Petition to TV's Frink's boss, requesting that he (Frink) be fired — Page 5

TV’s Frink said:

But that was funny.

And technically I paid him a compliment by adding in “pretend to.”

*sigh*

Dek Rollins said:

TV’s Frink said:

Dek Rollins said:

I wasn’t trying to defend it’s usage as an insult, rather I pointed out that more likely than not, you wouldn’t have cared if he used any other term that is interchangeable in that context.

I choose this word carefully - don’t be an idiot.

Dek Rollins said:

I can understand this, but Frink can never shut up about how [phrase or word used] is offensive. It seems to me that he’s just one of those people, and like I said, I don’t want to sound offensive, but he just has to read stuff that way. You do realize that there are almost zero insulting phrases that don’t originate from an illness, mutation, or sex. The word “dumb” is the same, just like “stupid”, “idiot”, etc.

Words like “dumb” and “stupid” and “idiot” are not interchangeable with “retarded.” That’s the whole fucking point. No one says “there’s a girl in our class who has a teacher’s aide with her at all times, I think it’s because she’s an idiot.” If you are interchanging words that are used as insults with the word retarded, you’re the idiot. But you aren’t retarded.

I meant they are interchangeable as insults, not by literal definition. Don’t be an idiot. His statement was an “or do I sound retarded?”. In this context, you can switch “retarded” with “stupid”, or “like an idiot”, or “like a moron”.

“or do I sound stupid?”

“or do I sound like an idiot?”

“or do I sound like a moron?”

You can’t be this stupid, can you?

Frink just explained it to you. The fact that retard is interchangeable as an insult with stupid and idiot is what makes it offensive. You’re basically calling mentally retarded people stupid idiots.

Same reason calling someone gay as an insult is offensive. Because you’re basically saying gay people are uncool, stupid, etc.

TV’s Frink said:

RicOlie_2 said:

I find it interesting how Frink has no problem with “moron,” as far as I am aware, despite its original definition being “A person of borderline intelligence in the former classification of mental retardation, having an intelligence quotient of 50-69.”

Original definition means nothing. Times change. No one uses moron for anything but an insult anymore.

The same can be said of “retarded” in most places. “Mentally handicapped” and “special needs” are now the norm; at least in Canada.

Dek Rollins said:

TV’s Frink said:

Dek Rollins said:

I wasn’t trying to defend it’s usage as an insult, rather I pointed out that more likely than not, you wouldn’t have cared if he used any other term that is interchangeable in that context.

I choose this word carefully - don’t be an idiot.

Dek Rollins said:

I can understand this, but Frink can never shut up about how [phrase or word used] is offensive. It seems to me that he’s just one of those people, and like I said, I don’t want to sound offensive, but he just has to read stuff that way. You do realize that there are almost zero insulting phrases that don’t originate from an illness, mutation, or sex. The word “dumb” is the same, just like “stupid”, “idiot”, etc.

Words like “dumb” and “stupid” and “idiot” are not interchangeable with “retarded.” That’s the whole fucking point. No one says “there’s a girl in our class who has a teacher’s aide with her at all times, I think it’s because she’s an idiot.” If you are interchanging words that are used as insults with the word retarded, you’re the idiot. But you aren’t retarded.

I meant they are interchangeable as insults, not by literal definition. Don’t be an idiot. His statement was an “or do I sound retarded?”. In this context, you can switch “retarded” with “stupid”, or “like an idiot”, or “like a moron”.

“or do I sound stupid?”

“or do I sound like an idiot?”

“or do I sound like a moron?”

This is what I was referring to. My original post on the subject was saying that if it was any of these alternate insulting terms, you probably wouldn’t have seen the offense in the post, because modern culture is hypocritical.

EDIT: Just remembered that my original post didn’t say exactly that, so I’m not sure why I wrote that at first:

Dek Rollins said:

TV’s Frink said:

…except the use of “retarded” which I continue to be offended by.

If he had used the word slow, I doubt you would be offended.

I’m obviously not getting through to you. If he said “I acted like an idiot” of course that’s fine. He’s insulting himself by saying what he did was stupid. If he says “I acted retarded” then he’s insulting himself but insulting mentally retarded people by association at the same time. “I acted retarded” and “I acted stupid” are not interchangeable because only one applies to people who are mentally retarded. Again, no one calls a mentally retarded person “stupid” unless they’re complete assholes. Most people who use “retarded” as an interchange with “stupid” are not assholes, but just don’t think about what it means. When it’s pointed out to them, some people apologize, and some people dig their heels in for some goddamn fucking stupid reason. You seem to be the latter.

And before you bring it up, I know you apologized, but I sensed it wasn’t genuine, and it’s been borne out that I was right.

FWIW, I think “slow” is in a grey area because it is sometimes used synonymously with “stupid” and sometimes with “retarded.”

DominicCobb said:

Frink just explained it to you. The fact that retard is interchangeable as an insult with stupid and idiot is what makes it offensive. You’re basically calling mentally retarded people stupid idiots.

