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submitted 4 days ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] FoxyFerengi@startrek.website 13 points 3 days ago

I was an AuDHD kid in the 90s. That specific word was thrown at me a lot by both adults and my peers, especially because I lose the ability to speak when I'm stressed/overstimulated. I guess it still hurts when I hear it or read it, and going off this thread that's a "me" problem. Definitely regret posting my original comment

[-] turdas@suppo.fi 5 points 3 days ago

Yeah back in the 90s it was still in use in some diagnostic criteria, even though it was already considered dated then. These days I don't think it's used in a medical capacity anywhere anymore.

I don't think it's solely a you problem as many people do consider the term too offensive to use, but it is one of those words the jury is divided on, with just as many people using it nonchalantly. I expect over time it'll be no different from moron or idiot.

[-] teyrnon@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

Not only has a medical term, it was used in regards to spoilation of food, for instance they might say that they added a toxic preservative to excuse the phrase, Retard the spoilation of the food. Turns out the toxic preservatives are very bad. Who knew? Besides for all of us.

[-] Arcadeep@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

It is still used to refer to things like fire retardant. To retard (pronounced ruh-tard and not ree-tard) means to slow or restrict the progress of something such as spoilage or fire spreading and is still a word with ligitimate uses, with the outdated 'medical' usage being a reference to a mentally disabled person's slower mental progress.