mckay
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Post by mckay on Mar 10, 2007 20:28:57 GMT -5
A random observation from my last reading of this book. When Mallory was "spying" on crowds at Disney, she commented on a "loud" group of happy-looking adults. She writes, "I think the people are retarded."
It brought back memories of the time when one could say "retarded" without being hopelessly politically incorrect. I have no real idea why it struck me. (Besides the obvious pot/kettle joke here.)
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Post by sotypical42483 on Mar 12, 2007 12:05:22 GMT -5
^Oh yeah, I was really surprised upon re-reading this book when Mal says that. I think MA says it in MA Saves the Day too, it's one of the words her dad hates or something, implying that she'd said it before and gotten in trouble for it.
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msstock87
Sitting For The Braddocks
Here Comes The Bride!
Created by Rie.
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Post by msstock87 on Mar 12, 2007 16:00:48 GMT -5
I was surprised at finding that word in a BSC book, but then I remembered when they were originally written, I'm not sure if it was as offensive to some people back then as it is now.
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Post by hitzpink on Mar 12, 2007 22:57:38 GMT -5
I don't think "retarded" had the same negative connotations back then as it does now. In one of my classes for my education major we're learning about the different laws that have been passed regarding kids with disabilities, and a lot of them used to have the word "retarded" in their names. They've since been updated to more pc names, but when they were originally made it wasn't considered offensive I guess.
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mckay
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Post by mckay on Mar 13, 2007 5:43:38 GMT -5
"Retarded" was once an acceptable word. I remember seeing a postage stamp for...some charity or other that declared, "Retarded children can be helped!"
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
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Post by starrynight on Mar 13, 2007 10:44:58 GMT -5
Growing up in the 80's and 90's, it wasn't uncommon to hear that word used as a playground insult. Kind of like "gay" today, but that's getting less and less acceptable, too.
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ktag
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Post by ktag on Mar 13, 2007 20:29:27 GMT -5
Yeah, I remember "retarded" and "gay" were used a lot in elementary school. Now if I hear it, it's like "Wow, really? How old are you?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2007 14:34:00 GMT -5
Well, the word retarded literally means "slow or delayed development." I don't know why it's become such an insult, because, literally, that's what the person is.
Furthermore, I think it was fine for Mallory to use the word. In her mind, it was the correct term to use for identifying special needs folks, so she used it. It wasn't like she was going around saying, "That's so retarded!" (As was the "trend" in my '80s childhood...)
In general, I think everything should be viewed in context. Like, today's society makes a big deal out of old books or things, in which people used the N-word. Some of those people might, indeed, have meant to be hurtful; but more likely, the large majority were simply using the term they had been taught to use. They didn't mean anything by it. They just didn't have another, better term to use. On the other hand, you can use "proper" terms, but your whole attitude behind it leaves something to be desired, and that makes everything different, methinks...
Anyways... *climbs off soapbox and scuttles back to work*
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mckay
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Post by mckay on Mar 20, 2007 15:33:32 GMT -5
Oh, I agree that there's nothing wrong with the word in and of itself, but it was a long time ago that you could use it as anything but an insult and not be horribly politically incorrect. I doubt it would have made it past the editors in recent years (especially when kids' books are being banned for using the word "scrotum.")
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Post by aln1982 on Mar 20, 2007 16:09:06 GMT -5
Well, the word retarded literally means "slow or delayed development." I don't know why it's become such an insult, because, literally, that's what the person is. Furthermore, I think it was fine for Mallory to use the word. In her mind, it was the correct term to use for identifying special needs folks, so she used it. It wasn't like she was going around saying, "That's so retarded!" (As was the "trend" in my '80s childhood...) In general, I think everything should be viewed in context. Like, today's society makes a big deal out of old books or things, in which people used the N-word. Some of those people might, indeed, have meant to be hurtful; but more likely, the large majority were simply using the term they had been taught to use. They didn't mean anything by it. They just didn't have another, better term to use. On the other hand, you can use "proper" terms, but your whole attitude behind it leaves something to be desired, and that makes everything different, methinks... Anyways... *climbs off soapbox and scuttles back to work* Totally agree, dibblycool. I get what you're saying, though, mckay. It seems like books try to censor the pettiest things now while leaving things in that make them much less "wholesome" (for lack of a better word) than the books we grew up with. Now I'm climbing on my soapbox but getting off right now...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2007 15:40:32 GMT -5
Just reread it today - I'm pretty sure this is my favorite SS.
- Funny how almost everything in Epcot from that book is gone now. - "Can I watch?" HILARIOUS. - I agree, we need a story with MA's gambling addiction. - I LOVE the Pike boys' chapters. - Do the BSC members have weak stomachs? I've never been on Space Mountain at WDW, but it's honestly not that bad, but we have both Stacey and Dawn acting like they're going to vomit.
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msstock87
Sitting For The Braddocks
Here Comes The Bride!
Created by Rie.
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Post by msstock87 on Mar 27, 2007 19:28:02 GMT -5
I have never been on Space mountain either, but I have been on plenty of roller coasters and never had a weak stomach.
I don't remember much from Epcot, but the way they described it sounded cool.
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ktag
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Post by ktag on Mar 27, 2007 20:48:41 GMT -5
When I went on WDW Space Mountain, we got stuck for about an hour. So nope, not fast at all.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2007 22:20:22 GMT -5
WDW's Space Mountain isn't bad at all (hi, Kaleigh!). I've been on Disneyland's also and I think theirs is a lot worse. Dawn was all off with her comparison. If you get sick on the WDW one, you shouldn't even go on DL's.
And yes, I love how Epcot is just so incredibly lame in this book. They only go there for one chapter, and not even everyone goes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2007 23:02:13 GMT -5
Hey Lauren!
Another thing I loved about the book was Rudy Staples. Him and Kristy's friendship was really cute, and he was such a sweet man.
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