For being a bit bored and slightly irritated by people constantly being offended by a word!!

[xlr8]

Why is it that a word used by someone from a different..part of the country, upbringing , culture , education or decade offends so many people? Why do we all make such a big deal about not liking a word that someone has used to describe something?
What ever happened to sticks and stones????????

[VictorianSqualor]

I don't really get offended by any words, but it doesn't mean I can't see why they would be offensive and as such choose not to use them.

It's a sign of a either low intellingence or laziness and selfishness if you do IMO. Surely we all are capable of thinking of another word to use?

In not doing so it says to me that someone is either not able to think of anther word or really doesn't care who they offend.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Ah. lljkk is using the same argument. Not just children then...

[2shoes]

"2shoes Ds here, age: 16"
I'm sorry to say this and i will attempt say this in the nicest way possible. i have been dealing with people like you my entire life and i am really getting sick of it!
if you think it's OK that's your opinion (it may be wrong but it's yours) BUT posting on a site like this were you know people have kids with disabilities that is just not smart!
here's some advice:

KEEP IT TO YOUR SELF!!

word like "Spaz, Eppie, Retard, Mong"
have no place in civilized society and should become Taboo.

(IMO)

sticks tongue out

"2shoes DS has left the building!"

[VictorianSqualor]

I really hope some of the posters here are ashamed that a 16 year old boy can talk more sense than them.

Bravo 2shoes DS, I'm sure your mother is proud of you.

[theBOD]

"I have heard 'cripple' and 'crip' used by disabled people about themselves, which is closer to the Nigger or poof analogy, but I suspect them using it about themselves is one thing; an able-bodied person using it is quite another"

i use those kind of terms to my dad as he refers to himself as such jokingly. i'd never use it to a complete stranger as i wouldn't want to hurt their feelings.
however i did have a mate in college who was in a wheelchair. and i remember how no one mentioned it even when it seemed natural to, and this to me seemed wrong.because instead of treating him like everyone else people were walking on eggshells as though he was a sympathy case. so i remember slagging him about it one day (nothing serious, i think i asked him if he'd get alloys put on his chair or if he was running late) and the room going silent as though i was a monster, he had a good laugh and we remained good friends throughout college because i treated him exactly like all the other lads treated each other. and that is to slag each other off over anything and everything (weight,height,looks,girls,clothes,race, religion etc). i talked to him about it one night and asked him if it bothered him and if he was just putting on a brave face by laughing about it, and he said no he was glad that our tight group of mates gave him stick over it because otherwise he wouldn't have just been one of the guys.he would have been the guy in the wheelchair that nobody talks about.
so i honestly do think that these words in themselves are not bad of themselves.it is all about context and the intention of the words.

[Boco]

2shoes you must be proud of your son, he speaks sense and sounds great.

[ElfOnTheTopShelf]

I have never heard "epi" being used as a nasty description - the only context I have heard of epi is "epi-pen", shows what I know about the English language.

[theBOD]

no there is a difference,i'd show him all the common courtesy in the world, i think he's great, and if he had told me that the jokes hurt his feelings or offended i never would have mentioned them again as is the case with some friends who find certain subjects to be completely unfunny. as i said i wouldn't make a joke of a disability with someone i didn't know as that would cause offence, much in the same way i wouldn't slag off someone i didn't know.
however when the person is a friend i find it odd that if you slag or give all your mates stick over something you wouldn't joke with one of them because they have a disability. like i said the way our group of mates are (like most blokes) is that everyone is constantly trying to wind each other up or take the piss in some small way (all in good nature).
my point was that i don't think that all offensive words in themselves are always bad. i think it is more important to look at what the person is trying to convey or achieve by using such words.

[theBOD]

sorry posted before i saw your second post.

"but i dont see why you couldnt mention his wheelchair either but thats not the same as what was being discussed on the original thread "

i didn't understand it either, i just noticed that in the pub or lectures when there's be banter flying around etc people seemed to be avoiding having a go at him over anything as it was the start of college and i guess no one quite knew how to deal with it if they had little experience of being friends with people who have disabilities.and i guess no one wanted to be labelled as the guy who bullied the lad in the wheelchair.
however having grown up with a disabled dad i had no problem giving him stick back when he called me a "short arse" as i don't really notice disabilities.

[rebelmum1]

Surely it's not the word itself but the intention in which it is used. If you ban the word do you ban the intention? You can still insult someone you will always the vocabulary to do so, do you just keep changing words and associated connotations? People will still be prejudiced.

[xlr8]

Can I just say that I started this thread due to a conversation with a friend lastnight that annoyed me.
NOT because of any other thread on Mn. I was asked for an exaple of words on MN and I used the most recent example which related to the word epi on another thread, and I chose this because I suffer from epilepsy myself, and am not offended by it!!

I suggest that those who just want to tell me to fuck off because I have a different opinion to them should read the whole thread before coming up with such an itelligent arguement

[2shoes]

did anyone bothe to read ds's post???
xlr8 why did you start this thread and not just post on the other one?
and why name change.

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

xlr8 isn't edam. She's been posting on this thread.

[GreenElizabeth]

I see that now, thanks getbackinyouretc..

I find it too hard to believe that somebody with epilepsy themselves would defend the use of the term to have an epi.

THat stretches credibility I'm afraid.

[geekymummy]

I'd say it's not just about laziness, rather it's selfishness and a lack of empathy. Some people think they're rebels 'cos they're not "pc", others feel it's their right to utter an offensive term.

If my cantankerous 78 year old mum can use the term "learning difficulties" rather than an unsavoury word, many people are without excuse!

[xlr8]

2shoes ..xlr8 why did you start this thread and not just post on the other one?
and why name change.

Because It is a different subject, and the name change was due to the fact that the friend that had annoyed me last night comes on MN, which is also why I chose a different example to the one she and I had been discussing..

[2shoes]

By xlr8 on Wed 04-Jun-08 00:56:46
Well, the most recent example being 'epi'.

??? forgotton what you were talking about already?

[WowOoo]

HAve just read that someone though 'epi' meant an epidural. Have to say that cracked me up and then I remembered mine. It IS disrespectful, whatever it means!!!

[WowOoo]

2shoes, I would never use those words you listed above and can't even type them. Really remember people at school (some of whom are still my friends ish)making fun of the 'low sets' or the rems (remedials) as they were called. I knew it was wrong and horrible at age of 6. Point has been made to say nothing, not think of a nicer word.

I can only think that some people don't know how to deal with different people, I know I was very nervous when I first worked with special needs kids years ago. I'm going to watch BOD to cheer myself up now.

[xlr8]

2shoes ..By xlr8 on Wed 04-Jun-08 00:56:46
Well, the most recent example being 'epi'.

??? forgotton what you were talking about already?

I'm not sure I know what you mean, as I said in recent posts yes I used epi as the most recent example, what's your point and how have I forgotten??

[rebelmum1]

Why don't you just ban rudeness and abusive behaviour instead of the english language? Take eastenders off the airwaves and do us all a favour.

[Chandon]

xlr8, just from your name I could have guessed you were a boys mummy .

I think people on here can be very touchy.

I saw a mum being gunned down for saying she liked being with her DCs. She was told it was emotive language, and that it implied she thought other mothers did NOT like being with their DCs and she should not use such emotive language.

I was quite and even