygen.
Of course, if my little theory gets communally torpedoed: I'll look like a total retard.
Related content
Comments: 379
One time I used the word "retarded" in a Facebook post in an informal conversation with a close friend of mine and all of a sudden this girl came out of nowhere and berated the fuck out of me over it like I just made fun of 9/11 or something, telling me to "grow up". Then she screencapped the whole thing and shared it on Twitter to continue bawwwing her head off about how I'm apparently an insensitive sociopath who's an absolute disgrace to everything that breathes air.
ALL THIS SHIT OVER JUST ONE LITTLE WORD.
I wasn't even talking about the mentally ill, let alone attacking them at the time, to clarify.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
That one word that has probably caused the biggest atomic explosions of butthurt and triggered than any other.
It doesn't even matter what context; whether you're attacking the mentally ill or not. (not that I have) Even the mere action of using the word is treated like a crime worse than murder.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Yep, words only have as much power over you, as you let them.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I have heard it used to refer to mentally disabled people, but it's usually in an insulting way, and the person saying it fits well within your definition of that word. I don't get it, why people have to get so easily butthurt over a word. I've been called some nasty things over the years, crying about it has changed any of that about 0%, so it doesn't help.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
People who wanna bitch are gonna bitch, regardless of whether there's a reason to or not. The world just needs to grow thicker skin and stop being so fucking sensitive.
....and if they insist on crying like a little bitch with a skinned knee, fuck 'em.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
"I’ve not heard 'retard' used to describe anyone with mental problems in over 20 years."
yep. I haven't either, like, since I turned 6 or 7 years of age -- Now they have "developmentally delayed" or "autism" or "down syndrome" or what-have-you... they are more pinpointing and accurate to those who have them. and some stem from each other, as well as interact with behavioral disorders or even unrelated but relevant neurological disorders, i.e. lenex-gastaut disorder (forgive me if I misspelled the diagnosis. I know this may seem strange but I have the disorder and have been misdiagnosed as A.D.H.D., Bipolar, and Schitzo-typal. the bipolar is a driving force behind Len-Gast Disorder in that the seizure-yielding factor called kindling could sky rocket and result in break-through siezures due to any stress, eustress or distress.)
But the real so called "retards" are the government/internet/street trolls and the societal super-rich who got where they are now only because of the money they have and, in many cases, the iffy-as-hell (wait for it...) STOCK MARKET.
'Nuff sedd.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I honestly look forward to the day Mr. Jackson takes a deep look at George Carlin's work and gives out his interpreteations
Would be a BLAST! Literally. I am sure. It's a gas pipe with a small hamster messing with a lighter all over again.
And I honestly believe that you would enjoy the humor mr. Jackson, even though the standup comedian is an American... or rather, was an american citizen, now that he is orbiting the sun.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Some people just need to stop being offended by everything. Personally I agree with the meaning of the word "retard". The word "jätkä" in finnish language was originally used to refer to a man that transported wood via rivers by kinda riding it but today it´s being used to refer to a guy. ANY guy. The world changes and the words we use change with it. If some people can´t handle humor they should stay offline. Just saying...
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Agreement. I'm sick of people ragging on me for saying "wow, that's retarded" etc.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I honestly don't care if someone uses the word "retard" I think it's your right to call people idiots.
Also the French came up with the word retard for "slow"
So basically if you said "that car is retarded" it just means slow.
The English Language picked it up, and we consider "slow people" to be mental, so we stole the word retard.
But now it's a commonly used insult. :3
I totally agree with you about "It's a splendid, cutting word to describe the complete and utter morons out there that are stealing our oxygen."
^^
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I work in special education; we do not use that word as a diagnosis any more because it was reappropriated as an insult. In fact, I find that nearly any term we use to refer to a person who is cognitively or intellectually challenged becomes an insult in some capacity.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
To sum up: political correctness is for pansies
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Sorry you had to feel in the wrong, better luck next time.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
The term for a mentally disabled individual is "mentally disabled individual".
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
the problem with that argument is that "mental disability" encompasses almost all mental disorders, including high-functioning autism and schizophrenia, neither of which were ever referred to as "mental retardation" by the psychiatric community or anyone else.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
The US especially have become too politically correct. Fuck em.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
*Sigh* I really hate foreigners like you, who just assumes America's all a bunch of snobby people.
