To hate the term ‘a bit spesh’?

[BunInTheOven3]

I do private tuition. Sat next to a man at a dinner party at the weekend who asked me if my students were mostly normal or ‘a bit spesh’?

I would never ever refer to any of them in such a disrespectful way. Am I being over sensitive and/or taking this a bit seriously?

Never heard that before. Yes, it’s rude

That's horrible. What a prick. Definitely comes from the days of the 80's/90's when kids were teased with the word, "special".

He thinks he's funny.

Horribly derogatory towards children with special education needs. Nasty man.

Yes, that gets a ‘Could you say that again?’ from me. To (optimistically) give the person a moment to reflect on their unpleasant othering terminology. If they don’t rethink it, I will rethink it for them.

You're certainly not being over sensitive, I would have been speechless . There is no appropriate ' friendly' response to that really.
What a horrible man.

No doubt he thought he was being witty. I hope you put him on the spot -
“Sorry? I’m not sure what you mean by ‘spesh’?”

Obviously you know it’s offensive, why do you even need to ask here?

I have never heard the expression.

^^ This approach

Bloody hell: I definitely heard terms like that around primary school, late '70s/early '80s..."spesh school"...most of us grew up, evolved our language as we gained better understanding.

Seems that man was being purposely provocative rather than just linguistically clumsy. Git.

I think my reply was automatically hidden?
Anyway in reference I said it was derogatory term and up there in calling someone other well known offensive derogatory terms .

Thanks everyone. It’s hard because my therapist thinks I’m neurodiverse and have difficulties getting along with people, so I am really trying to always be polite and give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

There is absolutely no need to give anyone who uses this kind of repellent disablist language the benefit of any doubt whatsoever.

Fine if used by a member of the community, nasty if not.
My DP is autistic and often calls himself ‘a bit spesh’ or says it’s ’the ‘tism tingles’. but that’s describing himself and ok, horrible from someone else

He sounds a bit cringe.