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Comment by wilbdhm | Hacker News Reader

I am well aware of this. That doesn’t negate my point or the actual, correct usage of the word in non offensive fashion. There is a difference between “retarding” as is used here and calling someone ”retarded” as an insult. The difference seems to be lost on the perpetually offended.

If you use it to insult and offend, is that allowed or met with pitchforks in the US? Where I live there are many Irish, Scottisch and non native English, people use it all the time; to describe slow people and to offend. No one cares (even if they are the ones being offended). But when one of the Irish guys used it to offend a US couple who were vocal flatearthers, because they were flatearthers. Wow, that turned I a huge shouting match. Of course they left as, again, no-one here cares so they shouted and made a big stink but everyone was, eh yeah, whatever. In that case I am not sure if they were offended because of the use and connotations of the specific word (aka if he called them dumb, stupid, slow, backward etc they would have responded differently) or they were just offended. I think the latter and they used the woke thing as an excuse. But maybe that is not true: couldn't ask them in that state but I was curious.

I think that depends on your audience. I’ve worked with some people who looked at me like I just kicked their dog if I used it to refer to something as dumb in an offensive manner. Others don’t care.

Personally I’ve tried to curb my use of the offensive definition/use of the word to be respectful but don’t yell at people who do use it that way.

Yeah, agreed. Just be nice and try not to offend people. I don’t respect people with religion too much, including flatearthers, but doesn’t make much sense to aggravate people or spend energy on people I don’t care about anyway. When people start to talk gibberish, I just excuse myself and sit somewhere else. No insults needed.

Still I would say a thick skin is better; many cultures and countries you might visit will use words you find offensive in normal conversation. You might have a bad blood pressure vacation if that affects you. Like in Spain sometimes it sounds like they are stringing swear words together while they are just having a friendly conversation.

Of course, I’m actually a Spanish citizen so I’m well aware of how it can sound at times if you’re not used to it lol.

I do think not aggravating is key, but also agree that thicker skin might be wiser since you really cannot control what other people say and do. I still use words that are considered offensive at times just by nature of it being a habit but really am trying to cut down so my son doesn’t start up with them either.

Do you find the term "fire retardant" offensive?

I looked it up and it has nothing to do with the n-word other than vaguely sounding like it.

Is it verboten too now?

How about rigger? Sound too close as well?

Perhaps a river and country in Africa should also be renamed?

You missed the point then

Please write the African country of Niger and tell them it’s offensive to African Americans and they should change the name of their country.

Looked it up. I use it correctly, as do each of my kids and their friends. What's your point?

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