Where are you from? The UK I'm guessing, what if I said they have bad teeth or something? It's a stereotype , I don't think everyone there has bad teeth, in-fact we have people over here who have bad teeth.
So yeah, grow up.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Uh yeah... lets go with the UK origin for assumption sake. There are many examples of political correctness HERE in America. You can't say a lot of things because they are politically incorrect and many face severe consequences because of which. It's always taken a step further. Believe me man. I wish I were a foreigner.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I thought "Retardium" might be a time-slowing element. That would be a perfectly good use of "retard" except to those who think the word should be buried forever.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Yeah, people always call each other retards at my school. I never grasped a fuller meaning to the word until I read this.
It's just sad once a firmly innocent word gets taken into a wrong trend.
Gay once used to mean - Happy.
And rainbows were taken as a sign from God, but now people took it into the lesbian rights. I can't even wear anything rainbowish because of that fear and humiliation.
Just absolutely retarded. ;/
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
The word "idiot" used to refer to the mentally disabled.
Now people espouse its use over "retard". Fun how people work, isn't it?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Intent is key in this situation.
I understood what you meant.
That is about how it goes.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqiGWd…
Christopher Titus on the word retard
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Personally I think people who make taboo words taboo are giving haters too much power. If you tell people not to use a word because it means something offensive, it will ALWAYS BE OFFENSIVE because you aren't giving it the opportunity to evolve.
That said I don't want to step on people's toes. :/ but really? Let it go. It's a problem because you let it be one.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
When a person calls me a retard like in You Tube. I just reply to that creep to get a life. I know I am not a retard since I watch E T Williams, Mark Dice and Alex Jones on their you tube channels. There are some people who are saying thug is the new n word. I remember when dyke meant the rocks on the sides of a river or ocean. Or I just laugh at that person since they do not me very well.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
PC drives me crazy. I celebrate Christmas every year and apparently that is offensive to some people. Whenever people try to insist that its "winter holidays", I feel the need to correct them. It is either winter soltice, Christmas, Hannukah, etc.
I think it comes down to whether you are describing something or labeling someone. You have to use words that someone would understand in association with the concept you are trying to describe. Its called a word, get over it. lol
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
-.- thats the most retarded load of bullshit i've ever heard and the smarmy little pansies who complained about it are retards. we had a word for that kind of stupidity in the army..several actually...."re-re, dumbass, f*ck-tard, assclown, retard in conjunction with any number of expletives, and dunce to name a few" .-. why are these people complaining about this on the INTERNET? do they even realize politicians even call people retards when the camera's are off? i've known a few in person who had some hilarious things to say about this off the record. too bad i didnt get his number after that long field trip but it was funny x3 i think he's a US senator now
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Also, y'know. There is the usage of the word in the manner of 'flame retardant' and the like.
So. Yeah.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I have a mental disabillity. (Asperger-Autism) And i don´t think that the name ,,Retardium" for a fictional material makes any problems.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
i have an allergy to bullshit so when people complain about simple words making them uncomfortable when i've been stabbed, shot at, maimed and hit over the head with all kinds of objects i tend to want to chokeslam these kinds of people for taking offense to a mere choice of words when they dont know the meaning of suffering and have gone their whole lives being spoiled rotten thinking life is all rainbows and sunshine -.-
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah. My english is not the best.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I just ask for a shorter version of what you wrote.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
dont bother. it was a rant and repeating it would be retarded and problematic
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Okay...
I think i understand.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Now that's f*cked up...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm pretty sure "Idiot" used to occupy that space before retarded became the socially acceptable term and eventually mentally disabled might have the same stigma.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Oh no people got mad at you for being a massive swollen pustulent cock, better make a journal and make yourself look like an even bigger cock because you can't be arsed to come up with a word to describe whatever strawman of the day you're presenting in your comics that isn't grossly offensive.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
...?
It seems as though you missed the scope of the journal.
Pretty sure he's talking about over-political correctness in general.
His point is that the freedom of variety of vocabulary is more valuable than the possibility of offending people because of their conflicting definitions of a particular word.
You're welcome to disagree with this. Seems there isn't an objective "right" or "wrong."
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
| Next =>