Talk:mentally retarded

Who defines it specifically at an IQ of 70? We shouldn't say that without a reference. DTLHS (talk) 20:14, 13 August 2016 (UTC)

RFD discussion: August–September 2016
The definition is more or less verbatim quoted from retarded. Does mentally retarded mean anything beyond mentally + retarded? -- Pedrianaplant (talk) 19:04, 13 August 2016 (UTC)
 * I would oppose a request for deletion. Mental retardation is a very notable and important mental disability, like dyscalculia, dyslexia and autism. So it has a noteworthy, particular meaning. So I think we should keep the entry. RandomScholar30 (talk) 19:10, 13 August 2016 (UTC)
 * We're not talking about mental retardation though. That might indeed be a set phrase, but the same can't be said about mentally retarded. -- Pedrianaplant (talk) 19:14, 13 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Mentally retarded would be a set adjective to describe a person with the condition, just like autistic, dyscalculic and dyslexic are adjective describing people with those mental disabilities. RandomScholar30 (talk) 19:17, 13 August 2016 (UTC)
 * The two terms have very different meanings and uses and styles. Retarded is offensive, whereas mentally retarded is still widely used, and even by professionals, although there are efforts to replace it with intellectually disabled. --Espoo (talk) 19:57, 13 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Isn't that by itself a reason to keep? If the adjectival form of a noun means something very different from the noun? bd2412 T 20:42, 13 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Yes, definitely keep. --Espoo (talk) 14:13, 14 August 2016 (UTC)
 * It tends to be used just as an insult where there's no hint of mental retardation. Hence, keep the literal sense along with it to avoid confusion (or else people will think it doesn't mean [[mentally]] [[retarded]]). Renard Migrant (talk) 11:40, 16 August 2016 (UTC)


 * Keep. A technical term with a specific definition.  I believe the non-technical use of "retarded" to mean "mentally retarded" is a later development.  P Aculeius (talk) 03:17, 20 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Keep. As per the previous editor, it is a "technical term with a specific definition".  Historically, it was effectively the only such term available for professional use for several decades in the middle of the last century, at a time when the previously correct technical term idiot had become seen as too offensive to use.  yoyo (talk) 15:08, 25 August 2016 (UTC)

Kept. bd2412 T 17:34, 19 September 2016 (UTC)