Are we becoming too p.c. ?

starbelgrade · 20-08-2012 12:40AM

wprathead wrote: »

again see my other post
[*]Person HAS disability
[*]Person WITH a physical handicap
both them ok

However "Handicapped person" or "disabled person" isn't cool
Person centred language ftw

Person centred language, or just anal?

ftw

woodoo · 20-08-2012 12:41AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

There's certainly very little difference between the words 'handicapped' and 'disabled'. In fact, they are almost interchangable in most uses of the words.

The fact that someone decided along the line that one was 'less offensive' than the other makes no real sense.

differently abled wasn't that one of the new terms :rolleyes:

Alan Hansen got into trouble for using the word coloured. He probably could have used a different term but he would have got less outrage if he had thrown an old lady down a flight of stairs.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 20-08-2012 12:41AM

RedRightHand wrote: »

There was a time when itinerants were proud to be called tinkers. Now they must be called travellers. I could never figure out who decides these things. It can get confusing like in America you can refer to 'people of colour' but not 'coloured people'.

Yes and their traditional trade of slaughtering knackered horses. The 'Knacker's Yard', hence the term.

fussyonion · 20-08-2012 12:42AM

Friend of mine was singing "Baa baa black sheep" to her child but instead of saying "black sheep", she was saying "baa baa lovely sheep".
I asked her why and she said "Oh they don't like putting the word "black" into the song at my child's school-it's seen as non PC".
My jaw hit the floor.

wp_rathead · 20-08-2012 12:43AM

fussyonion wrote: »

Friend of mine was singing "Baa baa black sheep" to her child but instead of saying "black sheep", she was saying "baa baa lovely sheep".
I asked her why and she said "Oh they don't like putting the word "black" into the song at my child's school-it's seen as non PC".
My jaw hit the floor.

Well that is just ****ing dumb
**** like that would piss me off alright

efb · 20-08-2012 12:44AM

woodoo wrote: »

differently abled wasn't that one of the new terms :rolleyes:

Alan Hansen got into trouble for using the word coloured. He probably could have used a different term but he would have got less outrage if he had thrown an old lady down a flight of stairs.

i doubt that.

starbelgrade · 20-08-2012 12:45AM

fussyonion wrote: »

Friend of mine was singing "Baa baa black sheep" to her child but instead of saying "black sheep", she was saying "baa baa lovely sheep".
I asked her why and she said "Oh they don't like putting the word "black" into the song at my child's school-it's seen as non PC".
My jaw hit the floor.

That's ridiculous. The song is about taxes on wool... someone decided a few years ago in the States that it had something to do with slavery, but that was proven to be a crock.

woodoo · 20-08-2012 12:46AM

efb wrote: »

i doubt that.

:rolleyes:

mikemac1 · 20-08-2012 12:46AM

handicapped

disabled

differently abled

Phew, third time lucky

Did any of you catch a nígger by the toe when you were a young un?

Morlar · 20-08-2012 12:47AM

HalloweenJack wrote: »

I have a brother who is severely mentally and physically handicapped. When he was born ('86), the accepted term was "handicapped" and that's the word I and my family always use to describe him.

However, I have been challenged many times by people on it. I have been told that it is offensive and been told to use alternatives, like disabled, special needs, physically and mentally challenged.

Really, I can't see any difference between all these.

I think 'handicapped' is fine. I think sometimes it's as much about what one person hears as it is about what the other person says. 'Handicapped' can have a positive connotation, 'working through a challenging adversity' and that kind of thing. 'Differently abled' is just an insulting, patronising twist of language imo.

