MNHQ .. Can we talk about disability bashing?

[Brownsugarshortbread]

Over the years i have posted on and enjoyed MN.
Sadly there seems to be a growing culture of it being okay to have a go at disabilities, those who claim DLA and those who's children have 'invisable' disabilities such as ADHD and ADD.
The terms 'freak' and 'scrounger' have been batted around and comments from some posters IMO certainly boarder on harrassment and discrimination.

When certain posts or posters have been reported, some have been removed, yet a lot haven't.

And while I agree with free speech, these types of comment or reaction to these comments, are not an education for those bigoted posters. Nor do those whose lives are touched by disability wish to be used to educate those posters.

Disability Harassment

is unwanted behaviour based on disability,
impairment or additional need. Such behaviour may include comments that are patronising or objectionable to the recipient or which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for people with disabilities. Disability harassment includes inappropriate reference to disability, unwelcome discussion of the impact of disability, refusal to work with and exclusion of people with disabilities from social events or meetings.

Aitch - damn right. Maybe we should get some T-shirts printed up?

Seriously, we need to take a stand. It matters.

agree

any other folk out there reading but not posting?

join us

Agree

Agree.... come on all you lurkers out there, it's one word

isn't that why the call is for a more nuanced approach to HQ's moderation, maryz? i do agree that i don't want to see mass deletions. (at least in part because i like to know who the wankers are )

i have never seen how that would solve the problem, len. could you explain? that seems to put the onus on the 'victim' to act, not the wanker to stop being a wank. unless you get a message saying 'lenin has hidden you'

As an ex lurker...I've been prompted to post. I agree.

i don't like the killfile idea at all, personally. (but that is because i know i would NEVER use it. [too nosey])

would it lead to wankers saying 'killfile me if you don't want to read my opinion'? because that is not good for debate and tone of site.

I've not posted on here AFAIK, but I will continue to object to offensive disablist language and to ignore or be sarky about people calling me the PC police or The Professionally Offended or whatever other trite insult they can come up with. I've been doing it on the net and in RL for decades, why should I stop?
In face I tend to say 'You called?' when they do start being arsey about being picked up on their language and saying 'The SN police will be arriving soon'

'In face ' ?

In fact

I agree too.

Thank you to those who have taken the time to read and post. And hi to the lurkers :)

I agree with you all.My adult nephew is mentally handicapped and i know the upset my sister in law went through when he was much younger,caused by rude comments etc by ignorant people.

This took me hours to read! So, very belatedly:

Zero tolerance to disablism

I agree.

educating people would be ok if it worked, it doesn't, why should people from the sn community have to keep putting up with this? keep being insulted and hurt?
hiding poster does work, I have done it on fb, and by golly I am more relaxed now I can't see them.
but that is just where someone irritates me, hiding bigots just means they have won. letting their posts or threads stand and "educating" means they win.
can we win please, just for once

Why should we keep educating? How stupid do you have to be not to know disablist language is hurtful and harmful?

Riven I don't think it's stupidity. I think thats simplifying it too much (and actually alot of non-intellegent people I would say are just as likely to find these words offensive).

I think it's about how people were raised, the circumstances in which language was acceptable. Changing peoples minds takes time and effort and I don't think it helps to throw in the "stupid" card, at all. That will light the fire under people who have been reared to think it's OK, to defend it.

Education and calm, controlled responses are what is needed IMVHO.

Can I suggest this thread now draws up a list of what you want done/changed on MN and this succinct version is put to Justine et ál.