tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post6866899460234026086..comments2024-01-16T01:42:41.699+11:00Comments on Tune into Radio Carly: UPDATED: Dear Typo. Using the word 'retard' in your products is not acceptable.Carly Findlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01368145710452826385noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-71994370944527616972012-11-09T13:58:02.508+11:002012-11-09T13:58:02.508+11:00Well said Carly! It's an offensive word - to s...Well said Carly! It's an offensive word - to so many people in our community. Pull your socks up Typo, being mean and bigoted is NOT ON!Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11907743046211723083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-24093191600552586282012-01-29T13:25:55.238+11:002012-01-29T13:25:55.238+11:00i cant even believe some people are defending the ...i cant even believe some people are defending the use of the word in this sense. disgusting. it just demonstrates a total lack of insight and disregard for the issue.<br /><br />anonymous, funny i thought that "arts students" and "bloggers" WERE real people too. im neither, but as a "real person" who reads your blog, carly, i say bravo for taking a stand.miminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-27757828739977085412012-01-27T15:28:34.598+11:002012-01-27T15:28:34.598+11:00Oh, honestly! Who even refers to disabled people a...Oh, honestly! Who even refers to disabled people as 'retards' anyway? 'Retard', when used colloquially, is really more akin to saying, 'idiot'. The only people still associating it with disabled people are whingers such as yourself who need to be tip-toed around lest your dainty ears hear a bad word. <br /><br />Sometimes the meaning of words change among the general population. Is it a bad thing that disabled people are no longer being referred to as retards? Is it bad that they're referred to as disabled or differently abled, or even by whatever their specific impairment is? Or by their names (shock horror!).<br /><br />I get that the internet has given a voice to those who would otherwise not be heard...but maybe that's for a reason. Get off your high horse and come and talk to some people in the real world. No, not arts students or bloggers: real people. Not everything in life needs a crusade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-11818292482679515832012-01-22T21:44:27.928+11:002012-01-22T21:44:27.928+11:00Hi Carly, I agree it's never o.k to insult peo...Hi Carly, I agree it's never o.k to insult people with a a disability, especially when retailers are making money. <br /><br />Nicky SinghNicky Singhhttp://nickysingh.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-38591424648609313742012-01-22T11:47:10.307+11:002012-01-22T11:47:10.307+11:00Carly, well done! I, for one, would be one of thos...Carly, well done! I, for one, would be one of those people who would see this merchandise as distasteful but not even think of approaching somebody to change it. I think that many other people are passive like I am, not used to stirring the pot, and accustomed to being barraged by offensive products and advertising without considering an avenue of complaint. Thank you for speaking up for all the gooses who don't or won't.<br /><br />I often walk with a pronounced limp when I am in the throes of an arthritic flare-up, and have been called a retard by people who think it's funny. It's not. It's never OK. And it shouldn't be celebrated in popular print products. Go you!amberhttp://wabiblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-18475937961089930272012-01-22T04:49:56.359+11:002012-01-22T04:49:56.359+11:00"This product ... was not intended as a comme..."This product ... was not intended as a comment on people with a disability." It never is. But the word retard is always meant to demean, dehumanize and devalue. Bottom line: If folks with intellectual disabilities have decided the word retard is hurtful and offensive, the rest of us should shut the hell up. It doesn't matter what non-disabled people meant, or what non-disabled people want. It's about having respect for those who get the most shit when that word is used and respecting their dignity.PosterBrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14460256115203509225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-12033321879272034222012-01-21T11:31:52.597+11:002012-01-21T11:31:52.597+11:00I abhor bullying and that's what this is. No q...I abhor bullying and that's what this is. No question. NO dressing it up as "humour" or "freedom of speech" or "opinion" or "satire"... that's what bigots, racists, homophobes and hate groups hide behind. Words have power. Teasing does hurt. and kids are dying because of it.Amandahttp://corymbia.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-50617574775438136002012-01-21T08:14:43.847+11:002012-01-21T08:14:43.847+11:00when did i say it is ok to call someone a retard? ...when did i say it is ok to call someone a retard? WHEN? <br /><br />"making the world a more politically correct place is not going to make it a better one for people with disabilities."<br />OH, YOU'RE RIGHT. I CAN TOTALLY SEE HOW I SAID THAT NOW.