Paralympics ad on TV

[wahwahwah]

...err 'I am a freak of nature'.

Um, the word 'freak' - I thought I midheard until it was on again last night. Am I being a bit 'PC' on this or is it really offensive?

.. DS is fascinated my amputees running on their blades. 'Mummy, can I do that when I am bigger?'

exactly Claw3, it is obvious that it is just a marketing ploy since they have won the rights to broadcast it. The 'bold' shock aspect of the ad, the use of 'freaks of nature' is to gain the public's attention in order to get viewers. The pretence of positiveness is a cover for the commercial interests involved and a way of avoiding criticism of the shock element of the ad.

IfGrace, of course, so freak = not normal. We have athletes trying to prove that they can do anything a 'normal' person can do (which is not a bad thing). But implies that anyone who cannot reach those standards remains not normal ie a freak in the bad sense.

Next you will be telling me 'freak' is a collective term for disabilities.

Claw3, as I've already said it's not only the yobs yelling insults whose attitude needs adjusted. It's the "Does he take sugar" types who don't recognise that the things they say are patronising too. I'm sure they hope that it will challenge everyone to reassess the way they view disabled people. A good start would be enabling some people to realise that the way they view people might need to be reassessed in the first place.

Btw, I don't think that these athletes are trying to prove they can do "anything a "normal" person can do". They are trying to prove that they can do their sport better than anyone else can.

Why would I tell you that? Freak means out of the ordinary. We have freak storms; freak heatwaves; freak accidents both good and bad; freaks of nature!

I had a read of the paralympic website, so you lot have done me some good It says: "Today, the Paralympics are elite sport events for athletes with a disability. They emphasize, however, the participants' athletic achievements rather than their disability."

I imagine, therefore, that the ad campaign is meant to promote the Games and not the disabilities! I believe it's effective in that mission. I imagine, too, that the campaign's possible effect - of maybe giving another epithet for bigoted yobs to use against the disabled - was very low down on their priorities.

If this were a consciousness-raising campaign by the Government - to promote inclusivity at work, for example - the use of the word "freak" might be more controversial. But the Paralympians couldn't make it any clearer that their priority is achievement over disability.

Mshighwater, its both types whose attitudes need adjusting.

The 'freak of nature' campaign makes a comparsion, "athletes who, like their able bodies sporting counterparts, are set apart from the rest of us by their staggering ability"

Of course it is, Claw3, but most of the yobs are aware that how they behave is not acceptable. The other group can be harder to reach and perhaps it takes shock tactics to get through, at least to some of them.

I was just going to post what MsHighwater wrote, too :)

I am SHIT at sports. Utterly crap, there's not one I can do competently.

However, I don't expect world-class athletes to make allowances for my 'normality' and any sensitivity I might feel about my sporting incompetence. I expect them to proudly show off their abilities & achievements.

They are freaks; I'm the normal one!

A Paralympian is a freak, with the same relationship to ordinary wheelchair-users (for example) as an Olympian has to ordinary able-bodied people. In fact, BOTH are much fitter, more disciplined and more physically gifted than ANY ordinary person.

Ifgrace, perhaps im a bitter ole cynic! but the website is hardly about to say, we emphasize this is nothing more than a plot to make money!

Anyhow i can see nothing i say or do is going to change the minds of some. So we will have to agree to disagree.

Claw: "The 'freak of nature' campaign makes a comparsion, 'athletes who, like their able bodies sporting counterparts, are set apart from the rest of us by their staggering ability'"

Yes. Your problem with that is ... ?

OK :) It occurs to me that much of this thread reflects the "problem" with inclusivity in many places. Inclusivity means not treating the potentially-excluded person differently from others. It means enabling not pandering.

It seems to me the Paralympic committee have got that down right!

Ifgrace, i was giving an example to Mshighwater ie their abilities are compared to 'normal' athletes.

Anyhow i gave up, we are going in circles ^^ see above post

only someone who hasn't been affected by disability hate crime could think that referring to disabled people, athletes or not could think the use of the word freak in this advert is ok...

2shoes, you are certainly entitled to your view about the ad, based on your experience, but what you say is just not true.

"I am a retard of nature"

a] Unlike "freak of nature", that isn't a meaningful expression in common use.
b] A 'retard of nature' wouldn't be a world-class athlete, would they?!

Mind you, if we're talking sporting ability, I am a retard.

MsHighwater of course it sin't true. I am lying,
ffs, can you not see how silly you sound

maryz so glad you get it

Hang on. How would you feel about "I am Venus Williams and I'm a nigger"?
Or "I am a multi-millionaire nigga rappa"?

Afaik, Williams doesn't call herself a nigger but I bet there are some world-famous athletes who do. And the second example is obviously real.

Claw I wasn't trying to say that anyone has any more "right" than anyone else, just that those with physical disabilities might be more likely to want to reclaim the term because they might feel more of a historical connection. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but I know it has been used that way.

Maryz, yes I agree it could backfire badly. Like MsHighwater it's been claig's views that I have found annoying.

And as I said the Paralympians I have met were amazing athletes and inspiring people. On both fronts I was very humbled. They were certainly extraordinary people.

If Channel 4 had won the rights to broadcast the Olympics, do you think they would have created a 'bold' campaign called 'freaks of nature' to promote it and the athletes involved? Why then have they chosen to use the word 'freaks' for the Paralympics? Are they saying that the public views the disabled as freaks and they want to have a 'bold' campaign to change attitudes? That is an insult to the public and an insult to disabled people. It is also patronising to both the public and disabled people that they think we need their 'bold' campaign 'freaks of nature' to change things. The public do not think that disabled people are freaks, so who is it who really does?

Ifgrace, some on this thread are questioning the reasoning behind using the term 'freak of nature'.

If it was to raise awareness, as they claim it is, it would be more acceptable.

Many feel it is nothing more than a bid to create controversy and gain viewers, as they have done nothing to raise awareness, other than naming their campaign 'freaks of nature'

These athletes only represent a small percentage of disabled people and will not raise awareness. Most disabled people who are referred to as freaks, do not possess amazing abilities.

Your attempts at being funny, are not funny btw

Heh, I knew I was a sporting retard but maybe my comedy's retarded, as well.

[retarded = delayed, held back]