"Willi" wrote in message
...
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Tim J. wrote:

Skwala typed:

Must... resist.... this... vortex.....

too late, sucked in.


Hell, you're standing dead-center.


I'm gonna toss two cents into this and call it enough.
If you want to say that arguing on Usenet is retarded
that's one thing, but when you illustrate your argument
with the picture of a retarded human being in an attempt
to be "funny" you have crossed a line.


I agree with that assessment and calling someone a retard, idiot, or
moron fits somewhere in between the two.



Yeah, but varying degrees of 'in between'. Try to list these terms in order,
with 'retarded' (combined with a picture of someone with Downs Syndrome) at
one end of the spectrum, and something considerably less PI at the other
end...

retard
retarded
idiot
idiotic
moron
moronic
cockeyed
harebrained
numbskull
dumb
nitwit
fool
foolish
tomfool
simpleton
witless
ninny
chowderhead
****-for-brains
knucklehead
dolt
booby
imbecile


I think once you start looking at the etymology of insults, they all
primarily originate from people with brain dysfunctions. Pretty sad
commentary on our collective consciousness. However, over time I think the
association can fade, but to attach these words to a picture (or any other
reference) that underscores that connection is quite....well, pick a word.

--riverman