<br /><br />it's not interesting or funny how some people seem to jump on opportunities to place words in other peoples mouths :-////hollypophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06656191724487926538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-90625712114269717092012-01-21T07:12:13.663+11:002012-01-21T07:12:13.663+11:00Interesting indeed. Funny how people jump on some ...Interesting indeed. Funny how people jump on some aspects of political correctness and not others.Carly Findlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01368145710452826385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-33605022161509748622012-01-21T06:52:50.181+11:002012-01-21T06:52:50.181+11:00It is interesting - http://forums.vogue.com.au/sho...It is interesting - http://forums.vogue.com.au/showthread.php?t=378071<br /><br />"I hate it when people use the word gay or the f-word as an insult. I think it demonstrates blind hate and ignorance. I've just had a super heated discussion with my boyfriend about this. He doesn't actually use these words, and he couldn't care less about someones sexual orientation, but he thinks it's ok to call someone the f-word as an interchange for idiot or whatever. He thinks words 'change over time' to have different meanings.. I'm too angry to explain it to him otherwise. Help?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-9453665867181523782012-01-21T00:49:35.181+11:002012-01-21T00:49:35.181+11:00Totally agree - I would be shocked to see such a p...Totally agree - I would be shocked to see such a product on the shelves of a major store too. The problem with the word "retard" is that it has actually (somehow) become an acceptable term in the english language. People use it all the time without clue-ing in that the word is actually an insult. I have no idea how this word morphed from being a derogatory term to a common one, but it's pretty shocking. People think we have come such a long way in terms of inclusion in our society, but when it comes right down to it, norms still exist that put people with disabilities on a lower rung of the social ladder and classify them as "different" than "normal" people. There is not nearly enough empathy in our society - people need to put themselves in other people's shoes before they say something, or put something like the above product out to the masses. How about we actually start THINKING about our words and actions ahead of time and consider how they might make someone else feel? What a concept! I'm all for joking around too and I don't generally agree with censoring humour or commentary - but I don't agree with traditionally derogatory terms being used to get laughs (and I'm sorry but if someone used the word "nigger" or "faggot" people would be outraged, so why is it ok to use "retard"? IMHO those words are part of the same category, so why the double-standard?) Thanks so much for the post Carly! Good on your for complaining to the company about thatAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07451217175469353265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-33986060279985463342012-01-21T00:10:25.257+11:002012-01-21T00:10:25.257+11:00Well said Carly and good on you for getting a resu...Well said Carly and good on you for getting a result.Bechttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13370380515120331600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-30991978360633078362012-01-20T22:54:46.810+11:002012-01-20T22:54:46.810+11:00Dain ... are you by chance being paid by Cotton On...Dain ... are you by chance being paid by Cotton On? This smells a lot like astroturfing to me....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-85362191543343179602012-01-20T22:32:11.236+11:002012-01-20T22:32:11.236+11:00Close to censorship? It's actually against the...Close to censorship? It's actually against the law to discriminate against people based on appearance, gender or disability in Victoria so if anyone's pushing the limit it's Typo. I love edgy humour but as the aunt of a niece with cerebral palsy and given the way we leave people with disabilities to squander & die in sub-standard facilities I think they are way off the mark if they think they can pass this off as satire!Mrs Savagehttp://www.tinysavages.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-12584265827525308042012-01-20T21:19:31.741+11:002012-01-20T21:19:31.741+11:00I miss humor being able to be distasteful. People ...I miss humor being able to be distasteful. People are way too sensitive. Just because a few people can't see the humor in a JOKE doesn't make it wrong. To think it should be taken off the shelves just because you don't agree with it is very arrogant, and very close to censorship.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-24433912303679463472012-01-20T20:25:00.264+11:002012-01-20T20:25:00.264+11:00So holly why do you feel so strongly about using &...So holly why do you feel so strongly about using 'gay' as a slur, but 'retard' is ok?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-27090308505841817502012-01-20T19:34:13.469+11:002012-01-20T19:34:13.469+11:00I'm sorry that you were teased at school and h...I'm sorry that you were teased at school and have been discriminated against, there is no excuse for that... but this card is not a personal attack on you or any people with disabilities in my opinion.<br /><br />"Intent, word origin, colloquialism, youth speak - I don't accept these reasons."<br /><br />Fair enough, but people are entitled to think you're overacting and disagree. Isn't part of acceptance being accepting of other views?