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?'

thing is things like this make it "seem" ok to refer to disabled people as freaks.
but then there is a out cry when the person saying freak get thumped.

Not these particular ones, no, as I don't have a disability. However, have been the subject of many and varied insults in the past for different reasons, which could easily have hurt me if I'd let them. I used to, when I was younger, and then I figured it didn't actually get me anywhere as I was still hurt and the people who were insulting me were still thinking they were hilarious and better than me. So I gave it up. [I don't think it's nearly as straightforward as I'm making it sound, by the way. I just think it's a good idea to aim for.]

C'mon guys, if Channel 4 is showing these ads, it's unlikely to be un-PC.

so that makes it ok???
so is it ok then when some one calls my dd a freak if ds or dh(ds by the way is a fullgrown 18 yr old) decks them???

2shoes - grow up. If someone insults your child and you wish to take it out with them, then, by all means, do so...but please, do not presume to tell C4 (the most liberal channel on British TV) or these athletes how to advertise their talents.

Why do so many people revel in offence??

do you know BA you really are a plonker, And tbh I can't be arsed even to bother to "talk" to you anymore.
you might not be a troll but you are imo all that is wrong with mn now.
so

BarmyArmy that's the problem it is the height of PC, it is these trendy Guardian reading advertising industry teenage executives who come up with these patronising insulting shock tactic adverts that no right thinking individual would ever contemplate. They do it to pat themselves on the back about how clever, ironic, hip and progressive they are, while ignoring the impact on the people that the ads are meant to help.

maryz - and if that happens, then fine, deal with it. But, the point has to be made, said 'little shit' would retain responsibility for using such insensitive language.

You're missing the point here - these athletes are happy to call themselves this hhitherto insulting word...they are reclaiming it for themselves, much like black people have done with the "N" word.

Stop trying to wrap everyone in cotton wool - the world is unpleasant and the sooner people realise that the better.

maryz
no even though Daftpunk and I often disagree, she never hides.
we all know who BA is
I would describe hi in full but don't want to upset mn hq.

these athletes are told what to say by the execs who hand them the script and pay them for their services. They think the ad execs must know what they are doing, with their copies of the Guardian under their arms.

It's similar to charity appeals etc. where the famous actors and comedians are handed a script and do as they are told.

maryz - you should stop worrying quite so much. And, while you're at it, read this book:

Spoilt Rotten

maryz, by saying "one little shit" yourself, you're clearly referring to people who KNOW it is not okay to use a term like freak to refer to someone in order to insult them, yet do it anyway. If someone bans them from using the word freak, they will find other ways of trying to insult people. Their cold-heartedness should not be an excuse to hinder the rest of society from moving on to a place where we can say, "You can try and hurt me, but I won't let you."

Oh, and wrapping vulnerable people in cotton wool is I think a) incredibly patronising and b) the worst way in the world to help them to become less vulnerable. I daresay they'd actually prefer to be empowered, though I can't of course speak for all vulnerable people.

What Glitterandglue said.

most disabled people like my dd are already empowered.
they have 2 body guards.

Treating people with respect is not the same as wrapping them in cotton wool.

claig, you said "these athletes are told what to say by the execs who hand them the script and pay them for their services. They think the ad execs must know what they are doing, with their copies of the Guardian under their arms." This is, in itself, disablist and stupendously patronising.

I think it is true. How do you explain it otherwise?

unless you agree with the ad execs and think these adverts are a good idea and a good way of getting the message across? In which case you qualify for a free subscription to the Guardian.

I'm pleased we appear to have turned the tide of cloying sentimental, self-indulgent declarations of being offended.

My work here is done.

Disabled people in the media can never be allowed to just be.

It's either super tragic stories or tales of heroic bootstrapness. Never just them having ordinary lives in standard settings.