I’ve heard people use the term retarded, retard, or ‘tard in casual conversation and when I register it, it feels like a pinprick to my sensibilities. I try not to feel offended. One time, however I worked with someone who tossed the word retarded around anytime she made an error or became annoyed by someone else. I took it in stride as an idiosyncrasy of hers. One day, however, she made an error or forgot something and instead said “Call me Corey,” something something… Suddenly it was all different to me, when she spoke of retarded she meant a person with Down syndrome. Wait a minute. That’s not a casual disregard, that’s hurtful and wrong. That’s not cool.