to wonder why it's still considered ok to use terms that are offensive to disabled people?

[wannaBe]

because imo it isn't.

someone used the word "mong" on a thread today, and although they were pulled up by a couple of posters, that's it.

if it was a racist term it wouldn't be tolerated. so why any other offensive term? why?

And why do people still feel the need to use these terms?

WTF?! That's disgraceful.
We have to go on disability & cultural awareness courses at work every 3 years. And they're great because they are run by people with disabilities and from different cultures.
It is NOT ok to use offensive words for disabled people IMO. We're not in the bleeding 70's now

the poster didn't use the term in reference to a disabled person but more in reference to something, ie they didn't want their child to "m in front of a screen." but still...

Hmm...while its obviously not ok to be intentionally offensive, I think part of the problem is that people just use the words they were taught as a child. If they aren't involved or know any disabled people for example, they won't have a reason to 'update ' their vocab. Its really rude to assume they are being intentionally offensive!!

Here's my example of putting my foot in it, my sister is going out with a chap half caribbean and half white and i just casually described him as 'half-caste'. my sister went nuts... but bloody hell i don't know what the 'pc' term is, its just a descriptive word for me, I'm not racist and so I don't think about it!!!!.

So I think its all about intention not expression!!!!! IYSWIM

Yes, still, indeed. It's an offensive term that could have been replaced with something else like 'slump'
Probably not thought it through when they were typing but, well, my dad, FIL etc still use those terms as well as n-word, p**i, queer, puff etc. It makes my blood seethe

I have contacted MN regarding the use of the M word.. they replied that they would leave the word there and i have replied to them that i dont think it is good enough and that i am disapointed that they are happy to leave that abhorrent word there!

Half-caste was what we used when I was a child too, MicrowaveOnly. I had no idea it was offensive. Since I now know my Gran was a racist (living in Bradford) I would never use that term now.

I think it's a case of ignorance tbh.
Which isn't excusable but possibly understandable, I know I've seen people use the word cretin on here too and I assume they don't know what it meant.

www.amazon.co.uk/Best-mong-out-albums-no-order/lm/B8L5XXPEDW12

mmmm. This is an interesting one. Speaking as a disabled person, I always get a little bit tetchy when people get het up about words. I know, I know, changing the words might help change people's attitudes but most of the time i think its just window dressing.
People do seem to have deep rooted fear/revulsion around disabilities. i think it is very sad that the spastic society had to change its name to Scope (which seems completely bloody meaningless) because 'spastic' had become such a pejorative term.
Sorry, not a very helpful comment but i don't really give a flying fudge if someone calls me 'disabled' or 'a person with disabilities'. I'd rather energies went into accessible transport, helping disabled people into employment etc.

yes, me too lj. And they responded that peple are entitled to their opinions! .

spero I do take your point, but often these terms relate to people with learning difficulties who often would be unaware/unable to take offence, and therefore someone needs to do it on their behalf, iykwim?

I have no issue for instance, if someone refers to someone as being "blind drunk" or having "blind faith" etc as it's just a term, but to refer to something/someone as being retarded for instance just seems wrong.

I was just thinking actually, I'd probably say 'veg out' rather than 'mong' but is that not being used in a similar vein from the way people have been described as vegetables or am i way off the mark?

please can someone explain why m**g is so offensive - it is a term I hadn't heard of until this morning. I certainly wouldn't use it if it causes offense but wondered what the etymology was?

Agree Spero, its all a bit 'holier than thou' really. Whose to say what the 'correct' word is, language is very subjective...and its not what words you use that matters but what your message is.

IMO lottie you're being a bit ott. I have no idea what the correct word is for people with disabilities, its like the word 'gay' etc they go in and out of favour and I'd like to know who makes up the rules?

but there's no need to get on your high horse, just because your English is better than the posters.

I just posted on the original thread and said that i thought "laze about" would be more suitable!! Oh and i had a go at those of them for using the "m" word too.

Yes, wannaBe I do see your point, but i think my objections can cover those with learning disabilities as well... because I'm worried we are going to run out of words! I remember a thread a while back when someone got reported for using the word 'spastic' to describe someone in a rage. She was very apologetic and said she didn't realise...

But if we don't change underlying attitudes, sooner or later every term we use is going to get trotted out as an insult. So i wonder if there isn't something else, something better that can be done than getting het up about vocabulary.

Same poster thinks it's OK for a GP to have used "retard" in conversation about a third party

I am really surprised MNHQ took that line lottie

This thread belongs in the pedants corner methinks!

On my high horse? I dont think so........ I'm just giving my opinion on the subject like everybody else.... Please dont pick on me!!!

Whether the word is used out of ignorance or without intention to offend, the fact of the matter is that if it does offend, shouldn't MN remove it?

Or is there, as the OP suggests an hierarchy on disrimination and what is tolerated/percieved as 'opinion' and allowed to remain on threads?

Surely all discrimination or ill/unthought out comments that cause offense, should be removed.

lottie, I meant high horse cos you actually asked mn to remove the word!! that's active censorship, not just your opinion!!

But Graciefer, who decides? is this an entirely subjective thing, so if just one person is offended, thats enough? Isn't that a bit of a scary thought?

the word "mong" is a shortening of the word "mongole" (sp?) which used to be used to refer to people with Downs Syndrome.

Iirc Lottie's dd has ds, so to say she's Ott is uncalled for imo.

I dont have a child with ds but my best friend has a son with ds which is why this means so much to me!

grace, there's loadsa posts on here that offend others. We don't/can't all agree on everything, you just cannot delete words written by someone else just cos you don't like them, that's outrageous!!!