To comment on this Facebook post?

[Essel]

One of my husbands friends has commented on/promoted another friends business by saying this on fb: 'business name, if Mr D can do it, any spastic can.'

I'd love to add a comment to fb about the use of the word 'spastic' as it shits me to tears that its still used as a socially acceptable insult by so many people (or maybe that's just in oz), but I don't want to sound shrill or ruffle feathers when I'm not close to any of these guys, and I doubt they really care what I think. I'm not sure I have the guts to speak up so publicly, but It bothers me to see it and not say anything.

My little brother has mild CP so I'm sensitive about the use of that word and I would hate for him to read something like that on FB (not that he would see this guys post but I guess he might see my reply).

I've tried to 'report' it which is what I usually do when I see posts/photos that make fun of people with disabilities, but that doesn't seem to be an option on this kind of post.

Does anyone have any ideas of what I could write or should I leave it?

I would leave it. Even though your intentions are good, it's going to make you look silly

How would standing up for what is right, going to make the OP look silly?
The comment is ignorant, rude, offensive and completely inappropriate in today's world. You should always correct someone who uses it.
Disability hate is not something that should just be ignored.

Thanks for the replies. Just for clarity's sake...

Its not my DHs business. The business is owned by a good friend of my DH. Another friend (mr d) has used the business, posted some photos, tagged the business owner and added that comment in quotes. So it looks like mr d is quoting the business owner who thinks if mr d can use the business, any idiot can. Clear as mud i hope. Its some kind of delivery service.

Nomama, i dont mind a bit of colourful language amongst adults. I was actually surprised at how fruity the language can be on mumsnet, especially the frequent use of the f-bomb which isnt allowed on Australian forums. You might like Australian forums as they are heavily moderated with no swearing. Another Australian phrase i couldnt use on an australian forum is 'take the stick out of your arse'.

Anyway, like others, i disagree that a sprinkle of light swearing invalidates my objections to prejudice or hate speech. I was sorry to hear that your colleague is a pillock and your husbands aunt and all her friends are racist (id love to hear how you handle that). But If we are going to be pedantic, i wouldn't use your words 'pillock' or 'pissy' in front of my grandmother either, so im surprised you used them in a post objecting to 'shits'. Why is shit so much more offensive than piss? And Freud might have something to say about you calling your colleague a penis when you get a bit hot under the collar.

(As for your racist comment about racist australians - I think australians are far less PC than the brits, but the poms have proven to be a petty racist bunch when offered the anonymity of a secret ballot....People in UKIP houses and all that...)

FB got back to me and have decided not to remove the comment and there has been no reaction to my comment, mind you, i posted it at about 11pm and its 5.30 am now.

Essel, most of what you wrote about my language was my point. I really was just trying to say that if you wanted to make a point, a response to the eejit you described, you might want to do so without any of the language that accompanied your first post. I am not the prude some seem to have assumed I am (your quoting language I have used supports that).

Then again, it seems that fighting fire with fire is a more MN way of dealing with things. I am, yet again, out of step.

And I wasn't racist about Australians, just the ones my DHs aunt knocks about with. They are Class A pillocks in almost every way. Entitled, overly monied and, thankfully, not often over here telling us all about it.

I did say I would not judge all Australians by their actions. Just as I would hope you wouldn't judge all 'poms' by their UKIP houses.

Nomama, I think i understand where you are coming from but i think you might have misinterpreted my post at a couple of points. I didn't ever say that I'd love to write a comment on fb that the S word shits me to tears, I said that I'd love to write a comment as 'it shits me...' that the word is used. I then went on to say that I didn't want to ruffle feathers or sound shrill and did anyone have any ideas of what I could say.

I think perhaps you just like a bit of banter Nomama. It does seem an odd thing to get your undies in a twist over.

Anyway, one of the guys who owns the business 'liked' my post and the others ignored it so I don't think I've upset anyone too much.