I've heard this sentiment before. Can anyone explain to me exactly why the use of the word "retarded" is offensive? I mean literally explain it to me, assuming that I'm someone who doesn't find it "obviously offensive."
It's become a blunt, rather crude term for the description of someone whose cognitive abilities are substandard, and thus can feel rather impolitic to use it around people directly or indirectly so afflicted.
Kinda like if might be awkward if you referred to software that wasn't fully functional as "crippleware" in front of a friend that had polio.
I don't get why saying "crippleware" in front of a crippled person is offensive either. It seems that when a word becomes closely associated with a type of person or a personal trait, then somehow that word automatically becomes offensive. And yet, it doesn't happen with every descriptive word. You wouldn't think twice about calling something "lame" around the same friend with polio, would you? Or ask someone to "mute" the TV if that person had a close relative who was unable to speak?
