Please don't use the word "retarded" like this. If you suspect you're asking a question with an obvious answer that you've missed, try saying "forgive my ignorance" instead.

There's nothing wrong with asking questions without self-deprecation, but if you're going to self-deprecate, try not to use hurtful language.

Is 'retarded' actually harmful/hateful? Or is the attitude toward people with mental retardation (hence the name, retarded) harmful? The way the word is used, more specifically the attitudes that are demonstrated when the word is used, is generally done with avarice.

Now I see your point, though, he is associating his slowness-to-the-punch with people who are unfortunately physiologically slow-to-the bunch, and according to you this type of lateral association is bad because...?

Because it is shameful to be wrong or ignorant, and therefore associating the shameful act of a non-retarded person with the unshameful reality of being retarded creates a subconscious association between being retarded and shame--- is that it?

If so, isn't it harmful to consider being publicly wrong or ignorant shameful? Should we not have patience with others who know less?

I understand there's a spartan-esque utility to being brutal in a highly competitive skills-based situation (like most engineering). So I am unsure as to where to position myself with this question!

Shed some light?

I'm not the person you asked, but I agree with their post.

It's often hard to have this discussion without it devolving into an argument over "political correctness" [0] so hopefully that can be avoided.

Easiest answer is that the term retarded originally was an acceptable term for people with disabilities, but now has a negative connotation, and when used pejoratively as OP did carries the (possibly unintended) implication that people with disabilities are of less value.

I think Wikipedia entry on Retard (pejorative) [1] is a good summary.

It's also worth mentioning "ableist language" and "ableism" here. [2]

[0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retard_%28pejorative%29

[2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ableism

You are taking it too logically.

Some people have mental health issues. Throwing "retarded" around simply make those people feel bad.

How hard is it to use a different word that won't put a load on someone's life?

I'm afraid you're mistaken, but DontSueMeBro is correct.

Anyway, it's not shameful to be wrong or ignorant. That's why I said that there's nothing wrong with asking questions without self-deprecation.

Language is as hurtful as one allows it to be.

Seconded.

And where do we stop? Calling something "stupid" is hurtful to stupid people who are usually not at fault for their lack of ability. Calling something "dumb" is hurtful to mute people. There is no end to this PC treadmill, so I will continue to say "retarded" until the Speech Police kick in my door.

Purely curiosity at this point - it was something I wanted for a project a while back that has been retired - does anyone here know of the best way to get a good thumbnail from a video using ffmpeg?

I think back then I was looking to take 5-10 snaps somewhere between the 30-50% mark and then use the largest (I guess in theory more detail - not a blank frame) image

Does anyone have a better way, or even just know how to pull a snapshot at "30%" using ffmpeg? I think at the time I used outside code and ffprobe to figure out where 30% is, there's bound to be a better way than that

Stack Overflow

Was this supposed to be a link to a specific answer or something?

Stack Overflow would close it as too specific or some other thing if I asked directly. Despite how much as I use it, I hate that damn site.

It uses Ffmpeg for the video processing bits.

Indeed, I did this in the past through ffmpeg. Great tool!

If you look at the thumbnails extractor, it calls libav methods that are essentially the core of ffmpeg. One of goal of this service is so journalists and editors can easily play and create thumbnails without command lines and terminals :)

Your question is not retarded at all. FFMpeg IS the best tool to build a Thumbnail extraction service.

Over-engineering is sometimes quite fun, though.