AIBU To think that channel four are well out of order for calling their new programme Spazticus

[loopylou6]

Apparently its about disabled people playing tricks on people.

I dunno how they are getting away with that title, its disgusting.

Thoughts?

I can't see how a programme like this is going to encourage the general population to see disability as less of an issue. If anything it's just going to push the word 'spazz' back out into popularity for even more ignorant morons to use against disabled people they see on the street.

What would be much more effective, and (I'd hazard a guess) welcomed by the disabled population, would be just seeing more people with disabilities on tv in a normal capacity - reading the news, presenting TV shows, acting in soap operas etc. That's one area where I can at least say that kids' tv isn't doing too badly. That at least manages to treat disability as an entirely normal thing, someone with a disability is just another person, getting on with day to day life, iyswim. I fear that this new channel 4 programme will, for want of a better word, end up as something of a parade in the same way that MBFGW did

threesocksmorgan (great name, btw)... I agree with you, it DOESN'T make it right, but what do you do? Legislate against everything? There are always going to be words/terms that affect somebody. Some are obvious, some not so much.

I don't know what the answer is, I suppose it has to be chipped away at, bit by bit, actively not supporting programmes like this, writing letters of complaint, blogging, anything that gets the message across.

People seem to be much more insular these days... if it doesn't affect them, they turn a blind eye.

I agree, it will give some people a new word to call others who are different, as an insult

I find the title and the expected content of the shows to be very uncomfortable to think about but apparently:

"The pilot episode, first aired on Channel 4 in 2005, won a Superfest International Disability Award."

So who knows. I'll reserve judgement for now.

fanjo... only those people who would have used a word - any word - as an insult, anyway. Most people don't use those words.

Yes. That's why I said it will give some people a new word, not that it will make more people use the word :)

But they'd use them anyway. If they're that sort of people they will dredge up a word from somewhere or make one up. I don't know if some 'insults' are more hard-hitting than others or if there are 'softer' or 'harder' words. That's what I meant.

I do think that the programme title is something that some people won't look beyond though, and I agree with you, fanjo. I think it may raise the profile but not in a positive way, regardless of the 'awards' that the programme has apparently received.

No I think they would use it more as they think its a.funny new word, sadly

I know when I was a stupid kid, I used words which now I am appalled by, I used them because everyone else used them, they were normalised.

Ian Dury was an arty,edgy punk who could use a song like spasticus autisticus to shock and stick two fingers up to the idea of the International Year of Disabled People, which he saw as demeaning and trying to put all disabled people in a box to be pitied. It was brilliant and of it's time. It was also very different to a mainstream comedy using the word spaz.

I'd prefer to see disabled & non-disabled comedians working together to make comedy on mainstream television; without disability being a focus of the jokes.

Because disabled people have the same fears, worries, hopes & feelings as non-disabled people.
They just happen to have one or more disabilities that can complicate life.
Anyone can become disabled through illness or accident at any point in their lives; disabilities ARE normal & part of being human.

I've definitely never met a person with a disability who would want to 'reclaim' the word 'spaz' ffs.

YANBU!

have to say I am shocked by how little outrage there is about this on mn.
I suppose if it was about girls in pink there would be tons of posts and complaints.
so sad that people just don't care

We all knew that spas and joey were offensive in the 80's, of course we did, that's why they were thrown around as insults!

It was the disabled comedians who came up with the name it is supposed to be funny like they are claiming the word. I am disabled and was called a spaz in the 70s and 80s not the best feeling for a kid , but I guess things have moved on and the actors are claming it and turning it to their advantage, I hate practical joke programmes so regardless of their disability I wont be watching

Ian Dury was an arty,edgy punk who could use a song like spasticus autisticus

Ian Drury did more for disabled people than he probably realised

hazey Exactly, Ian Dury was not trying to normalise or reclaim the term he was making a hard edge point about how people view disability and the concept of the International Year of the Disabled.

As a person without a disability I couldn't bring myself to use the term "spaz" because I can't see how it could ever be reclaimed now. The whole thing leaves me feeling very uncomfortable.

My eldest DD is 14 and I dont think she would know this word, I would like to keep it that way.

I hate this reclaiming shit, I work with children with special needs, they aren't able to 'reclaim the word' just have it flung at them as an insult.

cocolepew good point
I hate it when people who can talk go on about reclaiming
what about the people like my dd without a voice.
she just gets called crap like this and can't reclaim it(why she would want to I don't know.)
IMO reclaiming is an excuse.

People shouldn't feel the need to 'reclaim' in the first place.

Its the same as strippers etc saying that they are empowered, because they are woman doing what they want to do. A person with a disability is a person first and foremost, they can still be an arsehole.

I know what I meant to say in my last post, it probably makes no sense to anyone else

a stripper has made a choice to be a stripper.
my dd did not choose to have Cp.

The whole concept sounds pretty distasteful. I can't stand shows which are best on ridiculing others by pathetic 'tricks'. Really unimaginative low grade telly

Whoops best = based

I do have to laugh sometimes at people getting all offended on behalf of someone else! They made the program and they picked the title!

But by putting it out there on telly it opens it up for everyone to start using the word and people have already explained why they find it offensive.