To complain about this language, I think it's disablist?

[Lambzig]

I recently went on a speed awareness course with AA Drivetech. Totally my mistake and stupid fault for speeding and I found the course content interesting and useful.

However, one thing is really bothering me. The course talks a lot about how speeding over 30 mph can have severe and fatal impacts during any accidents. The trainer referred on at least 3 occasions to people being "left as cabbages" or "if it didn't kill you, you would be a cabbage".

I thought it was inappropriate and offensive, and wished I had said something at the time, but the whole delivery was a bit intimidating.

It's just over a week ago now, but its praying on my mind. DH thinks I am being a teeny bit preciou, that they use emotive language and that if I complain it will look like I am being petty for having to go on the course (some people there were so aggressive about it). I think AA would want to stop it being said and that I should complain.

Am I overreacting?

[AnnieLobeseder]

I'd have complained. That's very disablist indeed and downright nasty to boot.

[OwlinaTree]

It's not very pc really. I can see why you would be offended, although i don't expect it was said to belittle the people, as the course would be about prevention of this happening.

Send a letter to say how useful you found the course and it's content but were a little uncomfortable with this language. Often you get asked to evaluate these sort of things, could you ask for an evaluation form?

[OwlinaTree]

its not it's

[quoteunquote]

Please complain it is not acceptable.

[Lambzig]

Owlina, aargghhh, stupid ipad autocorrect, I hate that too

[Itsjustafleshwound]

But yet talking of a vegatative state is okay .... I don't quite know what you could do about it after the event without sounding a bit sensitive

[ilovesooty]

It's not acceptable. Nothing to do with being PC which in itself is a dreadful term.

[cannotfuckingbelievethis]

Instructor was being an arse to use language like that. If it's still bothering you (which is obviously is) it's not too late to complain...

[RatUpADrainpipe]

If you had been really bothered you would have said something to his face at the time. Then you'd have been able to concentrate on what you were actually there for instead of worrying about the instruction being politically correct.

[HotCrossPun]

It's not acceptable language at all.

And nothing to do with being PC ffs.

Calling somebody who has suffered such a severe accident that they are in a vegetative state a 'cabbage' is offensive and unnecessary.

[cannotfuckingbelievethis]

Rat - I disagree, whilst it probably won't have the same impact to complain after the event rather than at the time, not everyone has the confidence or balls basically to pull someone up for something like this. But they can still be deeply offended.

[McNewPants2013]

Why not say the person may be brain dead or in a coma. There is no need to call people who have been in an accident a vegetable.

Op I hope you found the course useful and wasn't to distracted by the offensive comment.

[TimeofChange]

The list of words that are not PC seems to be continually getting longer.

Calling someone in a vegetative a cabbage did not used to be offensive.
It is news to me that it is offensive.

Sorry, I am not meaning to be awkward, but is a 'vegetative' state not offensive too?
There should be an official list of offensive words.

[Ilovemyself]

I have to agree with Timeofchange. The list of words gets longer, and PC speak can make the language unwieldy.

Just because some are offended doesnt mean that things should be changed. After all, you will always find someone offended by something.

[SwishSwoshSwoosh]

I think that if you found it offensive, which you did, you should complain. It is not a term I would use as it seems demeaning.

I think the fact that a word did not used to be considered offensive is irrelevant!

[zatyaballerina]

Oh for gods sake, causing an accident that causes someone to become brain dead is offensive, driving in a manner that could cause someone to become brain dead is offensive, getting the point across to potential speeders by warning them of the consequences is not offensive no matter what descriptions they use. A brain dead person may as well be a cabbage for all the use their brain is, which is why they are described as such and they won't be offended by it because they have no brain functioning to get insulted. Now get insulted by bad driving, if the brain dead could curse anyone it would be the idiots that got them into that situation by selfish, inconsiderate road behaviour.

yabu, precious and very misguided.

[valiumredhead]

Yanbu

[hazeyjane]

'Vegetative state' is a medical term, but referring to someone who suffered horrific brain injury, 'a cabbage' is not.

If a relative was injured in such a way, I think most of us would find it offensive if they were referred to as 'a cabbage'

Nothing to do with being pc, or not being 'allowed' to use certain terms, just common courtesy and common sense.

[Kiriwawa]

I'd complain as well. And no, it's not ok to call someone in a vegetative state a type of vegetable.

'PC speak' doesn't make language unwieldy - you seemed to have no issue with typing vegetative state.

[ilovesooty]

The list of words that are not PC

PC speak


Here we go again.

[ilovesooty]

PC is an irrelevance. There is no 'list of words' or 'PC speak'. Its a myth invented by people who want the freedom to be rude and bigoted

Absolutely.

[McNewPants2013]

The person may not have the skills to be offended, but the families and friend do.

[Secretswitch]

I do not think you are being precious or misguided in the least. As a women with a prosthetic leg, I know I find it delightful when someone refers to me as a cripple or gimp.For God's sake bring back the good old days when we cold just spout whatever racist, homophobic, disabilist, garbage we wanted!
YANBU..