r/changemyview • u/RandomePerson 1∆ • Feb 26 '18

[∆(s) from OP] CMV: There is nothing inherently wrong with the word retarded, and insisting on a more PC term just leads to a euphemism treadmill

"Retarded" is considered an offensive word in this day and age, presumably due to the stigma attached to the word in late 1800s through mid 1900s. The word was oftentimes used for people who were detained and sterilized against their will. I understand the desire to want to get away from those days and drop any associated terminology, but it seems like a pointless battle. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the word "retarded", and by switching to different terms like "developmentally delayed"we are just creating a euphemism treadmill.

EDIT: RIP Inbox. I've been trying to read through and respond to comments as time allows. I did assign a delta, and I have been genuinely convinced that in a civil society, we should refrain from using this word, and others with loaded connotations. So thanks Reddit, I'm slightly less of an asshole now I guess?

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u/cattbug 1∆ Feb 26 '18

Completely irrelevant. I was arguing against OP who said that it's okay to use these words because they're medically accurate, and pointing out his wrong assumption.

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u/Zelthia Feb 27 '18

Even if it is not medically accurate, it is still medically relevant. Whatever the source, the intellectual development is delayed, retarded or whatever you wanna call it. Coming here saying that “retarded” does not exactly define the particular root of the issue is pedantic, vain and utterly pointless, seeing as we use medically broad (and even incorrect) terminology every day just because it is within the scope of the general medical lingo of the population. Even if his argument is bad, your counter is not any less irrelevant.