Originally Posted by
tolson68
I guess we are no longer discussing “DPMS Accuracy” and somehow made the change to “What is offensive for $500”. This started because a users signature line contained the word “retarded” and yet no effort has been made to get back to the original topic so here goes...
Softening the language does not somehow change the condition. It may make it easier for individuals to cope with their situation, but it doesn't change it. My father is in his 80's and is suffering from dementia, which is nothing more than a synonym for “insanity” and “madness”. I assure you that putting a softer label on his condition does not make it any easier for any of the family when it's time to change his diaper, remind him that year is 2009 and WWII has been over for quite some time or take the time to reintroduce yourself to your own parent.
As for "special needs" that is a cop out for people who find "retarded" distasteful or offensive, however accurate it may be. Merriam-Webster defines retarded as "slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress". I have also seen the definition listed as "to be held back...". Race cars used to use a device called an "ignition retard switch", which allowed the ignition timing to be adjusted plus or minus some degree of top dead center for finer tuning of an engine in different operating conditions.
I find it far more harmful for a society to bastardize the language and turn the word "special" into into meaning something other than:
1: distinguished by some unusual quality ; especially : being in some way superior.
2: held in particular esteem.
If your child is "retarded" changing the description to "special needs" does not suddenly turn his "hockey helmet" into a "thinking cap" and as for the members of our society that have become reflexively offended by any word they do not view as a compliment I suggest you get your own hockey helmet, since you are obviously of "limited intellectual or emotional development", and struggling “intellectually” and “emotionally” to cope with the reality of your situation.
Instead of commenting on the authors signature, would your time not have been better spent addressing the content of hist post. Which if I read it correctly was trying to redirect the discussion back to the original subject of this topic “DPMS Accuracy”.
If anyone finds this post offensive, tough.
T
Tough? How 'bout this - some words have a particular meaning. Then society takes it and turns it into a derogatory term. Now you have a 2 year old that this formally normal word applies to, except you hear everyone and their mother calling each other this term pejoratively. Furthermore, in the time since this term was used in it's original form we have expanded our knowledge and have developed classifications that allow us to better treat people who are not as fully developed instead of lumping them all into one class (retarded) and treating them all the same, even if their needs are different. So, do you really want to call your 2 year old retarded?
There are some things that never change - language is not one of them., you would do well to know that. If language and usage didn't change, we'd all still be calling people of African descent by several names that are no longer in use (or at least shouldn't be) - one of which used to mean "ignorant" and could possibly be applied to a "retarded" child. So, you up for calling a 2 year old N***er?
Sorry about your dad, it's hell dealing with the failing health of a parent, but that doesn't mean you're right in this instance.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes
The will to win is worthless if you do not have the will to prepare. -Thane Yost
Whining in a forum that people have seen your thread, but not replied, reeks of an odd brand of desperation. - Me
Titling your thread "To XYZ or Not to XYZ" will cause me to completely ignore your thread.
Bookmarks