MovieChat Forums > I Am Sam (2002) Discussion > Responding respectfully when talking abo...

Responding respectfully when talking about people who have disabilities

posted 15 years ago by blynnpatton
5 replies | jump to latest

I find the term "full retard" highly offensive. Many people use such terms to make fun of people who have disabilities. I realize that Sean was just playing a role, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be sensitive to the fact that such words could hurt people who have intellectual or other disabilities. Also, many people have misconceptions about intellectual disabilities, and phrases such as "full retard" do not help with these misconceptions.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] blynnpatton 15 years ago

I'm saying stop using that term. It's offensive. I have a loved one who has Down Syndrome. She is a wonderful little girl. She has feelings just like you and me.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] wesg123 15 years ago

I love how almost every post on this board is about the full retard thing. Whoever wrote that line in tropic thunder must be very satisfied.

[–] blynnpatton 15 years ago

I also find retard and "half retard" offensive. The idea is that a disability should never be used to define a person. A person who has a disability is a person first. They have a disability, but they are more than their disability.