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?

It is like involuntary word association for them. If you've ever seen any of the real life footage there is a scene where the word " minder" is used and he says Arthur Daley.

Bigger thread here, and a lot of ignorance on display to boot:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5494714-john-davidson-shouting-the-n-word-during-the-baftas?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

The airport one made me chuckle. I used to work in a school and worked with a lad with coprolalia whose Mum took him on the Chunnel after a long time at security at Heathrow when he said similar.

He is a lovely lad. Sadly he avoids me now because while I was working with him my baby daughter died and he’s very embarrassed by his tics when he sees me, even though I totally understand it’s not his fault at all. He’s an adult in his mid twenties and I worked with him at primary age.

He also wore tartan trews because he knew he couldn't be trusted to wear a kilt.

I think it's just the perfect example of having Tourettes and really, nobody should complain. It's not intended as harm and it shouldn't be punished imo.

People with Tourettes don't shout words at random, that's a fundamental misunderstanding of how it works. It's better understood as the inability to control an intrusive thought. The word would be directed at black people because the person knows on a conscious level that those people will be most offended. This triggers a type of intrusive thought about the worst possible thing you could say in that scenario, which is then involuntarily expressed. (Not all people with Tourettes would describe it like this but that's the best I can do).

That is why Tourettes is so incredibly distressing for the individual, it would actually be easier if it was just random offensive words shouted at any old time.

I am white but have read the views of black people about the issue on social media
Many are disgusted and feel that that they are an easy target .
They feel that if he had blurted out a racial slur against other communities that this would have been edited out
However, because the slur was against black people it was seen as acceptable and anyone who dares to complain is seen as discriminating against the disabled
However, it is seen as acceptable to offend black people
To make it worse BAFTA didn’t even bother to speak to the two black presenters afterwards .

No and I’m disabled myself , but I do think that as they ran it on a delay precisely so they could edit stuff and as the BBC have now apologised presumably they agree . Thanks @Springersrock for explaining the disease .

Come back and let us know your thoughts once you’ve watched the film OP. You can rent it for around £5 from Amazon, Apple, Sky

I'm Jewish and as I said upthread have a son with Tourettes. I also expressed how sad I am that this happened for John.

I do think it ought to have been edited out. If the slur had been anti-semitic I'd be devastated, while STILL UNDERSTANDING the involuntary nature of it. It would not take away the visceral hurt.

I think it ought to have been edited because it would hurt people- and also hurts John who is now at the mercy of all the social media and press when it was something he could not help. Airing it helped nobody. And ironically- this was what the film was about- but the whole affair is just causing pain.

The presenters and nominees weren't told they could be abused, just that there would be 'involuntary noises'. It's really bad that BAFTA didn't prepare for what was nearly inevitable in such a high stress environment.

@AfternoonTeaAddict . Totally agree

It should have been edited out. I agree.

The sad part is how little understanding people have of tourettes and are openly complaining about the use of the words and the timing. People really need to watch the film. Its involuntary and distressing for the sufferer. Who it was aimed at should be grown up enough to look into the condition and stop thinking they are as hard done by as poor John.

My best friend has tourettes and there was a time she didn't want to leave the house because she was afraid of being attacked for her outbursts. Even when we call each other she will call me names and i just laugh even though she finds it mortifying because i know she doesn't mean it at all, its just an intrusive thought she cannot contain.

People really should watch I,swear as soon as possible.

Why should black people have to make it ok for someone to abuse them? I don’t care what the condition is.

It's a medical condition. Should people with tourettes be confined to home in case they have an attack? Is this what you are proposing. Abuse is only abuse if there is intent.

If a toddler said the word, would it be abuse?
You'd obviously teach them never to say it again! But if you heard it directed at you, would it carry the same level of offence as if an adult said it? Someone with Tourette's saying it means as much harm as a toddler.

Anyone with questions about this, just watch the film. It really does a good job conveying the condition and impact it has on the individual.

I follow a young guy on Instagram called 'Jack Francis'. What a lovely young man and probably has the worst case of tourettes I have seen. He is in agony with the ticks too.
Please educate yourselves about this dreadful condition, my nephew has it, as does my best friends son who will spontaneously shout out the P word in public and in our asian area, he has been beaten up twice for it.

Really disappointed to see the ableism on this and the other thread.

Words are only slurs if they have intent behind them. Would you be offended if a 1yo used the word? If not then you shouldn’t be offended at John Davidson using it. The N word is used in songs, films, media etc and it’s accepted because it’s for “art” or it’s being reclaimed. Ergo, there’s no racist intent.

Also can we please stop infantilising black people. As if these actors sat crying and offended by it afterwards - they are smart, privileged, wealthy and worldly men who I imagine are far better than to be offended by a disabled person

This.

I went to see it alone, and was sat next to a woman and her DH. He was grumpy at being dragged to “a probably boring” film. We were all in floods of tears and passing the tissues around by the end.
Gorgeous film

I feel sorry for both parties but I really do think that racist abuse has ignorance and hate behind it, there's nothing to say that this was meant in this manner and I think this is quite important to see the difference.

Haven't seen this but surely you can be understanding of Tourettes and still edit it out? Just because someone doesn't mean to say something doesn't mean this should be broadcast. By not editing this (or similar) it's not only potentially insulting the people who the racist comment was aimed at, but also holding the person with Tourettes up for ridicule and criticism that they don't deserve. It all sounds a bit clickbait.

Yes, that is true

There is no right way out of this situation except for both sides to accept that life is hard and unfair sometimes. Yes, the black actors shouldn't have had to hear that. No, john shouldn't be confined to his home for fear of offending. You have to hold both and work out a way forward. But I agree it should have been edited out.