<br /><br />"This card indicates people with disabilities are less than valuable."<br /><br />Maybe to you, but not to everyone. I disagree.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-50543605441884377962012-01-20T19:33:55.668+11:002012-01-20T19:33:55.668+11:00Nice work Carly ! :-D and you got a result, so eve...Nice work Carly ! :-D and you got a result, so even better, i certainly dont want to see things like that,and i am glad that you spoke up for all that feel the same xMiss Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14612963653884292402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-52579240883648813442012-01-20T17:14:31.168+11:002012-01-20T17:14:31.168+11:00I think you have taken a very sensible line on the...I think you have taken a very sensible line on the issue Carly (something we all admire you for). I personally wouldn't have thought twice about it seeing the card - but I am pretty guilty of using some horrible words. Don't get me wrong, I would never dare to use that word in relation to anyone with an intellectual disability, unless that person with that disability was being a 'dick' - cos we all know that 'not judging a book by its cover' does not necessarily mean that every book is good. <br />But I do use it in it's pure form, to retard, as in music, to make slow or be retarded, to act slowly. If a person, by choice, or ignorance, acts in a manner in which they are 'behind the times' or purposefully displaying, with arrogance, their ignorance then they are, in my books, retarded. A classic example of this would be the person who calls another person with an intellectual disability a retard. Quite obviously that person is not PC, and PC is in, and no desire to become even vaguely PC shows ignorance and arrogance, thus confirming that the original person is quite retarded.<br /><br />I hope you can see my humour here. Don't get me started on the word gay...<br /><br />I think you approached it beautifully Carly. It was big enough a deal to be of concern to many and therefore worth mentioning to the people who made it. But, as you say, not huge enough that they should be boycotted (there are other beautiful aspects of Typo).Chookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14068205711034477597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-51891411353646346612012-01-20T16:37:01.255+11:002012-01-20T16:37:01.255+11:00making the world a more politically correct place ...making the world a more politically correct place is not going to make it a better one for people with disabilities.hollypophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06656191724487926538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-5660822987636617322012-01-20T16:00:05.527+11:002012-01-20T16:00:05.527+11:00Lol agree with the other anonymous a boycott is ju...Lol agree with the other anonymous a boycott is just as bad as the card! <br />It won't solve or change anything! People are still going to shop there! <br />I agree the word has become commonplace and it's not a nice thing for people who have disabilities to hear but think its going to be used by the teenagers regardless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-83023444968434828032012-01-20T15:53:14.163+11:002012-01-20T15:53:14.163+11:00Completely offensive on all levels.Completely offensive on all levels.Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02851305238478213940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-12707006292416370292012-01-20T15:05:47.365+11:002012-01-20T15:05:47.365+11:00They must be enjoying the controversy so much they...They must be enjoying the controversy so much they've decided to keep going with it. It's just so stupid and offensive.Katiehttp://www.katiefoolery.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-18873412250656567982012-01-20T15:02:38.928+11:002012-01-20T15:02:38.928+11:00A boycott would be even more retarded than the car...A boycott would be even more retarded than the card.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1720872153813357167.post-30440129866362664462012-01-20T14:47:19.708+11:002012-01-20T14:47:19.708+11:00Hi Carly,
Thanks for your response (and spell-ch...Hi Carly, <br /><br />Thanks for your response (and spell-checking). I did post further points below but they seem not to have come through - which is a shame.<br /><br />Your initial point exactly sums up what I was saying. Yes I don't really find it offensive - and yes I understand the history of the word and its usage. I understand that others WILL find it offensive and that is reliant on the individual.<br /><br />@Queen V - I (personally) believe you are reading into it too much. That's my opinion & you're welcome to disagree, get angry, whatever. If I were to take your comment from an entirely logical perspective then the argument is that - yes - a person with mental retardation IS less able than you or I - but I will be the first to state that they should not be treated as such. Growing up with my sisters and working with my mother in ability services (job placement) I have my own understanding of what would be found offensive by others. <br /><br />This card, I do not find offensive.<br /><br />Therefore I find a movement to boycott a store because of it a silly notion.<br /><br />Again, that's just MY opinion.<br /><br />Dain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com