to be annoyed that yet again eastenders used the expresion"epi"

i have never heard the term 'epi' used as it was in eastenders in rl, it make me think more of epi pens rather than anything else.

complain to the beeb

Switch it off.

Eastenders offends me everytime I watch it. It's all shouting and abuse. I don't get how people can watch it or even why it wins any awards. It's the darkside of humanity. Give me corrie any day of the week.

"To have a paddy offends "

what's to have a paddy?never heard that one.
although to be honest whenever i go over to England the bigotry i receive just shocks me.it doesn't offend me,i'm just amazed there are people who actually believe in that kind of shite.

Why go to such lengths to defend using a term that is offensive to many?

Why not just pick your words more carefully?!

Edam, I agree with you completely on everything you've said on this thread about 'epi', Mongol' spazz...

But when it comes to paddy, you are like the mugggle poster.

To have a paddy offends me and it makes me so sad and a bit angry to see people defend its use the way SOME people on this thread will actuall defend using epi.

I suppose they do edam, or they are just plain lazy and its easier to speak, than think.

Cola, if someone elderly uses mongol, I might accept the argument that they are just out of touch with what's acceptable and what isn't (although it's been out of use for a bloody long time). But someone aged under 70 who uses discriminatory language about disabled people has no excuse whatever stories they may invent once it is pointed out to them.

Amazing how many people suddenly claim to be experts in etymology when their prejudices are explosed.

I agree Riven, but language is learnt from the very beginning, so words that are thrown around become peoples language. There is an old lady at church who always asks me about my aunt, other people around cring when she says mongel, and I will say, "Shes fine Mrs B" she means no harm, she one of only a handful who ask, who remember her from being a baby, cause 50 years ago, a child with disabilities was like a leper.

My point is that some words get lost, the meaning pales, and people dont understand, but thats how language has always been, it takes what it wants and leaves the rest behind, and through time no-one really sees what it was in the first place.

But yes Riven I agree challenge those who use it to hurt, and those who use in through ignorance, but I am not telling Mrs B that she is not pc, she'll probably deck me with her handbag!!

No Cazcaz, crickey let me explain, if someone says oh your aunts mongel, they are not insulting me or my aunt, they just arent aware that words have moved on, in their day it was the normal word to use, or its been passed down through language in families, thats not someone trying to upset me or mine, it just become part of the way they speak, its very hard to educate people to change, especially if its always been that way.

Is my point being lost here!!

Sorry wrong word, offend should be defend, theres a misuse for you!!

at okay with mongol!

Why is it so difficult to respect that other people can and probably will be offended by banding these words around.

Don't use them! It's distressing!

2shoes, thats not what I am saying, yes, people explain words and then you may or may not understand the origins, thats not my point, the hurt they cause, yes, but thats not my point

Words are used and misused, you cant do anything about it, they evolve and become part of language, as you said with the word stupid, you used it as part of your language. it was not used in the way that others found offence (if I get you meaning) so it was misused. You may now be aware and choose another word, but others still have it in their vocab, to them it is just a word.

I dont offend anyone who hurts another, my aunt got called all kinds of names, she was banned from church for offending the other parishioners, just for breathing!!, so I am aware of how others can hurt with their ignorance, but, it is language unfortunatley, and unfortunately the use of the word "fit" which was in the op at the beginning is misused all the time, and I would bet the majority wouldnt even have thought about its origins.

Language and its misuse is my point, and the lack of understanding that goes along with it, contributes to its misuse in society so the real meaning is lost, and so is the pain that others have felt from its use.

We can not control what comes out of everyones mouth, or what they learn or dont learn, so in time it passes along and becomes an everyday word, rightly or wrongly.

Let me just make myself clear Edam, I am of Irish descent, my ma and pa are irish as are all the other relatives, but paddy is slung around our house hold all the time, my grandmother was schizophrenic but folks still say some one went schizo, and my aunt is downs and people still call her mongel!! Do i find offence, no, why because it is a word, and yes some are not aware that there are other words you could use, or the fact that they come from another word that has emotions for others.

My point is, words are used, misused, changed shortend made-up,I do not know the origins of all the words I use, but I still use them, as I am sure the majority of us do, unless we are master linguists, language evolves, whether you find it offensive or not, it will be used by the masses and become part of their language, and so the meanings however derived will be lost in time.