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?

What do you mean ? What are the in between measures you would employ that would not be completely discriminatory in every respect ? Disabled people are people, not inconveniences to be managed in public and kept out of sight and gagged just in case their disabilities offend others. I thought we’d left that bigoted and disgusting mindset behind in the 1950’s. Clearly not.

People have said that it’s understandable that these words are hurtful

But it’s not racist to disagree with you when you’ve made some very disparaging remarks about disabled people and say they should be apologising for something they can’t control

Ok.

But surely being accommodating of one cohort of society, shouldn’t mean not accommodating others ?

I doubt that, because MN has a high level of understanding of equality issues and the needs to balance needs based on the situation. Sadly theres lots of twats who don't understand Tourettes though and have posted abuse.

Its truly an horrendous condition.

What are the measures you’d like to see though? What restrictions should people with disabilities impose on themselves/have imposed on them? What freedoms would you like to see them lose?

‘the thing accidentally shouted out’ i.e. the word or phrase

@callmeLoretta1 you have made some extremely upsetting comments about disabled people on this thread and have upset a few of us. Given by YOUR standards, impact outweighs intent - are you going to apologise?

Well you are suggesting that they can never be in a large audience, this is clearly not fair.

So he can be allowed out, but not in a crowded room? Maybe walked once a day like a dog, wearing a muzzle?

I'm taking some small measure of comfort in most of British X rising as one to defend John against the Americans. Nice to see after a thoroughly depressing, disillusioning day.

Shouting an offensive comment might not in this case have been intended to have caused offence, however, the impact is still there.

MN has a high level of understanding of equality issues

Depends on your skin colour

Right?! Where's the line? Maybe if it's just one black person offended, that's OK? What about two, three? Is the fact the men in question here are famous a factor?

Exactly. We don't want to have to be hiding away. We don't need to pretend we don't exist, just because we have something different about our bodies that means we can't control them.

There's a man in my local Sainsbury's who I've seen walking along with what i think might be ataxia, but it's not something that needs to be changed or kept hidden. It is him.

He really is just going about his day, shopping for food, like every other person. Those who think he should be told to stay inside, away from society, along with the other disabled people who can't help their disabilities, should be ashamed of their POVs.

Yes most people are acknowledging this but grappling with balancing everyone's needs and rights.

Because he speaks for all Black people. Obvs.

This analogy is ludicrous. Your toddler is your responsibility because you chose to have a child and would have been aware that you are responsible for raising them. John had absolutely no choice in his medical condition and therefore it isn’t something he should or even can take responsibility for. He was at an event which celebrated a film that raises awareness of this very fact and yet this thread highlights so much of the ignorance surrounding disability.

Even if a thousand people are offended by a disability that doesn’t mean that disabled people should be incarcerated. I don’t know what wealth has to do with it.

I know, I was being facetious because so many people were saying he shouldn't be there (but also that he didn't have to never go out; I can therefore only logically conclude* *the actors are somehow different to every day people he may encounter and offend)

Yes of course that's exactly what I mean.

Its all about intent, disadvantage in a certain situation (not a hierachy of protected characteristics), education and reasonable adjustments.

Someone with Tourettes is NOT going to prosecuted by police for saying the N word. Nor can they be fired for saying the N word. And it is worth pointing this out and why yes it is reasonable to accomodate Tourettes even if they say shitty offensive stuff. If someone in the same work place complained an employer my have an obligation to move the employee complaining to another situation which avoids the issue - they can not reasonably move the person with the disability in most situations though.

Someone with Tourettes has enough barriers and prejudice to face on a daily basis - arguably more than other groups with a protected characteristic and this does matter. Its not a bloody competition though. Its just shitty all round.

My friend doesn't work. She has severe mental health issues and it affects her life on a daily basis. The stress of the condition is appalling. Honestly I can't stress how awful it is enough.

So explain, what is he allowed to do? What is the in-between?

Should they be aloud to work in community centres?
Work with youth groups?
Work in patient out reach and support?

He is a grown man. He can do whatever he wants to do in society.