Let's all mock the disabled

petrolcan

Turtle_ wrote: »

I don't think anyone means any harm to any disabled people when they say things like that,

What about calling a gay man a queer?

Turtle_ wrote: »

but harm isn't measured by intent, it's about the effect it has on the other person.

A few years ago I read a blog post by an American woman who has a daughter with various disabilities and who is retarded. She made the point that her daughter is a lovely warm and loving person, and it's hurtful to see retarded used as an insult.

Now, I think it's may a little bit sensitive, but if I walked in the shoes of a disabled person's parent and carer, maybe I would be a bit sensitive.

I think she has something of a point, ultimately. Why use retard to describe something that is just stupid. Why, unintentionally or otherwise, hurt the most vulnerable in society and their families. They are people who are loved and valued and as worthy of respect as you or I. They aren't some lesser form who are fodder for jokes and insults.

This, in a nutshell. Thank you.

osarusan

'Spasticated' was a great variation when I was a kid.

petrolcan

Omackeral wrote: »

Sorry I misquoted. To be honest, the term spastic is obsolete I'd say. I certainly never knew that's what spa was short for when growing up. We'd call each other spas in the same way you'd call someone an eejit. Would you feel the same if someone called another individual a lunatic?

So obsolete it was used in a post in the last few hours.

When I was young I used the same language, I've grown up since.

I'd certainly query why someone was calling the individual a lunatic.

petrolcan

Lou Scaunt wrote: »

Ring the Guards OP.

People can't be allowed to say words that offend you


I've taken to browsing the Internet in a blindfold, just to be safe.

At what point did I say I was offended?

Lou Scaunt

petrolcan wrote: »

At what point did I say I was offended?

Did you know that certain retards are the only humans capable of licking their eyebrows?

Mod-Banned

Atari Jaguar

Lou Scaunt wrote: »

Did you know that certain retards are the only humans capable of licking their eyebrows?

Jaysus

petrolcan

FortySeven wrote: »

No, no, no. Her daughter is not retarded. That word was replaced by intellectually challenged or disabled. Learning difficulties is also used.

That's why retarded is ok to use as an insult because it is no longer used to describe people who have real issues.

Wrong.

I was with a gentleman with Tourettes the other day. His day wasn't going so well and his tics were pretty bad. Group of young males walked by calling him a retard and spaz. He certainly felt it was an insult.

FortySeven

petrolcan wrote: »

Wrong.

I was with a gentleman with Tourettes the other day. His day wasn't going so well and his tics were pretty bad. Group of young males walked by calling him a retard and spaz. He certainly felt it was an insult.

Doubt it happened but carry on regardless.

jimmynokia

Wibbs wrote: »

Would "cretin" or "moron" or "imbecile" annoy you as much? Why not? They're all words once used in medicine to describe different conditions affecting the brain, just like "retard", though retard/retarded has far more meanings beyond mental disability. It seems some words are singled out for ire's sake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9svSePWwisQ

petrolcan

FortySeven wrote: »

Doubt it happened but carry on regardless.

Doubt away.

For reference though, I've been working with people who have learning and physical disabilities for over 20 years.

It happens more than you know.

hairyslug

I know we can't judge the general populace on boards but I never knew that this was so common. We have 2 sn children and I really hope that by the time they are grown up they are not subjected to this.

FortySeven

petrolcan wrote: »

Doubt away.

For reference though, I've been working with people who have learning and physical disabilities for over 20 years.

It happens more than you know.

So what did you do about it?

petrolcan

FortySeven wrote: »

So what did you do about it?

Called the police, gave a good description of the group.

Haven't heard anything back as yet.

FortySeven

petrolcan wrote: »

Called the police, gave a good description of the group.

Haven't heard anything back as yet.

Good. I hope they try to catch them but I doubt it.

I don't advocate what you suggest and would have probably got myself arrested had someone done that to someone I was with if they were intellectually challenged or disabled but I'm afraid that is different from me calling my friends names in jest. Its my business. Nobody gets to tell me my business.

petrolcan

hairyslug wrote: »

For some reason, the word retard really annoys me more than any of the others.

As for use on boards, stick retard into the search bar and you will see how common it is.

Spastic gives over 1300 results although some of them are genuine
http://www.boards.ie/search/submit/?query=spastic

Retard gives over 29000 results, again some of them are genuine usage
http://www.boards.ie/search/submit/?query=retard

Mong gives over 1500 results
http://www.boards.ie/search/submit/?query=mong

Window Licker gives over 200 results
http://www.boards.ie/search/submit/?query=%22window+licker%22

petrolcan

petrolcan wrote: »

So obsolete it was used in a post in the last few hours.

When I was young I used the same language, I've grown up since.

I'd certainly query why someone was calling the individual a lunatic.

Obsolete in so much that it's not used in medical or official jargon anymore. It means something totally different in the vernacular. You'd easily hear someone called a lunatic if he placed a 100 euro bet on an outsider in the bookies or a mad man. You'd maybe hear fellas or girls being called psychos or nutters if they did something a bit, I'm gonna say it, mad. They're turns of phrase.

