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?

And I'm not getting offended on someone else's behalf, I am offended myself!

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

I dont like these sorts of programmes either they make me cringe and uncomfortable so i probably won't watch it, These people are adults making adult programmes channel 4 has always said it was a controversial channel making contraversial programmes, they are not setting out to be mean to disabled people,

I thought the programme was good and will be watching again. The name doesn't bother me.

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!

They being disabled people gallifrey?

I hate people using the word nigger, paki, chink, spastic, crip. Etc etc. I don't care if the person using the term is black, Asian, Chinese ,disabled.

Just because they feel comfortable with the term, it doesn't mean everyone from the group that the term identifies does. It is not up to them to set the parameters of decent behaviour.

I hate it when TV programmes, or comedians try to raise a laugh or grab attention at the expense of someone else. They haven't moved far from the school playground have they?

The whole thing about words being offensive gets up my nose. What is offensive and insulting is the feeling behind the words - eg Joey - it is an abbreviation of a name. The word itself is nothing, say it in an insulting, derogatory manner and it is offensive. Why do people get themselves wound up over words? It it the thinking and feelings that you have to address!
I am from an ethnic minority and I don't find the words offensive - I have used them myself about myself and family/friends. To us they are not offensive as the intention behind them is not to offend but to amuse or describe what we are.

What we do find offensive and hurtful is when certain people verbally abuse us and use certain words but tbh ANY words would be hurtful in the circumstances. Someone's name said in a mean hurtful tone will be offensive. So these pc people getting offended, please don't! Address the sentiments and thoughts behind the words thus exhibited.

It is like bullying - everyone is against it but in practise what is actually done to address it and prevent it? If you see someone being bullied, what do most people do? Laugh/walk away/ignore it! The bully and bullied needs to be told that it is not acceptable to treat someone else like this or to accept being treated like this.

Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself is the motto I try to live by.

(gets off soapbox, tucks it under arm and saunters off to find another topic)

oops: in practice!

I was a teen in the early nineties and at school lots of people would use the words spaz and spacka as insults, and often flap their hands about and make a noise to emphasise what they meant, as if it wasn't bad enough anyway.

I hated it then and I hate it now.

Perhaps this is the reverse of when people defend others who use outdated terms which are now regarded as offensive by saying "oh...but s/he's of the older generation, it wasn't offensive/wrong to them, it was normal, they don't know it's wrong like we do now..."

I'm of the generation where these words were widely used and intended to be offensive and don't give me that crap that at school "we didn't know it was wrong." Of course we did, that's why some of them used it (completed with hand gestures and noises) and some of us hated it...because all of us knew it was offensive/wrong and to me it always will be. Seeing it on the trailer for the programme made me wince, and not because I am professionally offended but because whatever the intention was, I feel it will be lost on the people who may now pick up the word and start using it again and it will just be used as an insult once again.

here we go with the pc comments.
I do hope people who are so quick to say that don't mind people like my dd being abused, being called a S*
the idea that I am (and people like me) are looking to be offended is just bullshit

Rollersara yes they meaning "the disabled people"

Just because someone is disabled does not mean they don't have a sense of humour, or that they can't play practical jokes on people!

btw I am disabled so I know what I'm talking about!

What all of them? We missed the memo at my house

"they"
who are they?
dd wasn't asked if she wanted it to be called that.

Missed the memo here, too.
My kids are often called window lickers and spaz, despite their conditions not having any spasticity symptoms.

I watched around 60 seconds of the programme and turned off - I found it horribly exploitative.

I also missed the memo. The disabled people clearly aren't that organised. Because they couldn't possibly be a diverse spectrum of people with a wide range of viewpoints, characteristics and senses of humour who can't all speak for each other.

And I too am disabled, therefore I must know what I'm talking about.

its not for me to decide if people want to reclaim a word even if i do not like the word

at times it is the best what to challenge peoples misconceptions is through humour its breaks down barriers and lets people who are often the butt of jokes turn it around is that so bad

i watched it last night cringed a bit but thought it was very funny at times

well if people want to reclaim the word good for them, shame they can't show consideration for others.
obviously that haven't had a child bullied and taunted,!!
this has nothing to do with anyone reclaiming a word. people jsut say that as it is better than saying that the people who think this is ok are .....well not nice

link....www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-08-19/peter-mitchell-im-spazticus-will-shock-but-were-just-having-fun

No one sent me a memo either.

read one of the linked articles.
sounds fine, but then they used that title.
so I for one won't watch it as to do so makes their viewing figures go up.
there were lots of titles they could have used.(they being the people who produce the show)

Challenging misconceptions through humour is fine. Speaking on behalf of a community to reclaim a word that was exclusively used as a term of insult (so much so that at least one charity had to change it's name) in such a short time frame, not fine, IMO.

Yes, context is important. Yes, the writers and actors are part of the community the word is used against. But that doesn't give them the right to speak for everyone.

Do you think the Kumars at No 42 would have done as well if it was called the Pakis at No. 42?

but that title would not have been allowed as it is racist.
sadly this one is allowed as being disablist is allowed.

yanbu. It's as bad as the undateables as a title for a show. Can't believe it got approved.

God, yes, I'd forgotten about the Undateables :(

I saw its on tonight I think I will watch it and see what it is about,

what was the other show channel four did was a disabled comedy ?

"and lets people who are often the butt of jokes turn it around is that so bad"
yes freud it IS bad. Just in the same way it was wrong the first time .,, doing the same back just for laughs is just plain wrong and hardly going to foster any sort of relationship to start encouraging any sort of respect.

Just last night I witnessed a gang of young people ridiculing a young man I know with Downs ( thankfully he was not as aware of their intentions as I was) .......... following the above principle then perhaps I should round up a group of young people with Downs and / or other disabilities and go to the local bus station and find a lone YP and taunt him / her.

Oh no ........ of course cannot do that as they would get castigated and I would be told I should "not let my charges behave like that and they should be locked up".

...and oh yes the lone YP would probably then not just feel humiliated / angry / wronged he or she would probably then want to "get back" at the people making fun ....and the whole thing would probably escalate even more !

How to make the divide wider and wider !

Surely we should be trying to build respect not just keep making fun of each other and "getting our own back".