Tourette’s/BAFTAs offensive language

[Lochroy]

I wasn’t watching, I’ve just read the article on BBC news. I will admit I know little of Tourette’s and therefore posting to understand.

The tics agree involuntary, and often use offensive language. But what I’m struggling to get my head around is excusing use of the N word because it was caused by the disability when it was (seemingly) only directed at black people?

Also presumably it’s learned vocab so children don’t have swear words as tics? How does this develop?

Why is it 'interesting'? The reality of Tourette Syndrome is that coprolalia will result in the most inappropriate tic possible.

I'm glad you aren't suggesting it wasn't a genuine tic...

Because it's not random profanity. It's their brain having intrusive thoughts, coming up with the worst possible thing to say in that moment and then forcing it out without their control. So he knows that's racist and awful, that's kinda why the intrusive thoughts fixate on it. They're in no way a reflection of your true self or beliefs.

Yep they want him hidden away from the public so they can't be shocked and offended. That's easier for them than understanding the condition.

TBF you can tell someone having a bad Tourettes episode. It's really obvious and not remotely like shouting abuse.

This is part of the point. Posters who are outraged from Tunbridge Wells are taking it out of context too. The men on stage would have worked it out very quickly if they had any awareness at all of Tourettes.

I remember my friend being out and having a bad attack and telling people and they went "oh I thought it might be Tourettes but I wasn't sure" and we're fine with it afterwards. The people who stare and whisper are much more rude and abusive than the person with Tourettes.

Please, please everyone, read this piece by a Black woman.

It hurt when the N-word was shouted out at the Baftas – because we are also hearing it so much outside | Nadine White | The Guardian

She recognises exactly why it IS such a gut punch to hear that language - and she also recognises the actual reality of Tourettes : "The medical facts are clear. Coprolalia, a symptom experienced by a minority of people with TS, can involve the involuntary utterance of socially taboo language. Neurologists are clear that such tics are not expressions of belief or intent"

It is exactly BECAUSE those with tourettes know that it is unacceptable that the tic occurs.

What a broadside for those talented artists of colour to be hit by such a word at such a moment - however they may (or not) process it afterwards it must have been a shock.

My heart breaks for John Davidson , and for the I Swear team - fancy making your whole vulnerable life public, and making a film....for the media and social media to STILL misunderstand.

You mean a man suffering from an awful form of Tourette’s whose presence was known to everyone there? That is the context.

I heard neither of them were spoken to at all about the incident afterwards to explain the guy had TS or ask if they were alright?

That's really interesting, I didn't realise it worked that way.

There is evidence to show that people with Tourette’s make discriminatory comments they don’t mean and believe in.

But it’s VERY odd to assume that people with Tourette’s are racist until they prove otherwise. Do not say the same of other groups?

As I said two thing can be true - a slur can unintentional and still cause real harm to the Black person who hears it.

Thats not the fault or problem of the person with Tourette’s. What exactly aren’t you getting?

Hopefully it being talked about on tv, and people giving their experiences on here, will help educate people about coprolalia.

It explains why a previous posters DD made bomb comments in an airport, why the child I worked with asked to be moved from working with me when my baby died because he knew what would happen with his tics, why John Davidson said “fuck the Queen” while at Holyrood - it’s just literally how it works. The worst possible thing to say in any given situation is likely to come out.

It’s entirely comparable.

The word itself is not offensive, it’s the way it’s used that offends.

John did not use it in a racist way. Therefore it’s not offensive.

No.

A man with a disability that makes him say the most offensive thing a brain can come up with. THAT'S the context.

Can I ask those who are saying JD was wrong and racist - if he was a black man would his words be ok? Genuine question

A child was on a plane. She had tourettes. She was shouting how there was a bomb on board.
The person can not control what they say, and they almost always say the 'worst' thing in that moment

The irony to stay stop infantilising black people, after saying a grown man saying the N word is equal to a 1 year old saying it.

I guess they knew, as I guess the film was in the programme of awardees attending, so whilst maybe taken aback, I guess they knew what was happening.

As to whether they were alright, they are two grown men, a rude word was shouted, of course they are alright!

If the Queen can take 'the abuse' then what's everyone else fucking excuse?!

It’s doesn’t seem like it was well understood

I was talking about how they would receive it in that moment

This is the nature of Tourette’s.

I watched a documentary years ago about a group of teenagers with Tourette’s and they were flew out to America to meet with a specialist or something similar. In the airport, they were shouting things like “bomb” and “9/11”.

In a different programme, a girl with Tourette’s saw a squirrel in the park and shouted “your mum’s a squirel”.

The tic is situational, not a reflection of the individual.

Sadly people not only expect him to be perpetually apologetic, but to probably be punished and hidden away.

I wonder if any of his crocs have ever seen I Swear or seen the many documentaries John has been in? His understanding, compassion and kindness is completely inspiring, he’s a wonderful man and it’s a real shame that such an extraordinary human being is being dragged for <checks notes> having a disability

Its fairly easy to sympathise with MBJ, DL and JD with this.
JD because he can't help it, is not rascist and from his own reply to this is mortified and has to live with this condition every day
MJB and DL because of how it hits.

But the people that should be most flamed for this are the BBC and the BAFTAs for clearly not preparing people enough before the event.

I am also quite disappointed (although not surprise) that so many of those that say be kind etc. can't see why they should be kind to JD.

Edit. Its also very easy to see that much more education is required on tourettes.

Why are you acting like he can help what he says?

Os it ok if a black man with Tourette’s said it?

How do you feel about the fact he calls women’s bitches and sluts?

He really is isn't he. Yes some people on here think he should be segregated and have a guardian. Or that he's racist.

Its only offensive in certain circumstances, black kids I know use it to describe each other, in that context its not offensive.

My favourite saying is "Arbeit Macht Frei" work sets you free, which is very true - in its original 1873 context, not so much in its 1940s context.

The irony of people on this thread saying have a thought for the the person with Tourette but in the same breath turning round and saying 'I am not listening to you, just man up Black people'.

Surely it’s ableist to call him racist