Yes.

At this point I have to conclude that Dek is either an asshole or an idiot. Still not sure which.

DominicCobb said:

Frink just explained it to you. The fact that retard is interchangeable as an insult with stupid and idiot is what makes it offensive. You’re basically calling mentally retarded people stupid idiots.

The problem being that nobody I know calls them mentally retarded. It’s a dated term. Perhaps older generations, or legal documents, or people in certain regions still use it, but it is fast falling into complete disuse.

Dek Rollins said:

TV’s Frink said:

Original definition means nothing. Times change. No one uses moron for anything but an insult anymore.

Hardly anyone uses retarded for anything but an insult anymore.

That’s because most people have fucking figured it out.

And one more thing, just because my daughter is autistic, rather than retarded, doesn’t mean there isn’t good reason for me to get offended by your goddamn rationalizations. I shouldn’t have to explain this either.

As a side note, I have seen “mental idiocy” used, so that sense of the word isn’t entirely extinct.

EDIT: And as a side note, I find it offensive when people use “autistic” as an insult.

RicOlie_2 said:

DominicCobb said:

Frink just explained it to you. The fact that retard is interchangeable as an insult with stupid and idiot is what makes it offensive. You’re basically calling mentally retarded people stupid idiots.

The problem being that nobody I know calls them mentally retarded. It’s a dated term. Perhaps older generations, or legal documents, or people in certain regions still use it, but it is fast falling into complete disuse.

facepalm

Why are you guys bending over backwards trying to defend the use of retarded as an insult? If it’s a dated term, there’s even less reason to use it as an insult. And calling yourself “retarded” is still an insult, you’re just insulting yourself.

RicOlie_2 said:

DominicCobb said:

Frink just explained it to you. The fact that retard is interchangeable as an insult with stupid and idiot is what makes it offensive. You’re basically calling mentally retarded people stupid idiots.

The problem being that nobody I know calls them mentally retarded. It’s a dated term. Perhaps older generations, or legal documents, or people in certain regions still use it, but it is fast falling into complete disuse.

It’s dated because it’s become an insult. Calling someone mentally retarded is still legitimate, but the retard insult has become so pervasive that people are shifting away from that (so as to try to avoid offense and hurt feelings and whatnot).

Let’s say you make fun of someone at lunch and they leave to sit at another table. If you continue to make fun of them, even if they can’t hear you, are you still an asshole?

DominicCobb said:

RicOlie_2 said:

DominicCobb said:

Frink just explained it to you. The fact that retard is interchangeable as an insult with stupid and idiot is what makes it offensive. You’re basically calling mentally retarded people stupid idiots.

The problem being that nobody I know calls them mentally retarded. It’s a dated term. Perhaps older generations, or legal documents, or people in certain regions still use it, but it is fast falling into complete disuse.

It’s dated because it’s become an insult. Calling someone mentally retarded is still legitimate, but the retard insult has become so pervasive that people are shifting away from that (so as to try to avoid offense and hurt feelings and whatnot).

Let’s say you make fun of someone at lunch and they leave to sit at another table. If you continue to make fun of them, even if they can’t hear you, are you still an asshole?

I’ve got an even better question. If someone is offended by a term that is offensive enough that people generally don’t use it anymore, but you keep insisting it’s ok to use it, are you still an asshole?

Dek Rollins said:

TV’s Frink said:

FWIW, I think “slow” is in a grey area because it is sometimes used synonymously with “stupid” and sometimes with “retarded.”

Well, being that “slow” is the literal definition of both terms, then I would come to the conclusion that there is no gray area, and you are simply refusing to realize that you are being a hypocrite.

It was one (obviously misguided) attempt to give you the benefit of the doubt…it’s why I didn’t react to your initial comment about “slow” in the Politics thread a few days ago.

But how often do you hear someone say, “Wow, I really screwed up, I sure acted slow” anyway? I can’t remember the last time I heard that.

If I used “slow” as an insult (which I hope I wouldn’t but whatever) and someone complained, I’d say, hey you know what, I can see your point, so I’m sorry.

I was on another forum a few weeks back where someone used retarded in the exact same way. It happened to be in a politics thread, and it happened to be someone who likes a lot of Trump’s positions and someone I pretty much disagree with on every single position. But when I called him out for using retarded that way, he made one post - “my apologies.” He didn’t spend ten fucking pages defending it. Contrast with you, who didn’t even use the term. You’re just bitching that I’m offended. How fucked up is that?

moviefreakedmind said:

Just to clarify my position, I am in favor of using all words as insults! Just avoid them around people you know will be offended.

SUSTAINED

Dek Rollins said:

I was referring to Frink specifically, but who knows, maybe DominicCobb is too. Frink thinks that one word that refers to mental illness is dreadfully offensive when used as an insult, but another synonymous word is totally fine.

Because that’s what I said.