Retarded - good

[Benjamin Barrett]

1. According to the 2007 "A mother's view of a word that wounds: 'Retard'" by Theresa Howard (http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2007-07-04-opcom_N.htm), the r-word is always negative:

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But no matter how or by whom the r-word is used, it's always in a negative context. You don't hear, "What a great idea, that's so retarded." You don't hear, "Awesome catch — what a retard move."
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2. But Urban Dictionary has a 2005 entry for a good meaning (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=retarded):

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In this day and age, "retarded" is just another word for cool, dope, tight, chill, or whatever you say when you like something.
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3. Also, April 2010 (http://forums.mangafox.com/threads/185415-This-Manga-is-so-retarded….):

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This Manga is so retarded….

hahah in a good way!
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4. According to http://slangcity.com/songs/1_2_step.htm, Missy Elliot's [sic: Elliott's] lyrics of "1, 2 Step" have the word "retarded" meaning "great":

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retarded great (retarded is a Standard English word used to describe a person of abnormally low intelligence. Like ill, sick and nasty, it is used in slang to have an opposite meaning.)
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Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org