The only reason we know there's intrinsic damage to using the word 'retard' when applied to people is because people who found it offensive complained about it. Well hey look, now it's happening to exotic. We improve. Slowly, but the improvement is there.
The intrinsic damage comes when someone is alienated by it. And a very commen reason for why the offense is taken is because it means "You're not from around here are you? You're not a part of this society. You're Different. Foreign. Other. Alien. Not Native.You don't belong."
You can look up the damn synonyms for the word. You can read all the articles posted here about why people don't like having the word applied to them. You've got a damn clip from the Office highlighting it. What the heck do you mean by ''legit evidence' man?
Ok, how about this. You agree that retard is a damaging word right? WHAT 'legit' EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE FOR THAT?