Why is it that we can't say "retarded" anymore, but "crazy" is all right?

[The Original An Gadaí]

Why is it worse, though? I've been called a cunt a few times. I literally laughed it off. It's just a word.

It can be offensive but is often a non-gender specific term of endearment here. "How are ya ya cunt ya!" is a not-unknown greeting.

[pepperlandgirl]

I've been thinking about this thread a lot, and I think the word crazy is off-limits. It is certainly not polite to write off people with mental illnesses as "crazy." If somebody is being treated for Bipolar Disorder, or PTSD, or schizophrenia, or whatever else, it wouldn't be socially acceptable to say "Oh, ignore her, she's just crazy." When people told a certain poster on the SDMB to "adjust his meds" even though his history with mental illness was well known, it caused a huge kerfluffle. So I think the way we view and use the word has shifted slightly, to the point that we can use it in casual conversation, but not when referring to mental illness, you know?

[Zuul]

It can be offensive but is often a non-gender specific term of endearment here. "How are ya ya cunt ya!" is a not-unknown greeting.

And perhaps that why it doesn't get me grasping my pearls and swooning. I've heard it a lot, in many different contexts, and while it can be used as an insult it's hardly one I'm going to flip out over anymore than I'd be offended by any insult.

[Exy]

It can be offensive but is often a non-gender specific term of endearment here. "How are ya ya cunt ya!" is a not-unknown greeting.

It's always funny to me that over there you guys just use it freely without meaning any offense. Not many people over here use it that way.

[Zuul]

It's always funny to me that over there you guys just use it freely without meaning any offense. Not many people over here use it that way.

Clearly the cunt-positive movement needs to work harder, then.

[RabbitMage]

I just want to state, for the record, I am pro-cunt.

[Oliveloaf]

I just want to state, for the record, I am pro-cunt.

No one has every said this before. I challenge anyone to prove me different.

[RabbitMage]

No one has every said this before. I challenge anyone to prove me different.

Actually, Google proves this to be correct. I looked.

[Marsilia]

I once had the "female specific insult" conversation with a girl I worked with several years ago. She was adamant that it was worse to be called a bitch than a cunt because female dogs (bitches) are known for having a lot of sex.

Back to crazy versus retarded, though. In my experience, "retarded" seems to only be used to describe human behavior, while "crazy" can be used to describe other things. You might say "This rain is crazy," but it's less likely you'd say "It's so retarded that it rained on the day we were going to the beach," or something of the like.

[Jaglavak]

It's okay to call someone or something "crazy" as an insult, but it's probably considered unacceptable to use a specific mental illness; "You schitzo!" (ADD/ADHD is a subject for ridicule that raises few eyebrows, but that might be changing.) It's probably the same logic with "stupid" and the specific form of "stupid" known as mental retardation.

Correct. I would never in a million years look down on someone who is just plain not very smart. That would be cruel and arrogant.

When I say 'stupid', I am talking to or about a person of normal intelligence who just refuses to use it for whatever reason.