Saying crippled to describe a machine isn't acceptable

[DyslexicScientist]

A work colleague has just described a machine as crippled. I'm a bit sensitive about this word but aibu to think even describing a machine as this has no place these days?

but mooney what if one said "use of fire retarded material" when writing a specification?
The word in this context is "retardant". Different word.

It's fire retardant not fire retarded

A washing machine has no feelings, I think you are being professionally offended and taking being PC too far. I used lots of really colourful language when my washing machine broke down. My post would be deleted if I told you the language I used.

Is it not fire retardant?
I would just say it was broken, OP, I don't think it's on a par with some other words mentioned on this thread but I would avoid saying it myself.
The dictionary definition cited mentions a crippled old man: I would certainly not think it ok to describe an elderly man working with the aid of a stick as "crippled" these days, would anyone else?

Way way oversensitive.
We're not supposed to use the ACTUAL definitions of words now because its upsets some very sensitive people who haven't actual read the dictionary?
Fuck that.

As pp said its retardant.

I did giggle at fire retarded though, that's a funny slip up

Viola, the dictionary definition of "spaz" includes "to lose physical or emotional control".
So should we all start saying that, since it's in the dictionary?

Exactly viola
I wouldn't hesitate to use it to describe a piece of broken machinery. Is this for real

Retarded means slow or slowed down. Sometimes using words correctly reclaims the word from the bigots. For example one muscle might be spastic if it's in a spasm, but it would be stupid to describe a whole as spastic. Sometimes technical terms to describe a medical condition become insults.

Viola, the dictionary definition of "spaz" includes "to lose physical or emotional control". So should we all start saying that, since it's in the dictionary

I don't know what weirdass dictionary you're using because mine doesn't have that. And seriously? Subtlety, nuance and interpretation, you might want to try them some time.

Engineers and mechanics use retarded a lot. It just means slowed and is technically correct.

En retarde - late in French, from the latin retarder, to hinder, slow down.

It is the 'medical use' that is the corruption of the word. For hundreds of years it meant 'slowed/late' and suddenly in the 1960s mental retardation was adopted as a good way of describing people to avoid the perjoratives, moron, imbecile, feeble minded, etc. It wasn't until the 80s that retard became a perjorative itself.*

Such is the way with words.

*Source: www.mentalhelp.net/articles/history-of-stigmatizing-names-for-intellectual-disabilities-continued/

It is however normal and acceptable to talk about something that retards fire.

Tut you all moved on whilst I was typing

The term spaz is not a proper word and does not belong in a dictionary. Just like you would not expect to find f@ck or c*unt in everyday usage.

It's a bit of a jump from crippled machine to spaz is it not?

I am what you'd call crippled OP.It doesn't offend me,but that doesn't mean it wouldn't offend someone else that was ill and disabled in the same way as I am.

Sorry you are having a tough day op, sometimes grief sneaks up on us in unexpected ways, even years later something can trigger it again

I refer to myself as a spaz or spastic sometimes due to my disability but if someone else called me one as an insult I wouldn't be amused.

That probably makes me a hypocrite.

She's using it in the correct context.

Just reading a book about Jimmy Saville, he used it to describe disabled people all the time

Retardation can be used as another word for deacceleration. After my GCSEs our maths teacher show us a textbook she had used at school. The book had been published in the 1920s and there was a question where the reader was asked to calculate the retardation due to resistance force.

Most people with half a brain can tell when an insult is meant. More modern technology for describing special needs quickly become insults. An example of an insult would be "Critising someone for describing a washing machine as being crippled is a bit on the autistic side". (I am giving an example before you report me to mumsnet towers.) Should be word "autistic" be banned from usage just because plenty of people misuse the word.

i can understand why you don't like it op

Viola what an aggressive post.
You think subtlety and interpretation a good idea, but can't see why the OP might interpret a word she's most used to hearing in the context of people taunting her (now deceased) friend as being particularly negative?

The salient point here though is that OP doesn't have to like it. We can all be as offended or upset as we like at whatever anyone says or does. But the mistake OP makes is saying that because she doesn't like it, it isn't acceptable for anyone to say.
You can't use your personal offence to tell everyone else what words they are allowed to use. "I'm offended" is overused and is of little import to anyone but the offendee.
If you're offended by the perfectly normal ,legitimate and common use of a word, be offended. But why should anyone else care?

no the mechanism by which it is retarded is the retardant

A machine cannot be morally criticised so the term 'crippled' used in reference to a machine is purely descriptive. The problem with calling a person crippled is that the word is used as a slur to also mean useless, abnormal or less worthy than others.

Very lame horses are often described as crippled but that is purely descriptive and refers to the extreme level of lameness.