I’m Only Gonna Say This Once
A couple times a year, I get anonymous comments complaining that the name of this blog is offensive and that I’m an insensitive asshole for choosing it. Most times, I ignore the comments. Occasionally, I find out that someone I know has a problem with the name. I’ve dealt with these situations through email and they’re usually resolved. I’ve never felt the need to write a post about the name choice, but maybe it’s time.
I could spend awhile relating how the name Beer Retard stems from my description (by myself and others) for decades as socially retarded, but there’s no use wasting time on a long, drawn-out explanation. The important thing to me is that “retard” is just a word. In my writing, I never deride people with handicaps. I’ve never shown any intent to use the word in an offensive way. It’s just the name of the blog.
I realize that, for some people, any use of the word “retard” is offensive. All I can say is, it’s unfortunate if you’re truly offended, but I’m not changing the name. I inadvertently offend people constantly. If that means some people won’t read what I write (except to criticize my blog), or won’t have anything to do with me when they meet me, so be it. I’m not going to apologize for the name, nor waste time worrying about whom I may offend. I’m too busy worrying about the fact that I’ve lost my passion for writing about craft beer. But that’s a topic for another post…
March 25, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I for one am sorry to hear that you’ve lost (or are losing — that’s not clear) your passion for writing about craft beer. I’ve enjoyed just about everything that I’ve come across on your blogs and your rather dark and dry sense of humor is always refreshing. Also, I like that you appreciate profound bathroom graffiti — I thought I was the only one.
I hope you find something else to write about if indeed craft beer no longer does it for you.
As for the “retard” controversy: I have nothing to add. It’s never about what you say, it’s what people hear. And that’s an impossible situation.
March 25, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Thanks, Dave. Maybe I can write my way through this. There are a lot of reasons why the passion isn’t there and it might be useful (and hopefully entertaining to my 10 readers) to vomit them out. Maybe it’ll help me get the fire back.
March 25, 2010 at 9:12 pm
What Urban Beer Hiker said. Every single word.
March 25, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Just bring back the damn Beer Douche of the Week!
C@TRH
March 26, 2010 at 12:38 am
Dude, getting complaints from random peeps who probably never read your blog is retarded. These people probably search out the word all over the internets just to complain. These people need to find other things to fill their time.
March 26, 2010 at 6:50 am
Roger.
March 27, 2010 at 8:49 am
Sounds like someone needs to get wasted.
And bravo for standing by the name. I love how you didn’t give some generic PC answer to your reasoning. It was just “i like it, deal with it or leave”. LOL. cracked me up.
March 31, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I actually jumped onto your blog because the name caught my eye. The masses of the socially retarded have nothing to do with the mentally handicapped nor any slur towards their plight.
Love the blog!
April 7, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Love that anonymous passive-aggressive bullshit.
April 23, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Chris – I too have really enjoyed everything you’ve written about. While its true I only jump into your blog about once a month to catch up, ( Seattle Beer News and Washington Beer Blog get checked thrice a week and keep me up to date on up coming happenings) I do enjoy your perspective. See you around hopefully a lot during Seattle Beer Week. Drew
April 23, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Thanks, Drew. You’ll be seeing a lot of me during SBW.
April 28, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Teachers and school employees can no longer use the R word in Virginia. The new lingo is Intellectually Disabled. I know you’ve lost your passion, but if you get it back and continue writing here until 2030, the title of the blog will sound just as bad as “The Colored Beer Drinker” does in 2010. You heard it here first!
May 8, 2010 at 8:29 pm
That’s so funny because I just got an email on my blog stating that I am being insensitive to Buddhists because of my nom de plume. He asked if I would be offended at the name, Jesus On A Cross Brewery. I told him I was thinking that I should change the name to The Beer Mouhammed but I didn’t want to get blown up. Keep up the good work man! Love your blog!
Cheers!
BB
August 26, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Hey, just got turned on to your blog thru a link from another beer blog, which came from a link from Facebook.
Anywho… as I was reading this particular entry, it occurred to me that “retard” has multiple meanings. And in this and other posts, you alluded to losing you passion for writing about craft beer.
“Retard: cause to move more slowly or operate at a slower rate.”
So if anybody else whines to you about being insensitive, tell them that they are the ones being insensitive in their incorrect assumption of your use of the word. It’s merely a reference to you slowing down your writing, probably as a direct result of drinking too much beer!
August 26, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Thanks for checking the blog out, man. There’s some definite writing retardation going on here.