What would you do if your manager used this word?

[Shimmyshine193]

If they referred to someone, indirectly as a m*ng?

I wonder whether part of the issue is cultural? I don’t socialise or work with people who use casual insults. My circles don’t call people rude names, no matter how light heartedly.
All the ableist insults still feel close to their original meanings and appalling. Very serious.

In a community where casual insults are thrown around frequently- some work places, friendship groups- maybe they are more detached from their roots and so less offensive/less understood as ableist.

I’ve realised we do within the family - we’d use twit or muppet though.

She must be really thick though to be using the word, both in terms of poor vocab and the awful nature it it , this can’t be the only thing she does, there is no way she’s a decent manager.

Words do detach from their original meanings.

medium.com/the-geist-by-d-i-hughes/the-origins-of-some-less-offensive-expletives-or-insults-b0186bec11

I've heard it used by a colleague before and challenged then about it. They hadn't understood the origin or connotations of it and didn't use it again. So I would challenge but not report to HR unless it carried on. Some people just don't think.

I’d agree with this, it seems a lot of old slurs are making a resurgence. I’d rather hear kids swear than say that word. I’ve also noticed the r one and sp.

Everyone at my work uses it about each other. I actually work with disabled kids and I can categorically say that all the staff love the job, love the kids and go over and above for really poor pay and long hours. They would never use it about the kids but each other, yes. I don’t really know what I’m saying other than it’s ironic that the very people who are apparently awful, nasty, uneducated and whatever else was said above are the people who love and look after children in their care who have disabilities. So it’s clearly not coming from any kind of maliciousness. I’m not saying it’s an ok word, it’s not but I also don’t think that people who use it are necessarily awful either.

That is absolutely disgusting.

I am gobsmacked that people that are supposed to care for disabled children use this word, and so nonchalantly as well.

Vile behaviour. You should all be utterly ashamed of yourselves.

I do wonder how the parents of those children would feel if they heard you talking like that? I’d be devastated if one of the adults in my child’s unit was talking like that, especially if I liked and trusted them, and knew my child did too.

So why do they use it then ?
As the parent of a disabled child I would be horrified to.hear anyone working with my child using the word even if it's not directed at him.
It's just not ok you wouldn't go around calling everyone a P*I or a p*f
So.Why is an oudated derogatory term.about Down syndrome ok

These kind of terms are a reminder that our children are growing up in a society that will mock them and discriminate against them. To have them used in a place that should be supportive, caring and enabling makes me feel so sad.

WTAF?

I spent all my career working with children with disabilities and all been would have broken loose of any of our staff has used that word. It would go on record as a disciplinary matter.

Really, how dare you?

I work with children with disabilities, one of whom has Downs, so if my manager used this term they would be reported to their line manager immediately and an investigation would ensue. I realise that this is probably not representative of all workplaces, but in my opinion it should be.

Where the hell do you work?

I have never heard this term in the workplace over the last 30 years, all different types of jobs.

It is abnormal conversation.

You need to stop using 'retarded', because it's offensive.

I'm disabled with ND children and we all say mong 😅

Why?

I assume non of you have Down syndrome
You might feel differently if you did
And having ND children means nothing without context as it's such a huge spectrum.

I used to work in a male dominated place and it’s very common . Anyone language sensitive wouldn’t last 5mins

It wasn’t Mongol, it was Mongoloid. It was used medically, I believe.

I’m old. When I was growing up, Mongol was widely used by young and old alike to describe somebody with Down’s syndrome. It was what they were called. It wasn’t used in a pejorative way. I don’t remember Mongoloid being used at all.

However, mong was unacceptable. Using it would result in a severe telling off.

Im not language sensitive ,and I used to be a mental health nurse so I have a fairly thick skin , I do however have a severely disabled child so find it offensive
Im not sure why some posters are trying to justify using derogatory
Do They also feel racist and Homophobic language is ok🤔

Indeed, I had a cousin who everybody referred to as a mongol back in the early 60's. There's an interesting article here:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/blog/2020/11/23/how-did-down-syndrome-get-its-name/

Not my children but my uncle had downs syndrome, he passed away 8 years ago.

I just don't find it offensive.

But we are a very unoffended household. My son is gay and calls everyone f**gots, gaybos etc

Maybe its that mindset of just not finding offensive in everything.

Bit weird to feel sorry for someone because they don’t hear offensive words thrown about all the time. Why would you want that?

So, you can't use idiot or cretin? Both were medical words at one point.