It's been a rule here since before I showed up. I got bit by it early on myself. The policy is in place at the request of
@Noodle, who has a Downs son and has educated us as to how the disability community views "retard" and the variants as slurs. Think of it like if n----r was used repeatedly and
@MrBing told us "Hey guys, that's not cool."
Thank you. And to be clear, I am not thin skinned or PC. Rather, some time ago I explained the effect the word has on people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. A word that was originally used to describe individuals who have a developmental disability has morphed into a catchall word for belittling another person or their ideas, declaring something that was said as being stupid, etc. It's used as an insult against someone who does not have a developmental disability, which makes it even more biting for those who actually do have an developmental/intellectual disability. Thankfully, it's use is decreasing.
Regrettably, however, on several occasions someone in a work setting has used it in my presence to refer to something they thought was stupid, etc. Non of them knew about my son (though one found out shortly after when a colleague told them). In all of those instances, my impression of that person dropper precipitously. (One of them did apologize to me directly, in tears, after a colleague informed them about my son.)
Personal attacks are one thing. Often they're deserved. But a personal attack that impacts another person who was not the intended target is flat wrong.
nypost.com
