Why does everyone suddenly seem to think it’s ok to say the R word again? I feel like I hadn’t heard it in years and suddenly everyone around me is using it, and I see it on Reddit all the time. Am I imagining it? Is anyone seeing this? I don’t even know what to say when it’s suddenly just everyone in a group and everyone acts like it’s normal.
Back in my day people were throwing the r word around without consequences. Basically using it as a synonym for idiot or dumbass. It didn’t start being brought up as an issue until well into my adulthood. I don’t really associate it with people who are disabled because of that. That being said I try not to use it now.
Ohhhh retard, this whole time I was thinking you were all talking about rape.
Where I’m from in Australia it’s used a lot, almost no one takes offence to it because it’s accepted in its other meaning of idiot. Those that do get told to grow up, much like people who laugh at the use of the word gay for happy.
I’m always amused at how different cultures handle language. Can’t imagine these here:
…but I would love to try them sometime. Would be fun to hand out at pride :)
I really do think about this from time to time as to why we ever even used this word. I grew up the same as you where we all said it and used it as a replacement word for “ass” in situations where cussing wasn’t allowed but you needed a word that hit a bit harder than calling someone stupid. I can’t ever remember a time anyone I knew using it as a slur because someone would beat your ass if you got caught bullying anyone disabled. Now that I know that it is offensive I don’t use it. But for me it’s a bit weird fully relating to the current perception of the word in today’s society because I still have mostly positive memories of goofing off with friends associated with it.
Stupid was a medical term similar to the r word. It got replaced because people started using it as a slur. So did the r word. I wonder if people will start using neurodivergent or some other term as a slur, forcing the medical community to adopt another term once more.
I agree. The same thing with the words idiot and moron. I find the whole evolution and usage of words to be fascinating.
