[chelllman]

I understand where you're coming from but this is a word that has no racial or cultural significant. I mean, if it's an issue of someone calling you a retard all the time or blatantly mocking someone who's retarded then I'd get it but outright banning the word is too far

I disagree with your assertion that the word has no cultural significance.  The disabled absolutely have their own culture.  I've attended a few regional special Olympics to cheer on some I know, and it's honestly something I really recommend people experience.

Words we consider to be slurs tend to be words that historically were and still are used to dehumanize others deemed to be "sub-human".  One thing that's really lacking in US education is the sheer amount of blood-curdling, brutal, and ruthless systematic experimentation and exploitation of the intellectually disabled in the US in the 20th century.  Things like forced medical treatments, drug testing, castration, etc.   It's often not taught simply because the severely mentally disabled individuals couldn't advocate for their rights, so it's often overlooked.  If you don't believe me, I can privately message you links to articles and video archives cataloging these abuses since I don't want to expose anyone to it who doesn't want to even see the URL links.

The word "retard" absolutely is still used to demean and dehumanize.  Kantar TNS (studies done by them are pretty scientifically sound) found that in their sample of 50 million social media posts about the intellectually disabled, roughly 70% were negative and roughly 60% used some variation of "retard". https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/...the-r-slur


When I'm staffing, I understand that some people were raised differently so I make a compromise.  I treat it in the same fashion that PH has to treat the N-word ending in -a.  You can say it, but as soon as you use it in a derogatory way towards another player then I take action and follow the slur protocol.  Note to admins: I make sure to list which slurs players use for this very reason.