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galen  ·  3829 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: "That's Retarded." Words and Offense.

    Is there not less reason to be offended if the term doesn't even refer to them anymore?

Absolutely, but the term still does refer to the mentally handicapped. And it draws its meaning from a comparison to negative stereotypes of them.

    The official term used to be negro. I do not believe the term nigger was ever the official word.

My mistake, you're right. I think you'll still find people offended if you call them negroes, though.

    And this is the internet, you know, you are allowed to say curse words here.

Thanks, but I don't need your permission to curse. Dick. (I censored myself earlier to try and minimize unintentional offense. But if you take offense to this, it's not unintentional.)