Firstly, I'm not from the United States. I have been there on many occasions and do understand the life there to a great degree. With that being said...
It's been a while since my last trip and during that period, there has been a trend to use the word "retard" or "retarded" in regards to any person that has made a mistake or faulted. I'm a player of 6+ years, very well experienced in both aspects of the game (PvE/PvP). I mention this because immediately a person will assume "he got insulted, coming to forums". That's not the case. I was not called these terms, but I observe people using it on each other on a day-to-day basis.
I have traveled overseas on more than 30 occasions, seen many different walks of life and learnt how much I take my life for granted. I have witnessed the horrible diseases such as muscle dystrophy and spinal bifida. I have seen how malaria wipes out an entire village. These things sadden me oh so much. I only wish for the world to be a better place.
And then I log onto this game and the first thing I'm seeing is people insulting each other with the term "retard".
How is this being allowed? How do people so blindly throw this term around, obviously knowing that they are relating it to a mental handicap. How can it even be funny to laugh at a person who was put into a position that they didn't ask for. Is the lifestyle of Northern America so sheltered that you just laugh at the misfortune of others?
I get more and more disgusted with myself as I play every day, knowing that I could possibly be absorbing this 'mentality' these players have.
I now ask you Blizzard: How do you allow this to take place? You have 'the world in your world' and whether you like it or not, will shape the lives of many youth. You once allowed a sick child to get an item of his choice before he was sadly 'taken'. Do you really care? Was that nothing more than a publicity stunt. Just like many of the taboo words that are banned in game, how can this not be one of them?
And to the players of USA who blindly throw this term around: Would it really be so funny if you had to live with such a condition?
PS. I'm a Caucasian from South Africa. A day doesn't go by where a USA player needs to throw out "I hope you die from AIDS" or something of the sort regarding the disease. I'm not religious, but I pray that the WoW community in-game and on forums are not a representation of your countries future.
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