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?

Good post Graciefer. I think that's why a few of us reacted strongly to Spero's comment. Challening the language people use does not mean that words are all we care about. That was the context of the thread. I think it is important. I think other actions are important too. One does not preclude the other.

mong Noun. Imbecile, idiot. Offensive expression alluding to someone with Down Syndrome, being Mongoloid.

Verb. To reach a drugged state where physical activity is minimal and mental faculties are incapacitated. Used frequently within the 'ecstasy' fuelled 'house' scene. Obvious relationship to the derogatory version of the noun 'mong'. [1990s]

mong-out Verb. Meaning the same as 'mong' (verb). E.g."Those pills were very strong, we only had one each but all monged out."

hmmm, well have to agree with graciefer there as have just written an entire chapter on how the images of balcks in arts and literarture helped nullify objections to the slave trade

it all interacts: the innocent use of a word- Ok if it really is innocent then people should be made quietly aware and then all should move on- but an undercurrent of accepting words really does strengthen other, more severe forms of discrimination and have huge negative effects as a result

Good point. it is something that pushes my buttons so I made a snidey comment. sorry for that.

found this website 3 meanings of the word if said to child with sn then i would take it opersonally

but as said in a way of chilling out its not offensive

er, thanks for that.

And that was helpful because?

anyone with sn i should of said

just trying to show that the word has other meanings apart from being offensive to sn

sorry just trying to help forget it no need to be rude you'd think i made the comment

It is offensive buublagirl. Just because some spotty 17 year old geek programmer stuck their definition onto Wikipedia (or wherever) does not make it less offensive. It is about the root of the word and that connotations drawn.

mrsr, actually the thread was not started on the basis of you having used the word. Having used it, I reported the post to mnhq who subsequently told me that they would not delete it as people had a right to their opinions.

I accept that some people use these terms without actually giving it much thought, or without even realizing the offence caused to some people, however what i don't accept is that the use of these terms should be considered acceptable once pointed out, and mnhq's reply that "people have a right to their opinions" seems to blatantly say that it is still considered acceptable to use these terms.

But it wouldn't be acceptable if it had been a racist remark, so why any other.

Fwiw I don't particularly like the words fuck or c**nt either, but they don't refer to specific groups of people.

Always that that the term veg-out meant to make like a vegetable and be very still. I know a lot of people who use the phrase.

Well, wannabe, I would have thought you could have gently explained why it was offensive instead of reporting me.
You can tell damn well fron my post that I didn't mean any offence

"Verb. To reach a drugged state where physical activity is minimal and mental faculties are incapacitated. Used frequently within the 'ecstasy' fuelled 'house'
scene. Obvious relationship to the derogatory version of the noun 'mong'. "
so as it has been derived from the noun, of course it is still offensive.

It was gently pointed out to you and you did come back to the thread.

Yesterday you thought that a GP using retard was aboslutely fine and people thinking otherwise were over-reacting.

Carry on using the words, especially of mumsnet HQ won't draw a line saying racist/disablist words are banned. You can use as many words as you like and you can defend their use.

Just be aware that people will be drawing all sorts of conclusions from the words you use.

We all make mistakes sometimes (I can remember for example innocently using half-caste many years ago, I apologised and didn't use it again). The idea that I could cause offense without meaning to stayed with me. Having it pointed out meant that I stopped offending people.

i was talking this all very seriously until I read yurt gets a fuck for her son being severely disabled. I must go and tell my dh my fuck is well overdue

And I have posted it once and not repeated it, as you did with half caste no doubt.
Thanks for stalking my posts.

pmsl fio.

Stalking your posts? What because I've been on 2 of the same threads as you? Er when I'm on a thread it shows in my active conversations.

oiFoiF, I also picked up on the get a fuck remark and thought about posting a shoe- reward comment (another thread!) but decided it might not be in-keeping!

'Twas funny tho!

i dont like the word myself and dont use it but if someone says it in context of relaxing infront of tv i dont automatically jump at them unless i know they are genuinly being offensive

alot of words and phrases are used on here that are not said in a hurtful way but will affect certain people but there has to be a time where you can tell the person why you find it offensive let it go and hope you dont see it again

as some people have no real idea what the word really means and only know it as to the chilling out meaning

others use the word meaningfully and should be flamed just pointing out other ways in which people know the word

i havent once seen anyone with ds looking as though in drug feulled state so find it hard to understand why they have put from noun as didnt notice that i have never seen anyone on drugs resemble anyone with ds

im leaving this thread before i get flamed further just wanted to say hate the word dont use the word but others do harmlessly and some do it out of spite

I think most people who use it are about 10. No doubt ds2 and ds3 will come out with it as some stage. At which point they will be told why it's a word we don't allow in the house.

They'll probably have it said to them about their brother at some stage as well.

I don't think that anyone thinks that Mrs. R was being deliberately offensive.

I do think that this thread will show a lot of people that the word can seriously offend and why.

I have a friend in a wheelchair who refers to 'crip parking bays'

does it make any difference that she is a wheelchair

well I'm not in a wheelchair and I wouldn't call them crip bays or refer to her as a crip,is what I meant