Why do some in the #Bitcoin community love using the “r” word, which is a slur against folks with disabilities?
I’ve never seen it more prevalent in any community besides bitcoin and bitcoin twitter to describe certain things they think or stupid in the fiat world.
But having worked with folks with disabilities, to me it’s insane and disrespectful to use that word so frivolously.
Free speech and all, but just my two sats!
I believe it's used because it isn't a slur or derogatory term.
People with alternative intelligence (down syndrome, autism, etc) are people who are typically born that way. That's how they are made in a sense.
A retard is someone who has greater intellectual POTENTIAL than they are displaying. They are being a retarded version of themselves if that makes sense.
In honesty I understand your point. I too have worked with these people. I personally prefer terms like intellectually alternative. I think they(though can be challenging hahaha) are beautiful and intelligent in their way. From which many can learn.
Retards are people who still trust the government and think cops are good people lol. It's like you're operating at a 10% capacity.
I understand the intention, but now a majority of people since like 1995 don’t think that when hearing that word
You make a good point… Negro and Colored were once the polite ways to refer to Black Americans, but each generation replaced them when they started sounding old-timey.
In other words they weren’t offensive until a generation came along and decided they sounded old.
I like the explanation that someone is not operating at their total capacity, because that’s in line with the literal definition of retarded, which is slowed down, hampered, held back, inhibited (like flame retardant). If anything, the word to me removes any “blame” on the individual even.
I do use the word because I think censoring individual words is the slippery slope to mind control. I never say it to offend or to hurt any individual. But some things going on in clown world today, I just can’t describe them with any word more accurate than “retarded”.
I mean it's more current. It's more recent.
Quite retarded for you to think its a slur. It means mentally slow. Same as saying someone us stupid. Perfectly normal. Dont be a retard bro
For a long time now at least here in the US it is quite frowned upon.
Say whatever you want, just saying it makes me and the vast majority of people in the real world think of a slur for folks with disabilities
I think this is probably true for the bubble you live in (I don't mean that pejoratively), but that for most people it's just a synonym for stupid.
It's really not used in my bubble either, but I recognize that I don't regularly interact with a representative sample of the country.
US isnt vast majority nor real world.
Why is that word not okay but "stupid" or "idiot" is ok? Thats not making fun of mentally retarded?
Double standards
If I say "you are mentally slow" is it ok?
By your own logic you just used a slur against people suffering a whole host of psychological disorders. 
Lol I knew someone was going to call that out!
Just throwing stuff out here on #nostr. People have to admit the r word carries with it a lot of baggage in the real world, and many normies see that coming from people and think the worst.
I’m a free speech maximalist while also looking at the reality of words and their effect on people.
I personally will never stop saying the word retarded, just like I think you should be allowed to use crazy/insane freely as you’re apt to do.
Putting things “off limits” often makes them more desirable
Sure. But some people may say hey wtf?
It carries more baggage in society than saying crazy. It just does.
There’s free speech interacting with societal norms. I don’t think it’s the slippery slope that folks pretend it is with this word
Only to retards lol
All I’m saying is seeing the r word all over bitcoin twitter turns off a lot of people and makes them put judgement on the community, amongst a host of other things, creating another barrier to bitcoin
Our only comment can’t be “oh that’s their problem grow up”
Agree to disagree
We know that, that’s why we’re doing it. It keeps the right people away.
Sure, some people who get offended by anything and everything. That’s not what I’m talking about and doing something to keep people away seems…idk? Like not what we’re here for
I imagine most bitcoiners would agree that it’s best to be prudent and not use the word retarded when addressing someone who is mentally disabled out of politeness even when that might literally/clinically be the case. But to allow the politically correct to control what one says is nonsense. Control words -> Control minds
Well said. Rhetorically: where do we draw the line for catering to feelings of those wanting to get offended on behalf of others or appear virtuous
There’s no malice towards people with disabilities. Calling someone a “Mongoloid” would be more offensive on multiple levels but no one cares about that word since it’s not used much.
I say gay and retarded in public, with a big smile on my face, daily.
That reminds me in elementary school when someone was told something’s a bad word they just keep saying it over and over.
More an immaturity thing. But sure
We live in a society where everyone feels entitled not to be offended.
These words have great utility and I will not stop using them.
And quite frankly your being offended on behalf of other people is pretty gay behavior.
Take your retarded moral imperialism somewhere else.
Tip: raise your kids to have a thick skin instead of expecting society to wrap everything offensive in bubblewrap so they don't bleed.
Just because you can do something doesn't automatically mean that you should do it and that it's acceptable behavior. If you want to walk into a restaurant and take a shit on the table you can do it. But there's going to be consequences for those actions.
There is a strong correlation between authoritarian collectivism and the policing of language.
I intend to create a community who doesn't get offended so easily and uses words progressives consider verboten without a second thought.
It is exactly my expectation that progressives will liken my language to some vile crime when these words only just left the lexicon. I intend to bring them back.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Didn’t kids used to learn this in kindergarten?
Not trying to pile on because #[4] is almost surely a nice guy and a decent, kind person. Language policing has far-reaching, almost exclusively negative consequences though.
We’re not literally policing here just talking about common curtosy interactions and social norms!
Not everything that’s said has to leave some bitcoiners acting like I’m coming for their house and family. I’ve heard it all.
But we just disagree on some fundamentals, the folks that are piling in here. I’m not calling for outlawing or banning any speech, more so was just noticing something and thinking aww man that’s not cool.
That’s it. But I’m moving on, wasn’t worth it!
I hear you. Not trying to be critical. Digital communication makes everything seem more confrontational.
You want to reinforce progressive social norms to which I ask you: who are you to decide what is socially normative?
I find homosexuality to be a bad thing for families and society, and so calling bad things 'gay' is totally right and good.
Who do you think you are?
Calling something 'gay' which I find queer and backwards is a brilliant use of the word.
Calling something 'retarded' is also appropriate in many circumstances.
What's not appropriate is grown adults policing language based on their own moral compass. I do not subscribe to your value system, sir.
Bitcoiners being contrarian by nature?! No way!
I used to do this too, but that was 25 years ago. People grow, change and mature over time.
Oops. Living up to and making up the rules as you go is hard. 😂
Societal norms come and go, was just making an observation.
The n word and r word carry weight in the US. Can’t think of many other words that do to the same extent. Not trying to sensor anyone
Yeah which is why decent people admit error, apologize and move on.
That’s wholly different from making it a point to use charged language every chance you get
The country Niger is one letter off from becoming the N word. 🤣
If you think being PC is a priority, then you can always use "regarded" instead of "retarded".
Fair point.
My cousin is inslane AND IM OFFENDD BY YOU USING THIS WORD!
My cousin is inslane AND IM OFFENDD BY YOU USING THIS WORD!
Language is dynamic, the meaning of the word changed.
It’s their free speech virtue signaling and it’s disgusting and pathetic
Being offended on behalf of other people the defining feature of Progressive Moral Imperialism.
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But sir. It's regarded.
It's called the "Euphemism Treadmill".
it's on the heartless side because someone could have a loved one who is and feel like people don't care.
Using the word retarded is not used against the backdrop of disabled people.
If you call an actual disabled person retarded, you are definitely retarded as well.
Some things are just retarded.
