Comments on: Could Anyone Have Predicted the Popularity of Food Blogging? Future Man Did

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:54:41 +0000

I know that intelligent, well-educated people use “retarded” as an insult.

I know that all kinds of people are sick of having their language criticized.

I still defend the word because my daughter is mentally retarded and, for her sake, I like to see people use many of the other available words.

Twittering one’s breakfast is fucked-up if you like. It sucks. It’s stupid. It’s silly. It’s nonsensical. It’s foolish. It’s…a hundred other words which are more accurate and, in some cases, even more shocking, if that’s what you intended to do.

If you disagree, please just walk on by without comment.

By: stevenp

stevenp — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:45:46 +0000

Sarah: “wikid retahded” — that’s exactly how I remember it. I would not be the person I am today if my sister didn’t remind me when I was acting wickid retahded!

By: Rudy McBagel

Rudy McBagel — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:53:36 +0000

I just call them Spackers.

By: wayne

wayne — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:51:44 +0000

To lessen offense, on ML we should use linguistic reconstruction so the word retains it’s meaning, but applies more directly to the genre discussed

I propose “vegtarded”

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:44:11 +0000

Zach is showing his New England roots in his use of the “r” word. In the great white north it is very common for my people to declare something “wicked retarded” but to be fair it should be spelled more like “wikid retahded” is that less offensive? Or perhaps incriminating?

By: DeanLo

DeanLo — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:35:54 +0000

English is a living, breathing language – we get new words and redefine words all the time. Re: the word ‘retarded’ — Common or not, if you’re aware that it’s offensive to some, shouldn’t you show some form of restraint? Courtesy was also very common back.

By: Yvo

Yvo — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:48:08 +0000

I like using f-tarded now… I knew there would eventually be someone rising up to complain about retarded as an insult! F-tards unite!

Anyways, it’s the same as updating your Facebook status repeatedly through the day… not that I know ANYONE guilty of that, cough cough hackkk cough. Whatevs all us food bloggas are in need of attention obvs… hahaha

By: stevenp

stevenp — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:39:43 +0000

TK-Shoot us then. I’m a child of the 60’s, and such usage was very common back then. Words don’t change–peoples’ sensitivities do. And I’m tired of hearing how a zillion people are constantly offended by everything others say and do.

By: TK

TK — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:32:04 +0000

It is *not* okay to use the word “retarded” as an insult.

By: stevenp

stevenp — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:00:21 +0000

Done. What time?