Gay retards
Language's Capacity to Injure
It is crucial to understand that 'gay,' 'retarded,' and 'stupid' are, by no means, interchangeable terms.
When an individual is labeled 'gay' for an action you disapprove of, or alternatively, designated as 'retarded' for uttering or performing something unintelligent, such behavior merely serves to portray you as foolish.
Per the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word 'gay' signifies either 'sexually attracted to someone of the identical sex' or 'experiencing happiness and excitement : being cheerful and lively.' Consequently, no aspect of its official definition relates to a state of being unintelligent or 'dumb.'
One must consult the Urban Dictionary—an online lexicon of informal terms and expressions—to discover that 'gay' is, in fact, defined as stupid. Yet, even within this very definition, a caveat notes its homophobic nature. This particular dictionary entry states: 'Frequently employed to characterize something as idiotic or regrettable, this usage stems from homophobia and is particularly favored by numerous adolescent males in an attempt to bolster their perceived ‘masculinity''.
In my opinion, the profound irony lies in the circumstance that individuals who employ 'gay' as a derogatory term simultaneously assert their non-homophobic stance. How can it possibly be considered non-homophobic to label an entire group of homosexual individuals as unintelligent? To designate a foolish person as 'gay' inherently implies that all homosexuals are, by extension, unintelligent. As a fundamental principle of mathematics demonstrates, A=B holds the identical equivalence as B=A (a minor lesson in Algebra, perhaps).
Moreover, certain individuals likewise employ the epithet 'retarded' in instances where an unintelligent action is performed.
The designation 'retarded' originates from the condition known as 'mental retardation,' a recognized mental disorder. This condition (mental retardation) characterizes an individual possessing an intelligence quotient (IQ) score of 70 or lower. To contextualize this IQ value, especially for those unacquainted with the field of Psychology, the typical IQ benchmark is established at 100. While a score of 70 might not appear drastically distant from 100 numerically, within the framework of IQ measurements, it signifies a considerably lower cognitive level. Individuals afflicted with this particular disorder are occasionally educated in distinct instructional environments and progress through their learning curriculum at a modified speed.
The epithet 'retarded,' in its contemporary application, is unequivocally improper. By employing this term to disparage an individual deemed 'normal,' one inadvertently trivializes a grave medical condition. Therefore, cease this practice immediately.Should you feel compelled to be disrespectful and offensive towards another individual, endeavor to conceive of alternative vocabulary that refrains from denigrating broad segments of the population.
However, what discernible advantage is gained by demeaning another person? Does treating someone unkindly genuinely enhance one's own self-assurance? The concise reply is: rarely, if ever.
Terms such as 'gay' and 'retarded' transcend mere linguistic expressions; each intrinsically symbolizes millions of individuals, and their usage is profoundly offensive to these communities. Regardless of whether your intent was 'merely a jest' or 'not meant in that particular fashion,' such language remains inherently hurtful. Therefore, should your objective be to avoid causing offense to these demographics, it is imperative to refrain from employing these terms under any circumstances.