Interesting responses. As I understand it, this word was an extremely typical slur in the US until relatively recently, but even since debates on political correctness have grown in signficance there are still popular comedians who defend its usage. So I imagine you might hear it there, even if many consider it offensive. In the UK there are of course similar debates over vocabulary, but this word was never very popular.

It's common. It's not old-fashioned. The original medical usage is old-fashioned, so much that it's not "politically correct" or acceptable in a professional capacity to say use this word any more. But the modern insult is very common today.

Hello Bean 👋🏻 No, the word "retarded" is not considered polite or appropriate to use, especially when referring to people with intellectual disabilities. It's considered offensive and hurtful. While it might have been used more commonly in the past, it's now widely recognized as a harmful slur. It's important to use respectful language, even in casual conversation. If you want to express that someone is not intelligent or quick-witted, there are many other words you can use that are more appropriate and less offensive, such as "slow," "stupid," or "dumb." However, even these words should be used with caution, as they can still be hurtful. It's always best to choose your words carefully and to be mindful of the impact they may have on others. ————————— Why don't you book a trial lesson with me right now?! There's a lot we can do together.😎🚀✌🏻

Yes, here in England is the same as Dan posted about America. It’s best not used, unless you’re talking about yourself in a self-deprecating way. I’m so retarded, I keep forgetting to do that important thing,

In the US it's old fashioned and considered offensive by some nowadays. Especially calling a person a 'retard' is quite offensive. In the example above, the person could say someting like, "I'm just trying to find someone who is not an idiot/moron/ etc" They just mean they want someone who doesn't act stupid, etc. i.e. If a person means the actual literal meaning, nowadays we would use terms like: mentally challenged/disabled, neurodivergent. I'm sure there are other terms as well.