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?

Yes he should. The film based on his life & his struggles was up for awards.

He, like many others were there to be celebrated. He has a disability & can’t control what is said. Learn about tourettes/watch the film & educate yourself.

this thread is just showing how important it is that he did go to the ceremony. How important his film is.

actually disgusted with some of the people posting on here today.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Some of the attitudes on here are appalling.

Yet you’ll happily write off the feelings of the two men who were racially abused?

My guess, as someone with OCD, is that the tics are involuntary but not always random. I used to have an OCD fear that I would randomly shout the n word at black people even though I find racism disgusting. That's why the OCD latched onto that. I had neutralising rituals in my head I used to do when I saw a black person. I wonder if Tourettes follows similar neural pathways or something.

Who should they be offended by, the person with tourettes?
I can see that they would be upset, absolutely I can. But offended? By whom?

Which is why he should’ve stepped out.

It was no doubt unpleasant for him too. I’ll bring back my example of someone with a leaking stoma - would you expect them to just sit there, despite the distress it’ll cause for them and those around them?

Who were they abused by?

This is nonsense. A strong emotional reaction isn't the same as a disability, and is quite infantalising of a particular racial group as well. All functioning adults can control their emotions, and make reasonable allowences for disabilities.

That would be ridiculous as he was there because there has been a film about his life

how ridiculous would it be to keep him out

if you take it to its logical conclusion he is simply reflecting back societal taboos that are not of his making

I don’t think you’re capable of being able to have a nuanced discussion about this.

He did step out. As has been said numerous times in this thread.

If I knew a person with Tourette’s was in the audience, I’d probably have a momentary “oh fuck!” Moment then realise that this person couldn’t help it

You then find out it was someone with Tourette’s. Does that provide an explanation? Yes. Does it undo those feelings and make the moment any less hurtful? No.

Yes it provides an explanation and yes the hurt would go away. Because I’m a grown non disabled adult, not a 10yo girl, I’m not perpetually offended by disabled people.
If you can’t cope with disabled people mixing with non disabled people, that’s a you problem, but do not speak for me

It was involuntary.

The man can't help it.

He has zero control over it.

Racial abuse is disgusting but this isn't racial abuse.

There isn't one.

You are being abusive to disabled people.

If you really can’t see how ridiculous it is to compare it to a leaking stoma that would be a health hazard then you’re beyond help.

and as you have been told several times he DID step out but I don’t think he should have had to at all.

Not once have I been abusive. I haven’t said anything rude about him.

Yes that was made clear pretty much straight away

They’re both incidents that are outside of the person’s control.

But I guess one is fine because the victim is a black man, and the other isn’t because it could well be you.

By the man with tourettes as they were racially abused.
I don't know what the answer is - maybe he should have only appeared to collect his award as trying to suppress his ticks for the whole evening must have been stressful and exhausting for him.

Interestingly Tourette’s and OCD frequently co-occur, up to 60% of people with Tourette’s also have OCD.
It must be incredible exhausting and distressing as it is to have this constant battle going on in your head. Never mind with the judgement of others on top of that.

Im.glad that comment was deleted.
This thread and much of the reaction to what happened at the Baftas has been so depressing.
It makes me so glad that a film like 'I Swear' has been made, but christ, as a society, we have a long way to go in how we think about disability.

It’s quite a reach to conclude from what I wrote that I was suggesting segregation or treating him like a problem. Now that you’ve said it, though, I think John would agree that his Tourette’s does create problems. And I’m going to spell it out for you seeing as you read what you wanted to read rather than what I wrote last time: HE isn’t the problem, his Tourette’s can cause problems. As it did yesterday.

The person who is doling out abuse (which, I spell out again, John didn’t have control over) doesn’t get to say whether it was abusive or not. That would be like me telling you the slap I just gave you wasn’t abusive: your red raw cheek would suggest otherwise. John does get to say he has Tourette’s and doesn’t have control over what he says. And the recipients do get to be weary after a lifetime of racial abuse and disadvantage - something John will see many parallels in - that even more is being asked of them, again, to handle the aggression they were in the receiving end of.

Look, it’s hard for everyone. It’s not a competition. I’m pretty sure the parties involved aren’t making as big a deal of it as posters on this thread are.

Yes you have. You've shamed him. The best thing to do with Tourettes is to offer an explanation. That's it. Done. Having to apologise and deal with the shit and shame of this is enough without people wanting on about how others were abused. They absolutely were not.

Now your just parroting back and being deliberately obtuse as many people have pointed out to you

I thought that might be the case, thanks for offering that statistic.

Yes, it is and deeply distressing because I question whether I am a good person all the time (I.e. it gets meta - 'maybe I get these thoughts because actually I am a racist' etc etc)