[Discuss] word choice request

[Mark Aubrey]

This is not an easy message for me to post, but I feel that I have to...

Through the Tournament Features thread (and other threads in the
past), there has been the use of the word "retarded."

I'd like to ask the D-listers to refrain from the use of that word.
My daughter is mentally retarded.  She has Down syndrome, a genetic
disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st
chromosome.

It offends me to see the term 'retarded' casually used.  I don't like
the term, even in a clinical sense.

I assume that the users meant no harm by using it in their posts, even
when quoting someone else.  I'm personally not offended for my
daughter, since you don't know her, but as her father, it is my duty
to protect her and to make others aware of issues such as this.

I am not trying to guilt anyone into anything, just trying to make you
all aware that some words can be very offensive to some people.  I'd
like for you to consider removing that term from your vocabulary in
the 'lame' sense.

I hope that you will thoughtfully consider my request, for my daughter's sake.

Thank you,
Mark

-- 
Mark Aubrey
Tinsley Family