referring to groups as "them"

[joe hx]

One thing I do that annoys me is call groups "them."

For instance, when I talk about women in general, I say they did/them, etc.

Also with gay people, retarded/mentally challenged people, different ethnic groups...

It just sounds so derogatory.

Is there a better pronoun to use?

[BroomJockey]

The English language does not contain many pronouns.

Singular: He, She, It, I, You.

Plural: We (self-inclusive), they (self-exclusive).

And the modifiers there of (possessive, etc.)

Sorry, but what you're looking for doesn't exist in this language.

[violetyoshi]

First, the term is mentally disabled, not retarded, the word retarded is offensive to people who are mentally disabled.

What term would you like people to use? You wouldn't know derogatory, because we're living in the times of PC language. Perhaps if you had to hear Black people constantly referred to by the N word, or gay people called f*gs all the time, you'd understand that them isn't such a bad way to refer to them.

[Boozy]

You don't like calling groups "them" because it distinctly separates "them" from "us", which I can completely understand.

But I don't have any solutions. It's hard to discuss racial prejudice, for example, without linguistically acknowledging that people identify with certain groups within humanity as a whole. The only way around "us" and "them" terminology is to refuse to recognize differences between race at all. There may come a day when we can do that. Although I doubt there will ever be a day that men and women will be seen as essentially the same, for basic biological reasons.

[Nyoibo]

First, the term is mentally disabled, not retarded, the word retarded is offensive to people who are mentally disabled.

Retarded was the scientific term for many years and theres a bunch or people out there who don't find retarded an offensive term.

You don't like calling groups "them" because it distinctly separates "them" from "us", which I can completely understand.

Almost missed this, it's understandable, but as was pointed out language is limiting, you work with what you've got, when talking about a group of people that does not include you the only word is 'them' or 'they'.

[violetyoshi]

Retarded was the scientific term for many years and theres a bunch or people out there who don't find retarded an offensive term.

http://www.r-word.org/

[Nyoibo]

http://www.r-word.org/

I'm trying to get your point, it's a website and...?

[joe hx]

I'm trying to get your point, it's a website and...?

violetyoshi is pointing out a website for a group dedicated to removing the "r-word" - that is, retarded, from people's vernacular

so i wonder... do they protest paint cans?

[Depot Denizen]

This is a big can o' worms.

Merrian-Webster defines "retarded" as:
sometimes offensive : slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress

I mean...what's the "politically correct" phrase for it? I've been called a lot of names when I was a kid, and a few these days. I dunno, I guess I don't really buy into being PC for the sake of being PC.

[Nyoibo]

Depends who you ask, PC is mentally challenged, mentally disabled, develpomentally challenged, developmentally disabled, developmental delay, intellectual disability, intellectually challenged and probably a bunch of others, but I'm to lazy to look them up.

Retarded along with moron, idiotic, imbecilic, stupid, and feeble-minded were all valid descriptors by psychologists not hugely long ago, as with other things they have been corrupted by the layperson, Cretin comes from the french for christian and was used because it was thought that they still deserve compassion and dignity as they were still christian.

I hate political correctness with a passion.

[Boozy]

We already have a very lengthy and involved thread about the word "retarded" here. Let's keep this one on topic, please.

[Nyoibo]

Hmm, I was unaware of this, before my time, my bad.

[Boozy]

It's a lengthy thread, but worth a read. Good points have been raised on both sides.

And a little thread necromancy from the newer members is encouraged.

[Depot Denizen]

Ahhh, cool. I'll go read that thread then.

[Slytovhand]

The English language does not contain many pronouns.

Singular: He, She, It, I, You.

Plural: We (self-inclusive), they (self-exclusive).

And the modifiers there of (possessive, etc.)

Sorry, but what you're looking for doesn't exist in this language.

... any more.

English has changed over the 1500 years since it came into being. They had such pronouns back then, and in the middle period, but they've gone out of use, so they're completely unknown now. (part of my linguistics study at the moment.. so I've only just recently read up on it).

Could be interesting trying to bring them back in..