Comments on: "Tropic Thunder" R-Word Use Draws Ire

Ben Stiller's New Film Is "Tasteless" And "Offensive," Advocates For Mentally Disabled Say

[aldon61]

The use of the word is offensive to me and I do not plan on seeing the movie. That said, it''s their right to produce the movie in any manner they see fit. If it offends someone (like me), DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT patronize the film. If enough people refrain from seeing the movie, others will be much more cautious in producing like-minded entertainment. This is a free market, use it!

[sparty088]

If someone wants to use an offensive word in this country they can. Simply because something is tasteless and offensive is not grounds to suspend the first amendment, nor should it be.

[zoopster1]

Oh for the love of God, the movie hasn''t even COME OUT YET. None of the people protesting has even actually SEEN IT. Are we running out of things to get mad about in this country or something??

[talkingham]

Well perhaps if the term mental retardation had not been used for a century and a half by USA medical professionals and educators we would not have this problem. They stopped using the term in the medical field in the rest of the world more than an a decade ago. So stop calling yourself mentally retarded and use the term intellectual disability. It''s harder to make fun of.

To blame the entertainment industry for using a word that has been in use in this country for decades is well, retarded.

[cbsfan73]

azcagirl stated:
"If you don''''t like it when people use words like that, don''''t go watch the movie. Stay home. Don''''t ruin it for people who can take a joke. That is what this is...a joke. It''''s a movie, not real life. If you are going to be offended stay home. I don''''t need anyone to tell me what I can and can''''t watch because they don''''t like it."

I agree. Had they shown a mentally challenged character being made fun of in the film, that would be cruel and tasteless. But when you use the term on a normal person, it can sometimes be seen as comedy.

[wl7bzh]

Robert Downey Jr., who stars in the film, told APTN at the Monday night premiere. "You know, if I want to protest something because it offends me that''s my right as an American, and it''s also any artist''s right to say and do whatever they wanna do."
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Has Downey Jr. ever heard of the artist formerly know as Imus?

[mgpm-2009]

I''ve worked with developmentally disabled people. Those people I worked with had Mental Retardation. To use the word "***" as a name which means someone is stupid is just offensive and wrong. It''s hurtful to those who have MR and those who love and care about them.

Have some sensitivity and compassion.

[cbsfan73]

The medical field should have never used the word in the first place. They should have simply used "mentally challenged".

Next thing you know, the patients in the mental hospitals will be protesting the use of the words "crazy", loony, "nut", "fruitcake", etc...

And what about all the comedial references to schizophrenics or people with multiple personalities in the entertainment industry?

Where does it end?

[azcagirl]

If you don''t like it when people use words like that, don''t go watch the movie. Stay home. Don''t ruin it for people who can take a joke. That is what this is...a joke. It''s a movie, not real life. If you are going to be offended stay home. I don''t need anyone to tell me what I can and can''t watch because they don''t like it.

[gop_forever]

Down with the short bus crowd!

[cbsfan73]

fsw3 reported:
"In my community the woman who won the chamber of commerce Woman of the Year award was so honored because of her work with the Association for Retarded Citizens. When this was reported, the local media, newspapers and broadcast were castigated for being insenstive. How about that!"

Well, I think it is far better to be castigated than to be castrated.

[cbsfan73]

The word can be applied with equal to people who can''t try and those who won''t try.

The correct way to insult or joke with someone would to call them a retarder (noun).

[cbsfan73]

Merriam Webster on the word:

1 : to slow up especially by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment : impede

2 : to delay academic progress by failure to promote

Great marketing move by the producers. This is publicity that money can''t buy. They should be rewarded handsomely at the movie gate.