If you have a negative view to begin with then you might need to have the descriptive words sugarcoated and pc'd up for your delicate ears. If you don't start from the presumption of a negative connotation then the word's probably don't need to be changed. What grates me about the overall issue is when people/groups have the arrogance to appoint themselves to be the 'language czars' on behalf of everyone else.

eth0 · 20-08-2012 12:48AM

But sir... you are blik

racso1975 · 20-08-2012 12:48AM

fussyonion wrote: »

Friend of mine was singing "Baa baa black sheep" to her child but instead of saying "black sheep", she was saying "baa baa lovely sheep".
I asked her why and she said "Oh they don't like putting the word "black" into the song at my child's school-it's seen as non PC".
My jaw hit the floor.

My heart does skip a beat every time i hear him say "inny meeney miney mo catch a............"

Thank god he does not say what we did as a child

wp_rathead · 20-08-2012 12:49AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

anal

ftw

agreed:D

ahnowbrowncow · 20-08-2012 12:52AM

mikemac1 wrote: »

handicapped

disabled

differently abled

Phew, third time lucky

Did any of you catch a nígger by the toe when you were a young un?

No :eek:

They're too damn fast

mikemac1 · 20-08-2012 12:52AM

Enid Blyton may have sold 600 million books but her editors know better, the books are edited these days

The language she used just won't do

I read her as a child, clearly turned me into a flamin racist

Catchy tune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPkh0lxFOhE

couldntthink · 20-08-2012 12:54AM

Bannasidhe wrote: »

dunno how pleased those of West Indian descent would be to be called 'African' tbh.

Probably the same as white africans :rolleyes:

Sir Gallagher · 20-08-2012 12:54AM

If it wasn't for P.C we'd probably still have these in Smyths.

racso1975 · 20-08-2012 12:59AM

Sir Gallagher wrote: »

If it wasn't for P.C we'd probably still have these in Smyths.

Where was it said that there was no need for P.C. what i asked was had it gone too far.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 20-08-2012 01:00AM

couldntthink wrote: »

Probably the same as white africans :rolleyes:

Namibia seems to be the last bastion of white Africa. The scales have shifted in SA, Mandela played his cards right.

Greentopia · 20-08-2012 01:00AM

HalloweenJack wrote: »

I have a brother who is severely mentally and physically handicapped. When he was born ('86), the accepted term was "handicapped" and that's the word I and my family always use to describe him.

However, I have been challenged many times by people on it. I have been told that it is offensive and been told to use alternatives, like disabled, special needs, physically and mentally challenged.

Really, I can't see any difference between all these.

I wouldn't see much difference between handicapped and disabled really. They're both negative descriptors. Wouldn't it be fairer and more respectful not to define people by what they can't do but rather by what they actually are-a person with special needs, or with mental or physical challenges? not saying you're being disrespectful to your brother, he may not care what the people who love him refer to him as, as long as it's not a term of abuse, just that perhaps you haven't thought of it that way.

Imagine if you were someone with a physical or mental challenge, wouldn't you prefer if people didn't categorise you as handicapped or disabled for the rest of your life and define you as such? I think I would. Those terms seem to me to disregard or count as nought all the positive talents and capabilities that people like that still retain.
At the end of the day though I think it comes down to what the person with the 'disability' feel themselves and what terms they prefer used and what they find offensive or not (as they're not a homogeneous group and views no doubt differ about what is thought of as acceptable terminology within that community); and finding that out is as simple as just politely asking them if you're unsure.

To me that's not being PC, it's just being polite and considerate.

cristoir · 20-08-2012 01:00AM

I hate the way political correctness has become a catch all phrase to denote any form of over-zealously imposed social policy. We should remember that political correctness as a term was never something advocated by either social liberals or progressives. There has never been a Political Correctness Movement. The term has always been meant as a pejorative.

It was created in spin rooms during the US culture wars of the 90's to tarnish the social progress of the time. Things like not insulting people based on arbitrary characteristic's are put in the same boat as ridiculous health and safety initiatives like not letting kids run in school yards.

racso1975 · 20-08-2012 01:04AM

Greentopia wrote: »

I wouldn't see much difference between handicapped and disabled really. They're both negative descriptors. Wouldn't it be fairer and more respectful not to define people by what they can't do but rather by what they actually are-a person with special needs, or with mental or physical challenges? not saying you're being disrespectful to your brother, he may not care what the people who love him refer to him as, as long as it's not a term of abuse, just that perhaps you haven't thought of it that way.

