AIBU to find this term offensive

[wakeupandsmellthecoffee]

A colleague at work in reference to someone sitting down relaxing in a chair said "he's monging out"she was surprised when I said I was offended by the term and that it was disabilist.
What is your definitions of the term mong.

I think as things do language has evolved and the word is offensive to those understanding it's original meaning, however the word has evolved to mean, lazing or relaxing and is not used offensively or designed to bring offence

No I'm sorry that doesn't work. The word hasn't evolved at all, it still means what it originally means which is 'slow and stupid like a person with down syndrome' - just because some people aren't aware of the offensive origin doesn't mean the word has evolved in any sense.

If the word had evolved to mean something completely different an unrelated to the offensive term you would have a point.

owl my heart just wrenched reading your post. Have to say I've never heard of 'joey' being an insult but having read the thread I can understand how hurt you must've been, well done for keeping your cool.

As for monging, I say it, won't ever again..... I'm gutted I never realised where it's derived from and mortified that I never gave it any though before. Thanks for enlightening me.

Well I personally think if it's not meant in a directed offensive way, then as long as its corrected and not said again. That's fine
But unfortunately I've been on the receiving end of people using it on purpose, or saying this is pc gone mad type stuff.

I think if it's used with knowing the meaning and people apologise/are mortified/never use it again. Well that's one less person using it and telling other people not to use it.

Thank you for all being so kind. It's not very often we come a cross people being so openly vile. I did have to send one of my sons friends home once though for a similar incident and his mother was just as bloody ignorant, tried to blame it on my son and said he was making fun of my daughter's handwriting book she has never had a handwriting book and it was such a neurotypical response that me and my son still laugh about it now!

Sorry that with was meant to say without knowing!

she probably did not know what it meant. to me it means chilling out. and words change... when i was a kid. thats well bad/wicked meant good.

I remember when I was young the dog in "Bread" was called Mongy, short for mongrel. I always used to think that the term was short for Mongrel, it wasn't until I was in my twenties that I realised it was used in any other way.

My brother has Down's syndrome and I never knew this was linked. I'm in my late 20s is it a new or old thing?

FWIW I'm sure most people don't mean it to cause offence. I hear a lot of things stupid, retard, spastic etc but i know people don't u sweat and the true meaning or origin. I once asked said to someone I found spastic offence for obvious reasons. She was mortified and upset that Is like to think most people are just a bit naive!

Don't understand! My phone has a mind of it's own

There's always one I suppose.

God, it's cuntwatch again on here.

I thought it was short for mongrel dog as well for a long time. Not that it makes any sense. I didn't find out what it actually meant until I joined MN.

I don't use this term but I would never have guessed, or known it was offensive. I'm in my 30's - never ever knew this was offensive and if I had ever used it I would be mortified if I thought someone was offended.

Are you sure she knows it's offensive?

Fire on using language which belittles others. It doesn't offend me whatsoever. I just make judgement emotional capacity of the user. If that doesn't bother you then it doesn't bother me

Teacher. I hear it a fair bit, and pick it up every time. They "know" it's not a good word but don't always know why, so I explain it to them. Nicely, if it's the first time.
I hate that recent song that has the word "spaz" in it, and I remember being horrified when someone in Buffy used the same word! I get it's more acceptable in America, but I've no idea why.

Yanbu op. Anyone who uses that term should fuck off

I know what it means, because my parents told me.

Tbh I don't think you can call it offensive when used innocently. I don't think many people make the connection now even if they do now, it's taken on a new meaning.

I have never heard the term joey used as a derogative name. I thought it was a baby kangaroo.

Know**

I have never heard of it and didn't know what it meant until I read this thread. I would find the term offensive.

Well you learn something new every day bunbaker!

It hasn't taken on a new meaning at all orda. The connotations are still there when ppl use it in a derogatory way

Every day is a school day.

Owl, I'm just saying when people say they're 'minting out' I.e. Relaxing, flopping down after a long day, they're 99% not thinking of Down syndrome in any way, as is evidenced in this thread.