To find this offensive

[JingleMyBells]

As I was leaving my neurology appointment, I have epilepsy, the receptionist loudly said to her colleague "I nearly had a fit the other night when I saw the state of the house".

To me wrong in many ways. Firstly, wrong terminology secondly, demeaning to people who have SEIZURES, could be upsetting for those newly diagnosed plus just generally inappropriate.

It's a massive jump from "I'm upset by this comment" to "this sort of thing gets people sacked".

The PO here are missing the point entirely. The usage here has been assumed,but its not evident. "I had a fit when I saw the state of the place"....this does not at all, by any stretch, automatically translate to :"I had a seizure when I saw the state of the place".
It's shorthand. Its just as likely, if not more, that it meant a fit of anger, a fit of emotion....a useage that has nothing at all to do with epilepsy, and is perfectly valid use of a word that has many different meanings.

You cannot unilaterally decide what other peoples words mean, and then worse, think that your offence at what you have decided they meant can let you call them an idiot, unprofessional, insulting.

I am seriously insulted by the assertions here that my family is stigmatised and we're all too thick to notice, but so fucking what? I'll give you all the benefit of the doubt and assume that you didn't mean to be so twattish, rather than post about the offence I could take from you.

As I said I was going from 1 extreme to the other. Very much like this thread.

Not very nice to call people "snarling dogs."

People disagree with you that the nurse said something offensive in their opinion. If you just wanted a sycophantic thread then maybe you need to try a different forum.

You also do not stand for every family who has a person with epilepsy in it, Annabel.

Your use of PO is trying to shut down debate.

Why are you having a go at Annabel Gobby?

Thank you for taking the trouble to type all that Annabelle, I agree entirely.
It's like saying a domestic shouldn't use the word 'bucket' in Gynae clinic waiting room in case someone takes offence!

*Sauvignon

I'm not having a go. I'm pointing out that just as Annabel believes the OP cannot unilaterally decide what us offensive she herself cannot unilaterally decide what isn't offensive and try using the PO term to shut down debate.

You don't generally decide to be offended so it's ridiculous talking about the op as if it was a conscious decision or an excuse to pick on someone's behaviour.
Everyone reacts differently to things and she was at a place where she was obviously feeling vulnerable. Yes someone might actually also get offended with people saying they shat themselves as a joke if they've recently had part of their bowel removed. When someone close dies it can be hard to hear other people talking about an equivalent person in their life.
It's all about context and in the context of a hospital dept you should be aware of the heightened sensitivity some patients might have. It doesn't mean everyone with epilepsy should be offended by that use of the word fit but the OP was because she was and it's possible to see why.

How would using the term PO (which always makes me think of ferries) shut down a thread?

Of course she can decide what is offensive - "offensive" is a wholly subjective concept which would have literally no meaning or application as an objective one, unless I suppose you included religion where there is an "objective person".

I still think the OP should lighten up, though, :D

subjective and individual perception

the use if the word 'fit' is not universally accepted as a no no, like some other words are.

oh vulva, yes you put it better sorry x posts

The OP may have 'decided' that it was offensive. However, as 99.9% of posters have pointed out, she has made the wrong decision!

I am not PO but I am a HCP and whilst not perfect if I made gaffe like that I would be really embarrassed. Outside of work is different and I accept that this is a commonly used phrase but it is not acceptable in this setting.

This was a neurology department.

Her choice of phrase was most unfortunate.

Not intended to offend of course, but a touch insensitive in that particular context

Well my experience of being offended is where someone does or says something and I have an emotional reaction inside that makes me feel hurt and upset. It's not like you tell yourself to have that reaction.
The more sensitive you are about something the more likely you'll be offended by mentions of it and yes that can become excessive eg when you're depressed everything can be upsetting, but in the context of the op, being offended is understandable.

It's different to a general being offended as a principle in the way that eg Gove offends me. Actually I do get a reflexive emotional reaction to him sometimes...

gordyslovesheep Has hit the nail on the head with:

hissy fit - from the term 'hysterical fit of anger' - fit does not and never has solely referred to an epileptic seizure - so sorry, yabu

It's different to someone referencing something ONLY associated with the disease or mental illness, or being derogatory towards symptoms or perpetuating stereotypes.

This is a bit on a level with an incontinent person getting offended by someone saying they pissed themselves laughing...

Im sorry you've had bad news but you are being massively unreasonable.

Although you'd think in the dept. she works in she'd maybe choose slightly different phrasing... :/

Op you've obviously had a bad appointment that's why you have taken it to heart, but I think really it was tongue in cheek! Your going to hear those phrases (granted your probably not expecting it in that department but receptionist are human to)

My uncle is 63 had epilepsy all his days could not attend mainstream primary school due to his "fits" he had to go to a school for disabled kids!! My nana fought to get him into mainstream high school and I've heard him say epy,fit of the giggles etc! They are only words and I'm sure there is more to get wound up about

You got offended over a misunderstanding. You thought having a (hissy) fit was related to a seizure. You're wrong. But at least you've learned something.

Fit of the giggles, fighting fit, fit for work, fit it in, fit for nothing... the word is used for lots of different things, you can't claim they all offend you surely?

Who's to say the receptionist doesn't have epilepsy herself and was indeed referring to the fact that tiredness and the stress of walking into a house in "a state" could have bought on a seizure .............