Politically correctness

Fantastic Mr Fox

Just had a discussion with a colleague, who thinks its ok/politically correct to use the word 'cripple' when talking about disabled people. Am I wrong, or is that pretty un-pc and also very offensive?

cat_with_no_tail

He's obviously a spastic, probably has bad aids too.

El Capitano

IIRC, it's only deaf people who don't mind being called deaf...

Funny though the above is, I actually think it's true. A lot of the other organisations and societies sort of change the name to be politically correct, but the deaf society have kept theirs as is.

stumpyjon

It's more than likely very insulting and politically uncorrect. The trouble is each minority group seems to have a favoured term to describe themseleves. Trouble is it chanegs regularly as eventually it is percieved to have become stigmatised.

Then again you'll find other diabled people who will get very annoyed if you appear to pussy foot around their condition. You can't win.

bails87

I think 'cripple' would be incredibly offensive. I mean, wasn't there a guy on here a while ago who'd lost a leg, but was asking about those oval chainrings? He's disabled, and I'm sure he'd admit that, but to say he's 'crippled' is very demeaning when he's going out on his MTB.

whyamihere

Cripple's insanely offensive. I used to get called it a lot, really brought the rage up...

El Capitano

bails87 wrote:

I think 'cripple' would be incredibly offensive. I mean, wasn't there a guy on here a while ago who'd lost a leg, but was asking about those oval chainrings? He's disabled, and I'm sure he'd admit that, but to say he's 'crippled' is very demeaning when he's going out on his MTB.

A couple of years ago, whilst taking part in the Microsoft UK Challenge in Mid Wales, I was coming up to the end of a 2 hour stage of MTBing, quite a hard climb towards the finish line. Everyone from the other teams who weren't taking part in this stage had lined the boards (tour de France style), cheering and clapping and generally being very encouraging. It wasn't for me though. It was for the guy without any legs (double amputee above the knee), who not only caught me, but overtook me in the last 50 yards.

To say I was impressed and truly humbled would be an understatement. This guy could not be described as disabled let alone crippled.

Andy

whyamihere wrote:

Cripple's insanely offensive. I used to get called it a lot, really brought the rage up...

Erectional dysfunction they call it nowadays I think

Northwind

I used it to describe myself when I was still, well, a useless crippo But if you'd called me that to my face you'd have got a crutch right where it hurts...

"Political correctness" my bum, it's just manners. Saying "differently abled" or whatever new-speak people try and convince you you're supposed to use instead is no better, it just sounds more stupid, but it's the intent that counts not the word.

blister pus

I still call midgets midgets because it's funny and they love it.

yoohoo999

i prefer efficiency over political correctness.

i'm not spending my whole life trying to remember the current word i'm supposed to use for every variation of person in the world.

they don't give a hoot unless it's used in a manner designed to be derogatory.

i find it hilarious that people I work with find it acceptable to call me a "jock" in a lighthearted manner, but get offended when I call them "english scum".

I'm far to busy to refer to the latest version of the politically correct reference guide. If I use a term that is accurate, and you don't like it, then that's your problem.

If you are in a wheelchair, I will refer to you as being disabled. Your legs don't work properly, that's why you are in a wheel chair. I'm not being callous, but even the WHO classifies disability as:

Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.

as long as there is no malice in you use of your chosen term and you have used a term which is accurate, then what's the problem?

Interesting, the only people who seem to make a problem out of it are those that the word doesn't even relate to!

Don't even get me started on the equalities of discrimiation.

I was walking with my black mate through manchester about 3 weeks ago when two other black lads stopped us and asked my mate if he would led him £1. My mate said no and they turned to me and said "what about you whitey?"

What peeved me the most was that my mate didn't even blink, not really noticing the effect of the term they used. I imagine it wouldn't have went down as well if I had said "no, sorry nigger"

I'm the least racist person in the world. I hate everyone equally. But I do think there is an odd balance of PC and racisim in this country.

OwenBird

Fair points. I am surprised at the continuing marketing of a BBC radio station as being 'black' music, and the MOBO awards.

Perhaps they ARE marketing to black people, and the music may have black origins, but in a society which is always going on about being inclusive, these points stick in my craw.

Porgy

yoohoo999 wrote:

I'm the least racist person in the world. I hate everyone equally. But I do think there is an odd balance of PC and racisim in this country.

I've lived in the Brixton area since the 80s - on and off - and have got used to the double standards in racism.

I've been shoved off pavements, called names and threatened on occasion just becasue of my colour. Which was odd because in Plymouth I got beaten up by the National front and then in London I got abuse from some black people.

I went out with a black girl for a couple of years and she kept me informed on what some black guys were saying about me behind my back.

Water off a duck's back to me though - I accept racism runs in all directions and take none of it personally.

adb1006

Cat With No Tail wrote:

probably has bad aids too

PMSL

Anyone else picturing the musical in Team America

OwenBird

Porgy wrote:

yoohoo999 wrote:

I'm the least racist person in the world. I hate everyone equally. But I do think there is an odd balance of PC and racisim in this country.

I've lived in the Brixton area since the 80s - on and off - and have got used to the double standards in racism.

I've been shoved off pavements, called names and threatened on occasion just becasue of my colour. Which was odd because in Plymouth I got beaten up by the National front and then in London I got abuse from some black people.

I went out with a black girl for a couple of years and she kept me informed on what some black guys were saying about me behind my back.

Water off a duck's back to me though - I accept racism runs in all directions and take none of it personally.

...is the right answer. Too bad that a good attitude like yours is even necessary though huh?

