hoopdawg, your 1st and third point are actually contradicting each other - I won't go into that, I think by reading it it will explain itself.

with regards to equality, correct, they are supposed to be treated equally - and that is why we should protect individuals with mental retardation from insults just as we protect minority groups, different religions and so on.

on that - "mental retardation" is not insulting, it is an accepted name for a mental condition. However, "retared" should never be used as an insult... or even as a joke. EVEN with "normal" friends.

why? because by calling someone a name even by joking, immediately gives that word a certain connotation. So whether a mentally retarded individual or their family are present or not, calling a friend who did something stupid an R, immediately stereotypes what people with mental disabilities are like...

and that is bad because stereotypes are something society NEEDS TO GET RID OF.

So equality doesn't mean expecitng that they will always understand what you are saying - what it does mean is that they have the same fundamental human rights. And one of those is human dignity.

This isn't so much my opinion, but a fun fact pertaining to the issue:

Maryland General Assembly looked at a bill this year to formally change the word "retarded" to person with an "intellectual disability."

Also the Maryland Association of Student Councils focused this year's state charity on the Arc of Maryland. We raised thousands help accomplish their mission statement, to better the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

I picked up using the "r word" a few years ago, and I'm really trying to break the habit. I hate when people say, "Oh, that's so gay," and saying, "Oh, that's so retarded" is just as offensive. I agree, Wolfie. I think people don't mean any harm by it; it's just an unconscious use of slang. I'm glad the r-word campaign is making us more aware of it.

I read Dan Savage's "Savage Love" advice column this weekend, and a reader complained that he used "retarded" a lot in his writing. Savage responded that he's going to start using "leotard" and "leotarded" instead of "retard" and "retarded." Like, "You are so leotarded." I like it and think I might try to do the same

huh, i thought it was republicans. lol, but then again what's the difference?

i don't believe people should call things retarded or gay because it is kind of mean but then again I also don't think people are doing it consciously; they say it out of habit if anything.

I don't think people should let words affect them. I do understand that this is sometimes impossible, but we need to try.
(I am, of course, referring to the N-Word argument here)

When it comes to the R-word, I am kind of split on it...

1) It's offensive to use that word to be mean, but maybe because of their disabilities, special needs people don't always understand what is mean and what isn't.

2) Doesn't equal treatment mean that we shouldn't automatically assume someone isn't intelligent enough to understand a joke vs. an insult.
3) If we assume they can't handle it, aren't we, in a way degrading them just like those that would use the word against them.

IDK... I need to figure that out before I can form my opinion about it...