I hate that people use it as an insult, because I prefer to use that to refer to retarded people, instead of mentally challenged, because who wants to say all that? Sadly, now it's considered a slur, and I have to use synonyms instead. I do still hear quite a few people using it as a normal word though.
I assumed you meant derogatory to a similar degree to "douche" or even "fag"(another word that people have varying opinions on, so this might not be the best term to compare with), but not a curse. Thanks for clearing that up. The wide views that people have on the use of this word are precisely why I don't really use it. Instead I use more politically correct terms in public or in the company of people who may be offended, even though I prefer to use it for convenience purposes.
I try avoid using retard(ed) because I find it so derogatory
I hate that people use it as an insult, because I prefer to use that to refer to retarded people, instead of mentally challenged, because who wants to say all that? Sadly, now it's considered a slur, and I have to use synonyms instead. I do still hear quite a few people using it as a normal word though.
I think you missed my point there. I don't think the word should be used at all because I consider it a curse. That's why I said derogetory.
I did not know that you considered it a curse word. You had called it derogatory, which has a wide range of applicable uses.
de·rog·a·to·ry
adjective
showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
"she tells me I'm fat and is always making derogatory remarks"
synonyms: disparaging, denigratory, deprecatory, disrespectful, demeaning;
I assumed you meant derogatory to a similar degree to "douche" or even "fag"(another word that people have varying opinions on, so this might not be the best term to compare with), but not a curse. Thanks for clearing that up. The wide views that people have on the use of this word are precisely why I don't really use it. Instead I use more politically correct terms in public or in the company of people who may be offended, even though I prefer to use it for convenience purposes.