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Original poster

Paralympics ad on TV

282 replies

wahwahwah · 20/08/2010 13:49

...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?'

OP posts:
roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 11:14

Lollipop I asked him several times about if ge knows or loved or cares for anyone with a disablity that is vunerable ,he won't even answer

spiritmum · 21/08/2010 11:16

I remember Joey Deacon and my friends taking up his name as a term of abuse. I was so upset by it but also totally bemused as to why they did it. I didn't realise the extent to which people will hurt that which they fear.

I also remember 'spastic' and 'spaz' becoming a term of abuse, too.

I can understand why people are concerned that this will make the use of the word 'freak' acceptable. If someone is insecure and stuck in a crap life and has all these excuses as to why, and then they see paralympians achieving greatness in circumstances that make their excuses look lame, they will seize upon anything that makes them feel better about themselves. Even if that means allowing themselves to describe people with disabilities as 'freaks', because they do, so it's okay, right?

Still, at least we don't seem to have the word 'retard' in common usage, even though Jennifer Anniston and others seem to think it's alright.

roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 11:17

Ms how many times do you need reminding we are talking about the use of the word freak and how some will see it ok to apply to those unable to defend themselves nit the atheleted or many other disabled people. Were talking about the vunerable people hey it's on the telly so that makes it ok

Missing what the advert is about

sarah293 · 21/08/2010 11:18

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Claw3 · 21/08/2010 11:20

Roundthebend - BA only loves and cares for David Cameron, he gets very upset and starts threads if anyone criticises him!

spiritmum · 21/08/2010 11:21

Riven, I am so sorry that you and your dd go through this. It's probably no comfort but imagine how crap those people must feel about themselves if they have to do that in order to feel big.

roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 11:21

I would like to talk it over with the athletes themselves see if they had realised or even care how it may be viewed

That's after they met ds3 and point out how some people may now feel it's ok to label him a freak of nature as it's o. The telly and there calling themselves freak so that makes it ok to call everyone a freak

and ms don't tell me that won't happen that the add won't be misunderstood

sarah293 · 21/08/2010 11:22

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roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 11:26

Because just because these Athleyes chairs does not mean they give a feck about other people the more vunerable

sitting in wheelchair or being disables does not preventing you from being s thoughtless git or thinking with your head up your arse

So would be more than happily to challenge them on them being in the advert and how it's going to be Seen portrayed by certain people on our more vunerable members of the public

tjacksonpfc · 21/08/2010 11:27

Roundthebend I am also taiking my 2 dcs to watch it they will be 8 and 6 when it is on its a fantastic experiance for them. some people have told me I am wrong taking to young kids with me.

Funny when I asked them why I was wrong they wouldnt give me an answer lOL. What is your friend hoping to compete in? My friend will be doing shotput.

roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 11:28

No I'm thinking BA is even further left

Claw3 · 21/08/2010 11:29

So its ok, if you are disabled to call yourself a freak of nature, as long as you have amazing abilities, is the message being sent.

sarah293 · 21/08/2010 11:30

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LollipopViolet · 21/08/2010 11:39

I'd love to go to paralympics, can you still apply for tickets or not?

roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 11:42

He's hoping be in the basketball team and in the 100 m and possiably the relay .ds3 will be 7 dd 9 by then

Yep that's what comes across now I cam apply my brain and see what they mean but large amount of people won't apply any thought or won't want to the add will just see it as ok to call the more vunerable people freaks

which meAns dc like ds3

roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 11:44

Get your name down lollipop ,were getting ours through the club ds attends.stuff the olympics i dint know anyone there the paraolympics I will ^ starts planning banner

2shoes · 21/08/2010 11:45

sad isn't it that now our dc's will be called freaks, just another name to add to the pile of shit list

roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 11:46

Ms

can you please. Answer what I asked about some people missunderstanding the advert please and them taking it a s right to use the word freak to the more vunerable people

tjacksonpfc · 21/08/2010 11:48

lollipopviolet go onto the 2012 olympics site and register there and they will send you updates on when tickets become available.

Roundthebend4 I would like to go and see the basketball when i done my football for disabled coaching badge our instructor on the course done the wheelchair basketball. His name was steve johnson he was a great guy he'd lost his leg below knee after playing footie in a sports hall and slipping and his leg going through a fire door.

I will be going to watch the athletics and hopefully some of the other events aswell.

Claw3 · 21/08/2010 11:56

Roundthebend - You need not worry about your ds starting school, as we have these top athletes setting such a good example Hmm

If your ds is called a 'freak', it will be in a good way now Hmm

roundthebend4 · 21/08/2010 12:37

Yep that be along with the retard ,baby,moron spastic he gets called now

Just sad that if dd at 7 cam see the problems with it yet some grown adults can't or won't it's a sad thing

BarmyArmy · 21/08/2010 13:48

Insulting the disabled is not okay.

This advert does not insult the disabled.

Attempts to suggest that it does are self-indulgent, cloying, sentimental clap-trap, spouted by people revelling in a syrupy goo of self-congratulation for being so 'caring' and 'understanding'.

What matters to them is not whether this advert insults the disabled...what matters is that they are seen publicly to disapprove, with ever-increasing ferocity...howling down those that refuse to agree with them and, with ever-greater frequency, insulting them.

Classic left-wing smear tactics.

sarah293 · 21/08/2010 15:30

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LollipopViolet · 21/08/2010 16:01

Barmy, no one is doing any of that though. They're all just saying that things can be mis-understood, and that quite a number of people won't bother to think "oh, I see why they're saying that. Yes they do have amazing abilities." People will think "Ah, if disabled people call themselves freaks, then I can too!". And then this will get into the schools and posters will have to deal with their DC's being called freaks.

And I will watch the ad, does anyone know if it's online anywhere? Otherwise it's gonna take a lot of sitting in front of C4.

LollipopViolet · 21/08/2010 16:06

Actually, sorry to drag this off topic a bit. But I've just been looking for the ad online, and found this article:

here

Note the bit about the feature "Pimp my Chair"...

that could be either very good, or go spectacularly wrong!