I get it, you want your freedom of speech and you definitely don't want some loud, annoying girl that you only interact with because she lives down the hall telling you what you should or shouldn't say. But I'm sorry, I don't understand how it's 2017 and people still think it's acceptable to use the word "retarded" like it doesn't mean anything.

There are so many better alternatives to describe how annoying that girl in your class is or how you were acting last Thursday night at Brick Street. There is no need to use a term used to isolate and make fun of people who have disabilities to describe your own stupidity; doing so only makes your own stupidity more prominent. "Retarded" is an outdated word. It is not a piece of pop culture, it is not just a subconscious segment of everyday vocabulary, it doesn't just "not mean anything." Using the word "retarded" is ignorant at best and disrespectful at worst.

It is disrespectful to people who have special needs who already have to struggle with a stigma against them. It is disrespectful to the families of those who have disabilities who only want to see their siblings and children accepted, and it is perpetuating a culture of trivializing mental disabilities.

It's 2017, it's time to replace the r-word with an alternative that isn't both disrespectful and offensive to so many people.

I understand that I am bringing some of my own bias into this argument as I have a sister who has special needs and I hate to hear the word "retarded" used around her lightly or used to put her down. But even without my sister in my life to influence my opinion on this issue, I would still be against the use of the word "retarded" in everyday language. It's basic human decency. I don't think it's asking too much of anyone to change one word in your everyday language when that one word can hurt so many people. Mental disabilities are not a joke, and using this word so lightly makes a joke of them. Don't be that person.

You can have your freedom of speech, but think the next time before you use the word "retarded" in a conversation. When one word carries the cost of hurting others who often can't even defend themselves, is it really worth it? I certainly don't want to be that insensitive of a person, and I would hope no one else wants to be either. So the next time I ask you not to use the word "retarded" around me, please don't think I'm trying to interfere with your freedom of speech. Just remember how insensitive and ignorant you are making yourself look.

It's 2017, it's time to find a new word.