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I think the same question applies to use of the word 'retarded'. I use it, but I know I probably shouldn't.

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This is even worse for me, as I have an aunt and an uncle who are both err....mentally challenged, and I *still* can't stop myself from saying it.

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My fiancé's sister is severely autistic. When we started dating, I had to banish the word from my vocabulary. Now I very, very rarely think about using it. Her friends that she's been friends with since college will still say it in front of her, which is strange.