While its probably not an accurate meter of social awareness it is interesting to note what people are looking for on the Internet when they use the search term “retard”. 

Here is today’s top ten search terms from some of the Internet’s major sites.  Would our society settle for this if the word retard was replaced with a racial slur?

Google
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal 

1. retard
2. retard jokes
3. burgerking retard
4. retard song
5. rappin retard
6. burger king retard 
7. gary retard
8. bk retard
9. rapping retard
10. retards

Yahoo/Overture
http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

1. retard
2. retard sex
3. retard porn
4. guitar kid pokemon retard sing singing webtard
5. gary the retard
6. i retard should
7. retard pic
8. retard o bot
9. retard picture
10. tenuate retard  

 YouTube – Search results for “Retard” about 25,800
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=retard&search=Search

1. BF2 Retard
2. The Retard Hunter
3. Rosie O’Donnel Retard
4. Basketball Retard
5. F**n’ Redneck Retard! (A Double Slur!)
6. ET the Retard
7. Funny Stupid Retard Moron
8. jaike is a creepy retard
9. Beetlejuice vs. Gary the Retard
10.Ultimate BK Retard Ding Fries Are Done Tribute