Disablist terms used in the new George Clooney film, The Descendants

[TheyShootHorses]

Just seen the new George Clooney film, The Descendants.

In the film his eldest daughter calls the youngest 'such a spaz'. They showed this clip at the Bafta's last night.

Later George calls her boyfriend a retard. He says ' don't use the word retard in a derogatory way, my little brother is retarded - JOKE!'

I really didn't find this funny, and I was shocked that these words were used. I haven't heard Spaz as an insult since I was at school in the 80's.

AIBU?

X post there, KS.

YY, not endearing or comical at all, wherever you live!

I did wonder why they used that particular clip on a British awards ceremony when I saw it. Whether or not it is acceptable in the US, it isn't here. Strange choice of clip unless someone was 'making it known' that it could offend...

Spaz and Retard have different connotations in the US hence why they have been used the in the film.

There have been many examples of the use of the word 'spaz' in US popular culture/sport, Including a transformer toy named 'spastic', an episode of friends, and Tiger Woods called himself a spaz, look here.

I realise that it does not make it correct here, so maybe the film should have been changed for the UK audience?

It means the same thing wherever you live - a type of paralysis. The comedy value still escapes me!

DS used teh term retard, the other day, and got an explanation from me as to why it was completely unacceptable. I think he got it.

Frowine

But in US a lot of people do find the R word offensive . They now talk about the special education unit /class not the retard class

I also said that it doesn't make it correct and yes I believe that using retard is becoming socially unacceptable in America, as it should be.

Unlike the S word, the R word was surely a term before it was applied to people with SN. Flame retardant, retarded cement, etc being cases in point. It's the use of the R word to describe someone with SN (or as an insult linked to SN) which is offensive rather than the word itself, IMO.

The S word is unforgivable in any context though as it can only mean one thing.

Where do we stand on 'demented'?

But... at the risk of stating the obvious, these are words in a script, written for characters that might say those words. So immature, ignorant teenagers (or grown ups) might use the S & R words in real life (especially in America). Just like a racist person in a film might say the N word. It doesn't mean the actors portraying these characters agree with using these words or that the writer or director do. I presume they are just aiming for an authentic portrayal of the characters.

cheers for using those very offensive words in a thread title, so you can't have been that shocked an you?

I am not offended by OP using them in in the thread title. Surely there is a difference between the terms being used and using them in a thread to discuss. However I feel, I will take my lead from Kalskirata, I may have thought this was another professionally offended thread but reading her post made me think. I do think, however, that objecting to the words being used is professionally offended. If discussion reminds people like me that not all things I initially think are just a appeal to be offended for the sake of it, but instead raise some awareness and educate people, by all means OP use the works in the title. Thank you for making me feel a bit small Katskira, I bow to you for stopping me from rolling my eyes and instead showing some bloody care and empathy for others.

When I say the words being used, I mean in context of name calling. Using the words to initiate discussion is important and should not offend anyone.

well I am the words are offensive the op knew that.
but then if your child has them aimed at them because they are disabled maybe you would find them offensive.
Mn Hq said a while back that they would delete posts with them in it, so hopefully this thread will go soon.

They are not acceptable in the US.
There is a major movement to make the use of the word totally unacceptable.

Why is this thread even needed?

Why would any grown up think it is ok to use these words.

If they were not offensive they wouldnt be used as insults would they?

I am sorry you are offended and I am not trying to belittle that. I just don't think we should scream TROLL ALERT! when an important and meaningful discussion has been created. Sure there are many inflammatory and trolly threads created, I just don't feel that this was one. Sorry if I dismissed your feelings seven, I did not mean to do that.

there was no need for the op to use the words, she could have got her point across(but got less attention) in other ways, yet she was so shocked she put them in the thread title and the op, hardly shocked imo,
then you have people saying oh they are ok and crap like that,

so imo the op is attention seeking.

Fair enough Seven

Of course they are offensive - I thought the discussion was about whether it was acceptable to use them in a film as it was in the Descendants.

I am surprised that so many people seem to think that they should not be used at all in a film.

Having not seen the Descendants I can't comment on their context within that film, but in general I would see the use of them as OK as long as they were in keeping with the character and weren't used gratuitously. People say and do lots of unacceptable and offensive things in films. It doesn't mean the filmmakers are endorsing them. Eg. Racist or sexist or homophobic characters sometimes use horrible language but it wouldn't offend me unless the film appeared in itself to be racist, sexist or homophobic.

Strictly speaking, the word 'retarded' simply means 'delayed', similar to the French 'retard' for late. In that respect, it isn't really that different to 'developmentally delayed'. It has presumably become offensive because it has been used out of context, to describe people who are slow (but not technically disabled)? The same applies to other terms, such as spastic. It does make me wonder whether currently acceptable terms for special needs (even including the term 'special needs' itself) will eventually suffer the same fate. It isn't the words themselves that are offensive, but the way in which they are applied, if malice is intended.

Theodorakis I think you get it. The words were in the title as they were the words up for discussion. Yes they are unpleasant words. My DS has special needs. When I heard the words in the cinema it felt like a punch in the gut. The worst part was people laughed. That's why I had to ask, is it just me who doesn't find this funny?
Okay the characters are meant to be difficult teenagers. That makes it alright then? That means we can all laugh along?
I feel reassured now, really appreciate the views.

the awful title jumped out at me. Especially as dd was called both yesterday by some tosser on the bus. She is a little girl. She is tiny. But some loudmouthed adult arse called her both those words. So the title hit me.

I still don't get why if you found it so offensive you put them in both the thread title and op.
surely if something is that shocking, you don't then repeat it.

yes...peeking at thread again..almost every poster has used the words repeatedly, not nice reading, i dont know why people can't use asterisks

I remember in Buffy The Vampire Slayer (so some years ago) sympathetic characters used the S word as a term of abuse - the BBC edited it out for broadcast (regardless of the time of day I think). I've seen reasonably PC Americans use the R word as an insult recently too, which I think is really shocking: as a description of someone with developmental delays it's an innocent word, but using it as an insult is something I've never heard in the UK (though I move in sheltered circles).

Essentially using a questionable word descriptively can be excused on grounds of cultural difference (Americans in Pakistan abbreviate Pakistani to the P word, and that's no more offensive than "Brit" to them or their hosts). Using term describing disabilities as generalised terms of abuse is never acceptable though, and if the Americans don't realise that then they're simply wrong.