Is the word "retardation" offensive to you?

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Where I used to work, our machinery had labels on it, so when the light flashed on next to it, it would mean, for example, "Destacker ret*d". Then there would be all kinds of comments. "Nah, the operator is ret*d." or "It's the forklift driver who's ret*d." Stuff like that.
So people were commenting on the alternative meaning of the word ret*d.

Some people think I'm ret*d because I speak slowly. Even when I attempt to speak faster, the label still is there. Ironically, I am at near genius level IQ but I have spent most of my life trying to be taken seriously as being bright and it is very frustrating to have an outer demeanour far out of sync with what I am inside.

I think "ret*d" is definitely a derogatory term. In the old days, another work for it was "backward". I don't think this was quite as bad but it still isn't politically correct these days.

It doesn't matter what term is applied to slow learners, some people will find a way to use it to derogate people who are different. In the book "The Strange Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time", the children at this school were referred to as "special needs".

It wasn't long before other children started ridiculing them by yelling out "special needs" at them on the bus.

yes,i am very much so offended by that. the last person to call me that was pounced upon and beaten.he'll never do it again i bet.


Pandora:thats what makes people think i am.annoying,isnt it?

Well, I have been called a ret*d many times for various reasons. I hate it. I speak slowly and sometimes find it hard my thoughts through to other people properly. Being called ret*d really puts me down.

I agree with what Pandora has said. My mind is out of tune with everything else.

Yes.