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?

Being a techie of 30 years experience, my definition of a "crippled" machine would be one that has been deliberately put into that state. For example a game (so "machine" can cover software too) which has had features disabled (usually to encourage purchase).

It's not something I would associate with the derogatory human usage at all. Just descriptive.

I would not use it for a damaged or simply malfunctioning machine. In my dictionary there's an element of intention.

'Spaz' doesn't seem to have the same level of unaccepatbility in the USA as it does in the UK. I believe a wheelchair was marketed with Spaz as a brand name and the US retailers were very surprised when it couldn't be sold here.

I am trying to get my head around the fact that "crippled" could be an offensive word. It is an English word with a specific meaning correctly used in the context of the machine.

Our defences have been crippled - Offensive?

It really is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate around all the sensitivities associated with the most innocuous of phrases. And nowhere is this more so than on MN.

You really are BU.

I winder which came first, the technical use as regards a machine, or the use of it as applied to a mobility-impaired person?

For a while at my school 'Joey' was an insult after Blue Peter showed a film about a disabled chap called Joey Deacon. (It was mean to be inspiring!) Perhaps I should avoid watching Friends?

Yabu.

Personally I wouldn't use 'crippled' to describe a person at all.

Because someone used the word to make fun of a friend doesn't make the word unusable.

It may not be a word you use or like, I hate the word 'turd'. But judging the person who uses it is bu.

Someone told me the word 'picnic' was racist this morning. And had complained to the local hospice about the 'summer picnic' fundraiser they announced.

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

Blimey, I've really gone off him since I heard that.

I wonder which came first, the technical use as regards a machine, or the use of it as applied to a mobility-impaired person?

"Cripple(d)" (noun and verb) is centuries old (it pops up in Keats, if my memory serves).

However (as stated upthread), when applied to a machine, it implies deliberate damage. Allied bombing in WW2 was intended to cripple German manufacturing capability - and was announced as such.

ass that person is woefully is completely and utterly wrong as they'd even bothered to engage their critical faculties for 30 seconds.

bogus racist origins of the word picnic

Likewise the whole outrage over the word niggardly soley on the basis it sounds a bit like the wholly unrelated term bigger.

ass that person is woefully is completely and utterly wrong as they'd even bothered to engage their critical faculties for 30 seconds.

But at least they have publicised their restricted intelligence, and can now be avoided ? .

It's the quiet ones that worry me ....

On reflection, in a technical sense, perhaps the word "disabled" is more appropriate than "crippled" ?

"The save feature has been disabled in the demonstration version"

?

YABVVU.

I am so glad that no one in my real life has tried the picnic thing on me! I have never heard that stupidity before. So anyone trying to pull the racist card with me would have been shot down with my basic schoolgirl French, explaining pick a bit here and pick a bit there....

We have historically accurate British picnics a lot: held indoors, any guests invited to 'bring a thing'. Though, because of a favourite aunt and her habit of word twisting, we do call it a nicpic, aka a picky bits tea - a term which, I vaguely remember, has given at least one poster 'the rage', bless them, whoever they were

I dunno lurking, in a technical context disabled and crippled have slightly different meanings (although both conote not working) To my mind, disabled implies consciously switched off 'I disabled the autosave function on the word processor'Whereas crippled would imply not working from damage (deliberate or otherwise).

To me, picnic means that there's a stupid person using a computer

Problem In Chair Not In Computer...

I think crippled as a verb is fine for humans and machines but the noun is more problematic.

an updated GIGO!

It really is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate around all the sensitivities associated with the most innocuous of phrases. And nowhere is this more so than on MN

It's not difficult if you don't do it. Don't encourage them by pandering.

Or a user ID 10 T error

Really OP?

Howabout has it spot on, in my opinion.

Fine to say "my great aunt was crippled by arthritis".

Not fine to say "my great aunt was a cripple".

I think crippled as a verb is fine for humans and machines but the noun is more problematic.

Exactly this.

Person A is crippled with pain. Fine.
Person A is a cripple. Not fine.

Person B is gay. Fine.
Person B is a gay. Not fine.

Person C is black. Fine.
Person C is a black. Not fine.

Someone once told me they were offended by the use of the word Ms. as a form of address, because their sister had MS.

Enters thread.
Shakes head in utter dismay.
Leaves thread.

Compos I have to make the point about niggardly every time I teach Kant!