Argue all you want, but the fact remains, you have no doubt offended someone. Is using whatever word _you_ want (ie. being a bit selfish) worth hurting someone else? Would it be that much trouble if you used another word, was still able to make your point, and not hurt someone's feelings?
It's one thing to accidentally stumble upon something that might offend someone, but it's quite another when you ignore the fact that your actions hurt someone and continue to engage in that activity willingly.
I don't mean to single you out as others below have used similar language, but it's something to think about.
where can i state that i am _offended_ -- extremely! --
by people who _choose_ to "be offended" unnecessarily,
when absolutely no intention to offend is even apparent?
did you really, truly, honestly believe that that comment
was a roundabout drive-by on mentally-challenged people?
because frankly, that kind of uncomplimentary inference
impugning someone else with unsavory motives is repugnant.
i came here to say a dirt-simple "no thanks" to the idea,
without commenting on it, because its stupidity was simply
too obvious to require any statement. but that doesn't mean
i believe kevin rose is "stupid", because i certainly don't.
i can separate the idea from the person who suggested it.
and if somebody else calls it a "retarded" idea, which is
simply another way of saying that it is a _stupid_ idea,
then i don't think they're criticizing kevin rose either,
let alone a class as _remote_ as the mentally-challenged.
retarded people can use lots of help. so give them some,
instead of engaging other people in pointless semantics.
because you're _not_ helping, or making anyone "think"...
1) Some people are legitimately hurt by the use of the word retarded in a derogatory manner (eg. http://www.r-word.org/r-word-effects-of-the-word.aspx).
2) You are choosing to use it and offending them.
Argue all you want, but the fact remains, you have no doubt offended someone. Is using whatever word _you_ want (ie. being a bit selfish) worth hurting someone else? Would it be that much trouble if you used another word, was still able to make your point, and not hurt someone's feelings?
It's one thing to accidentally stumble upon something that might offend someone, but it's quite another when you ignore the fact that your actions hurt someone and continue to engage in that activity willingly.
I don't mean to single you out as others below have used similar language, but it's something to think about.