this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2026
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I think it has a very legitimate use, when used as a describing word about actions, instead of a way to mock handicapped people. And I think it's a shame to completely dismiss a word that has a very nice length and prononciation for saying things in anger. It could just as easily be co-opted to mean something different that doesn't mock handicapped people. There's just not a better fitting word for many situations, since "stupid" just doesn't cut it.
Basically, I find it okay to use it when refering to actions like "Elon has done some retarded shit". In such a case it isn't used to mock handicapped people, which is never okay no matter what word you use anyway.
Considering the disabled community has said Southpark handles how disabled people should be treated real well with Jimmy/Timmy, and Southpark uses the word retarded, I concur.
While I generally agree with the sentiment, you're overlooking the inherently social nature of language. At the moment, that is a word non grata. Give it a decade on the euphemism treadmill, and it will become mostly acceptable to use in the contexts you outlined.
At the moment, I think you're going to have a hard time using that word without offending someone outside of a musical composition situation. You'll probably offend some folks using it in the context of musical composition too, but at least "retard" is the proper term for slowing the tempo in the middle of a composition.
It seems to very much depend on where you are. I have yet to hear literally anyone irl complain about use of the word retarded, when refering to an action. Either way, the meaning of the word is only going to change when people actively use it. It's not going to change if we decide to stick with the "bad" version of the meaning and making it taboo.
I have. Not very often, but it has happened at some points.
I think using retarded to mean stupid could be part of the problem, actually. Like your Elon example, tbh. The fact that it is being used in a way that refers to mental faculties could cause offense to people with delayed mental faculties. Using the word to mean "slowed", in the original meaning, without referring to mental faculties, is probably more likely to rehabilitate the word apart from the use as a slur.