My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

To find this offensive

418 replies

JingleMyBells · 21/02/2014 14:03

As I was leaving my neurology appointment, I have epilepsy, the receptionist loudly said to her colleague "I nearly had a fit the other night when I saw the state of the house".

To me wrong in many ways. Firstly, wrong terminology secondly, demeaning to people who have SEIZURES, could be upsetting for those newly diagnosed plus just generally inappropriate.

OP posts:
Report
JonSnowKnowsNothing · 21/02/2014 14:04

It's a turn of phrase. It wasn't designed to upset. You sound like you were looking to be offended. YABU

Report
gordyslovesheep · 21/02/2014 14:05

I would assume she meant hissyfit - which is a well known term for a loss of temper

I think you are being a little over sensitive x

Report
spongebob13 · 21/02/2014 14:05

oh sweet jesus its just an expression!! ffs.

Report
JingleMyBells · 21/02/2014 14:06

I find it highly offensive and think she should remember where she is working. I was certainly not looking to be offended.

OP posts:
Report
MikeLitoris · 21/02/2014 14:06

How is it demeaning? Genuine question.

Probably a badly thought out comment but I don't see that it is offensive.

Report
BigPawsBrown · 21/02/2014 14:06

I don't think it's professional for a nurse in a neurology department to joke about fits. YANBU.

Report
WeeClype · 21/02/2014 14:06

YABU

jeez oh, everything these days offends someone

Report
ArsePaste · 21/02/2014 14:07

I have epilepsy. I frequently have "fits" at the state of things. It's nothing to do with my seizures, and I wouldn't have been offended.

That said, this was at your neurology clinic, so you might want to have a word with them about being a little more understanding regarding the issues of the patients surrounding them.

Report
CoffeeTea103 · 21/02/2014 14:07

Yabu, sorry but it's just an expression.

Report
JingleMyBells · 21/02/2014 14:07

So she was jerking around on the floor unable to speak and unconscious. Hmm.

OP posts:
Report
YouStayClassySanDiego · 21/02/2014 14:07

You were over sensitive , she didn't mean to offend you.

Report
gordyslovesheep · 21/02/2014 14:07

hissy fit - from the term 'hysterical fit of anger' - fit does not and never has solely referred to an epileptic seizure - so sorry, yabu

Report
JeanSeberg · 21/02/2014 14:08

I find it highly offensive

As the great Stephen Fry famously said "So fucking what".

Report
spongebob13 · 21/02/2014 14:08

I often here "god almighty it drives me mental"! I suffer depression and attend counselling. should I be offended?

Report
curiousgeorgie · 21/02/2014 14:08

YABU, you knew what she meant and its a perfectly acceptable turn of phrase.

Report
ArsePaste · 21/02/2014 14:08

^"So she was jerking around on the floor unable to speak and unconscious. Hmm."

Not all seizures are like this. Mine aren't.

Report
Martorana · 21/02/2014 14:08

Under the circumstances- there is obviously a training need.

Under any other circumstances- just an expression.

Report
Sarahschuster · 21/02/2014 14:09

I've had depression. If somebody at a doctor's surgery said "I was so depressed about the state of my house", I would not find it at all offensive. It is a turn of phrase, as is "having a fit".

Report
AnnabelleLee · 21/02/2014 14:09

If its the wrong terminology how does it relate to you at all?
I have a son with epilepsy, I don't find it offensive. A) because he doesn't have "fits", he has seizures, so its obviously an entirely different word which is unrelated to his epilepsy and b) everyone knows this colloquial usage as its a long established one.

Plus what is demeaning about it anyway? Hmm Epilepsy is not something to be ashamed of, merely a neurological difference.

Report
spongebob13 · 21/02/2014 14:09

ok now you sound unhinged with your last comment. eyeroll

Report
FoxesRevenge · 21/02/2014 14:09

YABU

There are all kinds of 'fits'. Fits of laughter for example.

Report
JingleMyBells · 21/02/2014 14:10

Well I was offended and that is what matters

OP posts:
Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

HyvaPaiva · 21/02/2014 14:10

So she was jerking around on the floor unable to speak and unconscious. Hmm.

Hmm FFS.

She was using an IDIOM. Are you always this literal? Your username suggests that you understand wordplay and non-literal use of language. Your reaction makes you sound like you look for opportunities to be offended.

Report
Saucia · 21/02/2014 14:10

Nothing more than a foot in mouth situation because of where she was. Fit has more than one meaning, if she had used the word seizure it would have been insensitive, but she didn’t.

Report
UriGeller · 21/02/2014 14:10

Well its your right to find whatever you like offensive. Its completely subjective based on your own experiences.

Its not good for your psychological health though.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.