As for the queer thing, isn't LGBT now known as LGBTQ in some circles? With the Q standing for queer?

petrolcan

petrolcan wrote: »

I was with a gentleman with Tourettes the other day. His day wasn't going so well and his tics were pretty bad. Group of young males walked by calling him a retard and spaz. He certainly felt it was an insult.

If that happened, then they are scumbags plain and simple.

glynf

longshanks wrote: »

Windowlicker

https://youtu.be/7MBaEEODzU0

Tune, come to daddy is better IMO.

SkinnyBuddha

FortySeven wrote: »

that is different from me calling my friends names in jest. Its my business. Nobody gets to tell me my business.

Pretty much sums it up...again its all about context.

petrolcan

FortySeven wrote: »

Good. I hope they try to catch them but I doubt it.

I don't advocate what you suggest and would have probably got myself arrested had someone done that to someone I was with if they were intellectually challenged or disabled but I'm afraid that is different from me calling my friends names in jest. Its my business. Nobody gets to tell me my business.

But I'm not telling you to do anything. What you do is entirely up to you.

All I'm asking for is that people consider the language they use.

FortySeven

I've spent time on the psychiatric ward. I've no issue with people using lunatic.

SkinnyBuddha

glynf wrote: »

Tune, come to daddy is better IMO.

2 great (albeit disturbing ) videos

petrolcan

Omackeral wrote: »

Obsolete in so much that it's not used in medical or official jargon anymore. It means something totally different in the vernacular. You'd easily hear someone called a lunatic if he placed a 100 euro bet on an outsider in the bookies or a mad man. You'd maybe hear fellas or girls being called psychos or nutters if they did something a bit, I'm gonna say it, mad. They're turns of phrase.

To be honest, I have no issue with lunatic if used in the right situation.

Omackeral wrote: »

As for the queer thing, isn't LGBT now known as LGBTQ in some circles? With the Q standing for queer?

So it does but would you call the gay fella queer if you didn't know him?

petrolcan

petrolcan wrote: »

To be honest, I have no issue with lunatic if used in the right situation.

Which would be what situation? A lunatic is an archaic term for someone with a mental illness is it not? Would it be to describe someone that fits that bill? To me that's outdated and a little crass. However, saying Mikey is a lunatic on the beer is alright to anyone I know.

petrolcan wrote: »

So it does but would you call the gay fella queer if you didn't know him?

No because I don't know him and that's not how I describe gay people in everyday parlance anyway. But funny enough (and maybe ironically) I'd call my best mate a queer if I saw him writing a soppy valentine's card to his missus. I'd do the exact same to my brother if he was writing one to his boyfriend and it was lovey dovey. Nothing to do with sexual orientation, just teasing their mushyness.

Widdershins

It's not the fact that they're not directed at disabled people that matters here. It's the usage of the terms as a synonym for bad or stupid person, and a way to convey dislike or inferiority of a person, by likening them to the above descriptions. Some people are ignorant and can't get their heads around that.
Sign of a crap character in my view.

And they'll argue til blue in the face that there's no harm in it so I just unfollow threads like this instead of wasting the energy on them..

SkinnyBuddha

Widdershins wrote: »

Sign of a crap character in my view.

Really ? So I'm of crap character for calling my mate a spa for filling up his tank with diesel when its an unleaded car he has been driving for 7+ years?....eh ok:rolleyes:

And they'll argue til blue in the face that there's no harm in it so I just unfollow threads like this instead of wasting the energy on them..

off ye go then back to your safe place....have to laugh at you for finding the energy to post in it , in the first place.

foggy_lad

Most of these terms come from common usage within the medical profession and especially the psychiatric services, words like Bewildered and demented and tormented sat next to spastic, imbecile, insane, deranged, hysterical and several other medical terms used to describe different illnesses.

petrolcan

foggy_lad wrote: »

Most of these terms come from common usage within the medical profession and especially the psychiatric services, words like Bewildered and demented and tormented sat next to spastic, imbecile, insane, deranged, hysterical and several other medical terms used to describe different illnesses.

That doesn't mean that they should be continued to be used. Especially as the way they are used is in a derogatory manner.

Widdershins

SkinnyBuddha wrote: »

Really ? So I'm of crap character for calling my mate a spa for filling up his tank with diesel when its an unleaded car he has been driving for 7+ years?....eh ok:rolleyes:



off ye go then back to your safe place....have to laugh at you for finding the energy to post in it , in the first place.

Yep, reinforced by your parting comment..but it's forgiveable since you yourself lack the capacity to understand what you're doing wrong. And don't worry, people like you are so far beneath me you couldn't possibly bother me.

I post once or twice in discussions like this so others know they're not the only ones who object to vile thoughtless behaviour and the world isn't completely full of d1cks..much the same as I wouldn't want someone to feel alone with racists or homophobes.

Widdershins

Widdershins wrote: »

Yep, reinforced by your parting comment..but it's forgiveable since you yourself lack the capacity to understand what you're doing wrong. And don't worry, people like you are so far beneath me you couldn't possibly bother me.

I post once or twice in discussions like this so others know they're not the only ones who object to vile thoughtless behaviour and the world isn't completely full of d1cks..much the same as I wouldn't want someone to feel alone with racists or homophobes.

Have you never called someone mad or a mental case or a lunatic?