I just read all 15 pages of this thread, and then did something different. I ran a few errands before replying. This gave me the time that I needed to digest everything that I had just read.
Those who know me know about my involvement in Special Olympics. They know that my daughter is is mentally and physically retarded. I didn't say "handicapped", I didn't say "has special needs", I used the word "retarded". I despise that word. I understand that it is my personal feeling and as such has no bearing on any fact about the evolution of the English language. Why do I hate it? Because it used to mean something. Now it has been thrown around in so many ways that it has entirely lost its meaning, and has been replaced by other words used to convey the meaning. I take absolute offense when that word is used lightly. That word describes a child who had a stroke at birth, a child that has survived numerous brain surgeries, and a child that has been heart dead no less than 5 times on an operating table.
Do I take offense when that word is used lightly? You're damn right I do. When you use that word lightly you make light of the plight of people who can't possibly fight back against you, mentally or physically. As far as I have seen, and I will admit freely that my perception may be clouded by own feelings, people use that word to convey a sense of superiority. It would be laughable if not so tragic to see someone with such a need to feel superior to something that they have to make a comparison to a person who doesn't have the mental faculties to tell time at age 14, let alone understand advanced concepts such as moral duty.
On the other hand, my dealing with these kids has shown me that they have more heart than 90% of the "normal" people that I have met, so really, who should be learning from who?
Rape.
Another disgusting word for pretty much the same reasons as "retard." Until you've been through the multiple suicide attempts, the need to punish ones self for what was done to them, the pure self destruction.....you don't know ****. Spend years with someone you care about and can't touch, not days or weeks, years. Years spent waiting for some sign that they are becoming a rape survivor, and not a victim, only to have another suicide attempt. Then tell me that you are unchanged. You tell me then how it's ok to use that word lightly. Nuke you know exactly what I am talking about and I applaud you for your candor on the matter.
I am going to keep my list very short here and just some personal highlights of the people in this thread:
Batts: We've been sorting of butting heads a bit lately, and reading your posts I began losing some respect for you. It was my fault for not reading the threads that you were referencing, a mistake I won't make again. Thank you for showing me that I was right in my original assessment of you.
Trashman: This may be unfair since you can't reply, but I ain't exactly feeling the love right now. I cannot respect the work of someone that I cannot respect. I know it won't bother you at all, but reading this, I have found myself at an utter and complete loss of respect for you, and as such, I now have to change a good number of the models that I use in CoW. I know it seems trivial, but I refuse to use your work, let alone showcase it as the main models, and I hope to hell no one else uses them. A fitting end for you at HLP would be that none of your work gets used.
deathfun: I don't know you. That said, taking a contrary stance simply to take a contrary stance is immature at best, more commonly asinine. Don't bother replying, you are already on ignore.
Finally, a thread on this board that was (for the most part) worth following. Thank you to all who contributed to the thread itself, and not yourselves.
