about this story in today's Metro?

[EyelinerQueen]

DP sent me this from the bus this morning. An excerpt from a story about the World Cup opening ceremony.

I know it's not exactly The Washington Post and I'm not at all one of the P.O. brigade but I am genuinely baffled at this.

It's not just me is it?

[tethersend]

What does it say? Am on phone and can't read the photo...

[gordyslovesheep]

I am baffled - can you explain a bit more?

[EyelinerQueen]

Sorry tethers

"Three doves were released by children and a paraplegic in a robot suit delivered the first ceremonial kick of the competition."

[Canus]

What's wrong with that? Sounds ok to me.

[Canthisonebeused]

Not very PC to say "a paraplegic" I suppose but nothing particularly baffling

[MelanieCheeks]

Really? I thought paraplegic was a medical term, I'd never have regarded it as offensive.

[EyelinerQueen]

Really? Referring to someone as 'a paraplegic' is acceptable?

Willing to accept I'm wrong but that seems rather reductive and disablist to me.

Is it ok to describe a child who had Downs Syndrome as a 'Downs Syndrome'? (Giving this example as I've encountered people doing it before).

[SmashleyHop]

Paraplegic is a medical term- I thought this thread was going to be about how boring the opening ceremonies were.. I'll go now.

[SomethingAboutNothing]

Doesn't paraplegic just refer to their level of paralysis? Is quadriplegic also 'not grey PC'? How should we refer to somebody with this condition? (Am I allowed to say disability still?)

[SomethingAboutNothing]

• not VERY

[Canthisonebeused]

Me too melanie, I'm just guessing really and come up with it possibly being labelling? But I'm not sure any other way of wording it. A man who is paraplegic, a paraplegic man. No idea I think there is no other way of phrasing it though.

[Andrewofgg]

Paraplegic should be used as an adjective, not a noun, but this is an improvement on the days when paraplegic people were hidden from view in case they caused upset, so I think the glass is more than half full.

[Nancy66]

Wasn't a paraplegic wearing a negro coloured shirt was it?

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

I'm hemiplegic and I'd prefer to be referred to as a person with hemiplegia rather than a hemiplegic. My hemi doesn't define me, I'm still a person first.

[dawndonnaagain]

It is unacceptable. The person with paraplegia is a person. That's all there is too it. I shall be complaining to The Metro.

[EyelinerQueen]

Paraplegic is a medical term.

The person is not just their medical condition. Presumably they are a human being who exists beyond the description of their illness. To describe them purely as their disability seems incredibly outdated and discriminatory to me.

There are a dozen other ways they could have worded it to describe a person who happens to be paraplegic and their part in the ceremony.

It's The Metro so shitty journalism is order of the day. I'm just surprised so many people think it's ok.

[EyelinerQueen]

Oh thank feck some sane posters have turned up! Thank you armani and Dawn.

And at Nancy. I did wonder if I am today's Asda/Negro poster!

[Canthisonebeused]

I don't think anyone is particularly suggesting it is ok. Most posters who didn't see the obvious offence have also questioned weather it is ok, have they not?

[bauhausfan]

It's not ok - the person is paraplegic not 'a paraplegic' - they have left out the bit where he/she is a human being and much, much more than one aspect of their physical condition.

I feel the same way (as the mother of a child with epilepsy) when I read about people being referred to as 'an epileptic'. Grr! It is dehumanising and language is the first step to eugenics.

[dawndonnaagain]

to it Apologies!

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

You're totally right - yes, paraplegia is what the individual has, not what he is!

[Canthisonebeused]

I think that's wrong too bahuh. After more consideration Would it not be better to say the person has paraplegia.

[fromparistoberlin73]

its a fact, nothing more, nothing less. not an opinion, or a judgement but a fact.

that said "a paraplegic person" might have been better

but presumable there was areason for chossing someone with this condition to do it, hence why its been mentioned?

[Deverethemuzzler]

Why couldn't they say 'a man'

why do they have to reduce him to a medical term?

My daughter was once called 'a luekemic' by a nurse.

My beautiful 12 year old daughter who has a name was referred to as a cancer.

Maybe think of it that way, apply it to someone you know and love and then reconsider how you feel about this method of labeling people

[Nancy66]

There's a chance, as the person was in a robot suit, that you couldn't tell whether a man or woman?

Don't know. didn't watch