Anonymous

i hate political correctness, im sure it all just hippy crap. ive met a few cripples in my time and they were all crippled. thats not my fault.

the whole black music radio station and mobo awards do annoy me slightly, not so much that i will don some cherry red dr martins and a green bomber jacket to go and beat nayone up but i wonder what would happen of such a thing as a white* music radio station or music of white* origins awards** occured what would be the public response?

*insert any colour except black here.
** i dont care that there is supposedly no such thing as white music

OwenBird

Will somebody PLEASE think of the children?!

missmarple

Aren't the BBC cutting back on it's 'Asian Network' broadcasting? I guarantee someone will be in uproar about this, calling it racist and offensive to the community etc - before we know it, it'll be in the Daily Fail or News of the World.

Personally, being the c*nt I am - I still think it is incredibly degrading to be called a 'cripple', I can't imagine how demoralised I'd feel if I were disabled and labelled by employees in a shop (or otherwise) as a cripple.

Porgy

sheepsteeth wrote:

i hate political correctness, im sure it all just hippy crap. ive met a few cripples in my time and they were all crippled. thats not my fault.

the whole black music radio station and mobo awards do annoy me slightly, not so much that i will don some cherry red dr martins and a green bomber jacket to go and beat nayone up but i wonder what would happen of such a thing as a white* music radio station or music of white* origins awards** occured what would be the public response?

*insert any colour except black here.
** i dont care that there is supposedly no such thing as white music

In reailty musics such as jazz, soul and blues have as much to do with white Europen influence as their much touted African roots.

I've never understood this music of black origin boll0cks - especially when you get white people like Eminem winning the awards.

As for poltical correctness - it's crap made up by the right wing press. It is applied by Dozy middle class bints in council offices - and I've met a few - who have read too many right wing tabloids.

It does not stem from the left - never has done. If you want to call a cripple a cripple go ahead - s/he may not want to talk to you afterwards.

what is real - is accepting what people find offensive. As an autistic man there are a few words which if I ever hear used to describe me - then that person is going to get a piece of my mind. If somebody in my company calls me something offensive I will make a grievance. And that's the reality - it's not about political ciorrectness - it's about getting on with one another. It's about not setting out to deliberately cause offensive by using a word guaranteed to cause offence. What's wrong with that?

Lapierre t 400

Political correcteness is a waste of time .you can never please someone as the name you call them will always be the wrong one.

In my class theres a morrocan,a pole,a skinhead,a german, 7 french , Me and a racist teacher and racist comments that would stun the BNP

Lapierre t 400

Political correcteness is a waste of time .you can never please someone as the name you call them will always be the wrong one.

In my class theres a morrocan,a pole,a skinhead,a german, 7 french , Me and a racist teacher and racist comments that would stun the BNP

Lapierre t 400

Political correcteness is a waste of time .you can never please someone as the name you call them will always be the wrong one.

In my class theres a morrocan,a pole,a skinhead,a german, 7 french , Me and a racist teacher and racist comments that would stun the BNP

Lapierre t 400

Political correcteness is a waste of time .you can never please someone as the name you call them will always be the wrong one.

In my class theres a morrocan,a pole,a skinhead,a german, 7 french , Me and a racist teacher and racist comments that would stun the BNP

yoohoo999

ok ok, you made your point (5 times!)

Anonymous

i feel guilty about my cripple comment, it was just a joke as we are in the crudcatcher, ive never called a person a cripple and know its a terrible thing to say to someone but a good point has been made:

PC is a difficult subject as i think that it is not the business of the person saying something to decide if it is offensive, it is the busines of the person hearing it. if something i say is deemed offensive by someone who hears it, then whther i meant to or not, i have been offensive.

of course, this doesnt count if someone over hears me calling my wife "my nigger". i figured its just a word, i hear black people saying the word on the telly and it seems acceptable so i cant see why im not allowed to use it to refer to someone i like. taking a word and saying im not allowed to use it is just plain racist.

missmarple

Speaking of disabled:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Strang ... 3031?f=rss

Northwind

yoohoo999 wrote:

If you are in a wheelchair, I will refer to you as being disabled. Your legs don't work properly, that's why you are in a wheel chair.

Would anyone have a problem with that? Apart from the loonies who'd call it "differently abled" but everyone knows they're not to be taken seriously.

whyamihere

Northwind wrote:

yoohoo999 wrote:

If you are in a wheelchair, I will refer to you as being disabled. Your legs don't work properly, that's why you are in a wheel chair.

Would anyone have a problem with that? Apart from the loonies who'd call it "differently abled" but everyone knows they're not to be taken seriously.

Well, if you walk up to someone and say "You're disabled" you'll probably get a punch. Otherwise, disabled's fine.

Anonymous

BMW 335d wrote:

Speaking of disabled:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Strang ... 3031?f=rss

i thought this was the best para graph i had ever read:

most hilarious author ever wrote:

A quadriplegic man has been seriously injured at an AC/DC concert after his friend hit the joystick of his motorised wheelchair, catapulting him into the mosh pit.

until i read the next one:

most hilarious author ever wrote:

Witnesses said a metal pin used by the 31-year-old man to manoeuvre objects embedded in his eye as his chair crashed more than a metre to the floor of Brisbane's Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre.

Kitty

Yeah, my best friend is disabled, legally she has the classification but if you referred to her as being disabled you can expect her to rip your head off.

I'm a disabled student according to uni, but to hell would I think as myself as disabled ever.

Andy

I'd say kitty is disabled on the basis she is allergic to everything.