THIS IS MY (with request)

500TH POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and on that note, now that I have been here for a while and I hope most of you know I'm not one to start , I do have a small request:

I work with people with disabilities. In that work I have met some of the most amazing, courage, ABLE people ever! I have made this request in the past few years of my friends and family, and FH is starting to catch on, so now I make it of all of you. PLEASE don't use the word retarded - especially as an insult. It is such a nasty, degrading word and to use it to insult someone or something just serves to take away from the amazing perseverance and abilities of amazing individuals. I hear and see this word being used all the time, everywhere, and I was just hoping we could try to make it a bit of a 'rule' not to use it on the boards. I understand if you disagree with me and don't at all mean to offend anyone, but I really wanted to say my piece. Thank you all

I'm off my soapbox now.

and YAAAAAAAAAY 500!!!!

Hooray for your 500th post!!!!!

I'll admit, i'm a BIG offender of this and I too have worked with disabled people and have a cousin who has MR and Autsim. It's kinda one of those things that just comes out and I never mean anything by it.
I will try and watch myself more though!

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Posted by AdriandSteve

Hooray for your 500th post!!!!!

I'll admit, i'm a BIG offender of this and I too have worked with disabled people and have a cousin who has MR and Autsim. It's kinda one of those things that just comes out and I never mean anything by it.
I will try and watch myself more though!

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thank you!!! i totally understand, habits are hard to break! I just really wanted to bring awareness to this!

my fbil is mentally disabled and when fh and i strated dating, i called something 'retarded' and oooooooomgggggggggggg i got my head handed to me. im very cautious with that now!

and congrats on the big 5-0-0!

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Posted by weddingbees

I don't like it either... FH works with special needs kids and one of my kids I take care of was recently diagnosed.

But I don't think you're going to win this one, babe. Sorry.

It's the same thing with 'gay'.

Sometimes its just... fitting.

You know, like in that scene in I am Sam where Michelle Pfeiffer is telling person in court ...

'The point is, you've never had those moments... have you, Ms. Davis? Moments that every parent
I've ever spoken to has. Moments where the task is so unbelievably challenging... that you feel 'retarded'...disabled in some way. Moments where everyone seems to have the key but you.'

Sometimes... you feel a little retarded. And sometimes... you act a little gay. Like... when Becca and I tell people we're going to maul eachother.

There's a difference between:
- saying 'Sorry, I'm retarded' occasionally. Or saying 'Quit being gay'
and:
- actually making fun of someone who is actually special needs or someone who is gay.

I'm not saying its cool to substitute 'retarded' or 'gay' for 'stupid' which FREQUENTLY is the case. Because they're totally different things obviously.

But I will stand by this. Sometimes I'm a little retarded. Like around 3 p.m. Always a little bit. Sometimes I'm a little gay. And a lot when I'm by Becca.

And I don't think I've ever used the word on here until this very post. And please don't mistake me... you'd never find me throwing the words around. I just don't try to fight people on it anymore.

My FSIL is a lesbian and uses 'gay' all the time as a substitute for 'stupid' and I'll just be like '*** is the matter with you? First of all you're ACTUALLY gay. And second of all you're stupid for using a completely ridiculous adjective for 'stupid'.

If someone is throwwing 'retarded' around left and right... I will just be a smartass and tell them they sound like a moron for not being able to come up with a better substitute. And half the time the person calling something 'retarded' is a complete moron because they spell it 'retarted'.

End of long reply. Sorry.

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I really appreciate your reply! And I know that I'm not going to get everyone to all of a sudden stop using the word, and some people do understand the implications and meaning behind it. All I really wanted to do was bring more awareness so that it *isn't* used casually or thrown around a ton. Your response made lots of sense and I totally get it! So thank you!!

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Posted by weddingbees

I don't like it either... FH works with special needs kids and one of my kids I take care of was recently diagnosed.

But I don't think you're going to win this one, babe. Sorry.

It's the same thing with 'gay'.

Sometimes its just... fitting.

You know, like in that scene in I am Sam where Michelle Pfeiffer is telling person in court ...

'The point is, you've never had those moments... have you, Ms. Davis? Moments that every parent
I've ever spoken to has. Moments where the task is so unbelievably challenging... that you feel 'retarded'...disabled in some way. Moments where everyone seems to have the key but you.'

Sometimes... you feel a little retarded. And sometimes... you act a little gay. Like... when Becca and I tell people we're going to maul eachother.

There's a difference between:
- saying 'Sorry, I'm retarded' occasionally. Or saying 'Quit being gay'
and:
- actually making fun of someone who is actually special needs or someone who is gay.

I'm not saying its cool to substitute 'retarded' or 'gay' for 'stupid' which FREQUENTLY is the case. Because they're totally different things obviously.

But I will stand by this. Sometimes I'm a little retarded. Like around 3 p.m. Always a little bit. Sometimes I'm a little gay. And a lot when I'm by Becca.

And I don't think I've ever used the word on here until this very post. And please don't mistake me... you'd never find me throwing the words around. I just don't try to fight people on it anymore.

My FSIL is a lesbian and uses 'gay' all the time as a substitute for 'stupid' and I'll just be like '*** is the matter with you? First of all you're ACTUALLY gay. And second of all you're stupid for using a completely ridiculous adjective for 'stupid'.

If someone is throwwing 'retarded' around left and right... I will just be a smartass and tell them they sound like a moron for not being able to come up with a better substitute. And half the time the person calling something 'retarded' is a complete moron because they spell it 'retarted'.

End of long reply. Sorry.

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very well said

Becki, I commend you for your realistic viewpoints. I also love that I am one of your prime examples

What can I say? Our booby maulings keep me sassy. And gay. Just a little.

I used to work in a group home---
When one of the girls would get mad at another resident she would call them 'a retard' or tell them 'they're so retarded.' It was... interesting, to say the least.

But, yea, I agree--- Don't do it/say it!

Hey Congrats! I'm guilty of saying that and I honestly try not to use it, but I will try harder!