In other news: RIAA still around, and still retarded

[maurvir]

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/201 ... el-piracy/

The music industry is suing Charter Communications, claiming that the cable Internet provider profits from music piracy by failing to terminate the accounts of subscribers who illegally download copyrighted songs. The lawsuit also complains that Charter helps its subscribers pirate music by selling packages with higher Internet speeds.

While their (non-stupid) argument is a lot better, it does raise the question of why anyone even bothers to pirate music anymore?

[Vulture]

We can still say retarded? Man, that feels good, maybe I can loosen my belt buckle a little.

[Metacell]

I feel you can use it to describe people whose idiocy is motivated by greed.

[TOS]

there's a special exception for people who live in the south

[macnuke]

RIAA is headquartered in Washington D.C.

we can say retarded and it carries more weight.

[Pariah]

Retarded used to be a medical term, as was idiot, moron, and imbecile. So if retarded is unacceptable so should the other three.

[Betonhaus]

It's just a colliquism treadmill. We'll just come up with another name for those with special needs, and that name will end up being used for those with special needs.

[Ribtor]

It's because of the RIAA (curve) I stick with my vinyl.

[Vulture]

Glad to see retarded has not actually met the stringent guidelines of PC America, even though there have been enormous Twitter storms about tearing down celebrities for possibly using that word in "hate". The country really is turning around, finally. I've said retarded every now and then and I've seen people under the age of 30 or 35 immediately get squirmy and uncomfortable without saying why. I know why. Having been programmed into political correctness and self censorship, I'd like to think the public are steering away from the deep black hole where Canada and UK are headed with "hate speech" laws.

[Vulture]

It's because of the RIAA (curve) I stick with my vinyl.

I love that curve.

[j_tso]

It's just a colliquism treadmill. We'll just come up with another name for those with special needs, and that name will end up being used for those with special needs.

I was saying the same thing earlier this month to a coworker specifically about "retarded".
Hell, saying someone is "special needs" is an insult as well.

"Dumb" also used to be a clinical term.

[TOS]

hey, the n word has latin roots and originally just meant "black," it's stupid for anyone to dislike it, isn't that right, my white bros?

[jkahless]

Retarded used to be a medical term, as was idiot, moron, and imbecile. So if retarded is unacceptable so should the other three.

But they aren't, so there must be a salient difference other than the word's origin, like how they're used and their current connotations.

[juice]

This just in:

Word meanings change over time

[Metacell]

I use retarded as its currently meant to be used: as a rude insult.

[maurvir]

re·tard·ed
/rəˈtärdəd/
adjective
adjective: retarded

dated•offensive
less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age.
informal•offensive
very foolish or stupid.
"in retrospect, it was a totally retarded idea"

I'd say it applies here.