"Lame" and "retarded"

[modernwizard]

I can't stand when people use the word "lame" to mean "bad," "undesireable," "contemptible" or "worthless." Every time anyone uses "lame" in such a context, he or she is telling me that he or she equates a mobility impairment with a moral failing. More specifically, he or she implies that my sister is morally objectionable because she uses a wheelchair.

Same with the word "retarded" to mean "bad," "silly" or "stupid." Such a use equates brain damage with a moral failing and judges my sister as morally objectionable because she has brain damage.  And I also feel personally offended whenever "retarded" comes up because it disparages the non-neurotypical, and I don't think I'm completely neurotypical. "Lame" and "retarded" are stupid, hurtful, prejudiced words. STOP USING THEM.

I can't believe I'm even writing this entry.

Comments

[melopoeia.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I'm even writing this entry.

I can.

[zander05.livejournal.com]

I confess that I sometimes still use "lame" in an inappropriate context, but I am working on it!

[sugar-for-sugar.livejournal.com]

Yet I thank you for writing it, because it puts the objectionable nature of these words so perfectly and succinctly that now I have a place to send people who tell me I'm hysterical and oversensitive when I object to such words.