Imagine if you were someone with a physical or mental challenge, wouldn't you prefer if people didn't categorise you as handicapped or disabled for the rest of your life and define you as such? I think I would. Those terms seem to me to disregard or count as nought all the positive talents and capabilities that people like that still retain.
At the end of the day though I think it comes down to what the person with the 'disability' feel themselves and what terms they prefer used and what they find offensive or not (as they're not a homogeneous group and views no doubt differ about what is thought of as acceptable terminology within that community); and finding that out is as simple as just politely asking them if you're unsure.

To me that's not being PC, it's just being polite and considerate.

The bit in bold.......if your being all pc why are their needs special versus mine???? Surely they are just different

Greentopia · 20-08-2012 01:05AM

mikemac1 wrote: »

Enid Blyton may have sold 600 million books but her editors know better, the books are edited these days

The language she used just won't do

I read her as a child, clearly turned me into a flamin racist

I adored the Famous Five series as a child. Unedited versions. The only thing it did to me was fire my imagination, and give me a longing for ginger beer and adventure. Clearly I must have missed something

racso1975 · 20-08-2012 01:07AM

cristoir wrote: »

I hate the way political correctness has become a catch all phrase to denote any form of over-zealously imposed social policy. We should remember that political correctness as a term never something advocated by either social liberals or progressives. There has never been a Political Correctness Movement. The term has always been meant as a pejorative.

It was created in spin rooms during the US culture wars of the 90's to tarnish the social progress of the time. Things like not insulting people based on arbitrary characteristic's are put in the same boat as ridiculous health and safety initiatives like not letting kids run in school yards.

Given the amount of big words in your sentence i guess you have not drunk as much as me.........I am impressed by the above so i concur with your views (possibly till tomorrow)

racso1975 · 20-08-2012 01:08AM

Greentopia wrote: »

I adored the Famous Five series as a child. Unedited versions. The only thing it did to me was fire my imagination, and give me a longing for ginger beer and adventure. Clearly I must have missed something

Bet when you tasted that ginger beer you were sorely disappointed!!!! i thought it was bleedin awful

Greentopia · 20-08-2012 01:09AM

racso1975 wrote: »

The bit in bold.......if your being all pc why are their needs special versus mine???? Surely they are just different

You're the one who says I'm "being all PC", not me. In fact I said it had nothing to do with being PC if you read my post.
And you're being pedantic.

Edit-ah, you're drunk, or well on the way. Never mind, no point in discussing this so.

racso1975 · 20-08-2012 01:11AM

Greentopia wrote: »

You're the one who says I'm "being all PC", not me. In fact I said it had nothing to do with being PC if you read my post.
And you're being pedantic.

Sorry just re-read your post and your right. I am sorry and i was just being pretty pedantic too.

edit: Argh caught out by a ninja edit well played good sir

mikemac1 · 20-08-2012 01:12AM

racso1975 wrote: »

Bet when you tasted that ginger beer you were sorely disappointed!!!! i thought it was bleedin awful

You should have lashings and lashings of it!

Greentopia · 20-08-2012 01:14AM

racso1975 wrote: »

Bet when you tasted that ginger beer you were sorely disappointed!!!! i thought it was bleedin awful

Not awful but not really what I had expected. My expectations were too high!

newmug · 20-08-2012 01:16AM

Greentopia wrote: »

You're the one who says I'm "being all PC", not me. In fact I said it had nothing to do with being PC if you read my post.
And you're being pedantic.

Edit-ah, you're drunk, or well on the way. Never mind, no point in discussing this so.

^^^^^^^ Come on now, he's not drunk. He's just alcoholically induced judgementally impaired. Its not fair to treat him any differently!

Are we becoming too p.c. ?

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