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?

Surely everyone involved in the awards was well aware that a film centred around someone with Tourette's was a major part of the event.
Doesn't mean you wouldn't be shocked by hearing the slur, but you'd have an idea it wasn't just some random racist.

These ableists and personal victims - who, judging by their posts, must cause harm and distress on a regular basis - are beyond belief and are not fit to shine the shoes of John Davidson

He could just become a recluse, just to be on the safe side. Then would you be happy?

He did leave the room….

I know what coprolalia is

I also know what coprophagia is. It means to eat shit.

There are quite a few posters on this thread who expect black people to eat shit with all this excusing foul racist language. Disgusting.

He did leave the room.

I’m quite horrified by this thread. If I had to ‘pick a side’, I would probably choose JD because of how horrendous his condition is. Must be so so hard.

But I am truly appalled by the casual dismissal on this thread of the impact such a word must have had on the black presenters. Like they had no feelings and don’t deserve to feel upset. Because they are rich??

There is a world of difference between eg the F word and the N word and it’s wilful ignorance to claim otherwise.

I never knew there was so much racism on here - lots of people showing their true colours. I feel those being accused of being ableist are in fact understanding of JD’s condition whereas those supporting JD are just assuming black people should accept the name calling, and their lifelong suffering doesn’t count. How can any of us know which suffering is worse? You can’t minimise the experience of those suffering racism or ableism.

Disgusting behaviour, in my view. Eye-opening.

Nobody except you has said such a thing. That's absolutely disgusting.

You do realise people can feel empathy for the actors yet still not feel John Davidson needs to apologise for his disability. That’s not making excuses, it’s understanding Tourette’s and all that it entails, which you clearly don’t. The information is out there but you’d rather play Oppression Olympics. The two opinions can co-exist.

Another interesting thing I’ve seen posted by some Americans is that the slur is worse because he used a “hard r”. Emmmm, that’s the Scottish accent!!!

It gets trickier than that though. What if you're a black woman with tourettes shouting racial slurs at Asians, for instance? Where do you stand on that?

x.com/KingBobIIV/status/2026042145707094188

I don't know how many times I have to say this. But the impact, impact on my community of that word is the SAME. Regardless of intent. This should be understandable, it's ridiculous I have to keep explaining the same thing. It should be common sense.

Why do the feelings of one cohort of society take precedence over that of another ?

That, is EXACTLY the point we black people on this thread are making. Why do OUR feelings not count at all?

What is to talk shit? You appear to be up on that.

Is it!
It is the same root. One means to say it and another means to eat it.

I am suggesting that some apologists on this thread expect black people to metaphorically eat shit by giving this individual a free pass both for saying it and then not issuing an apology and if you think that statement of his is an apology, then I have a bridge to seel you!

I would be upset if he did apologise. No fault lies with him. And the previous poster who likened it to apologising for running over someone’s foot - that’s an accident, but technically it’s an action that could be avoided. John has no way of controlling or avoiding his Tourette’s.

Completely agree.

You know nothing about my character, but your posts say plenty about yours - namely that you have no idea what Tourette’s or Coprolalia actually is and have no intention of finding out because it suits your agenda. If he had shouted umbrella, he wouldn’t be suffering from Tourette’s. The point here is that with Coprolalia the brain works in a way which, when triggered, prompts the sufferer to shout out the most offensive word connected with that trigger. There is no intent to cause offence and therefore no need to apologise. Unless of course you think that disabled people should routinely apologise for being disabled - because essentially that’s what you’re saying. His disability says nothing about his character because it is totally separate from the person he is.

Is your empathy for black people here with us on this thread?

This is one of the worst threads I have read on mumsnet in a long time.

Many people in the UK are familiar with John’s story and have a lot of sympathy for the difficult life he has led. Last night should have been a real highlight in that he was able to take his story to a wider audience but as a result of his disability ended up saying a terrible rascist word. Anyone who is vaguely familiar with his story will know the pain he is going through today.

Of course it was an awful word and terrible for those poor actors on stage to hear that called out, but once explained to them, if they had any ounce of human compassion would understand.

This thread has actually called for him to not be allowed out due to his disability which goes back to those terrible times when disabled people were shameful and to be hidden from society. Are posters who purport to be speaking for the black community really saying this given the very recent segregation they endured. Shameful all round.

An apology is also pointless because it's the admission of a wrong, with the understood intent that you won't do it again.

John will do this again and again and again. Because he has a lifelong neurological condition. And he's not doing anything wrong, he's exhibiting symptoms of that condition.

Are we at risk of stigmatising someone with Tourette’s here?

What part of He Has Tourette’s don’t you understand. Well, Tourette’s in general clearly.

Yes people seem to be forgetting that he has no control. There aren't tools or disability aids for Tourettes. It absolutely ruins your life.