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Original poster

Do you think its acceptable to say......

68 replies

anniebear · 04/10/2005 11:30

The word 'fit' Just read it being used on another thread and I'm not sure about it.

As in "oh he had a right fit" or "he threw a right fit today' (tantrum) or she was in 'fits of laughter'

Ellie had Epilepsy (waiting to see if she has anymore seizures since coming off meds) and I don't think it is very nice to refer to a child having a tantrum looking a like a child having a seizure.

What do you think? Is that a bit OTT? Some people would say they can hardly say anything nowadays without offending others. I do have a few friends who use the phrase but they don't mean any harm by it so I never say anything.

I was in a play area with a friend the other day and Ellie got in a bit of a nark. I couldn't see her properly and said to my Friend "Is she ok" She replied "Oh she's just having a fit because somebody knocked into her")

I was so close to saying "Oh no, she hasn't had a fit for a long time now"!!! lol

Do you think it is an acceptable or unacceptable word to use?

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Bethron · 04/10/2005 12:28

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BaronessJewelsofToochester · 04/10/2005 12:31

acceptable

iota · 04/10/2005 12:34

I thought fit could refer to things other than an epilectic seizure

e.g a fit of pique or a fit of temper.

iota · 04/10/2005 12:36

sorry abou teh typo - epileptic

sweetheart · 04/10/2005 12:37

I think it's acceptable. There are too many examples of political correctness gone mad nowadays.

ThomBat · 04/10/2005 12:38

Well no-one I know personally suffers from fits, as in seizures, but I don't think using the word in other contexts is offensive no. I think it's acceptable to use and so far can't see how it would be offensive. However if a mother whose child suffers from fits said it upset them I would rethink using it.

Original poster
anniebear · 04/10/2005 12:40

What do Mums of SN Children think?

I am sure I will have also used the word myself before now, but obviously since having Ellie have found better words to describe a tantrums and bad behaviour

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iota · 04/10/2005 12:42

definitions here

Original poster
anniebear · 04/10/2005 12:44

Yes, I looked it up myself earlier

I just wondered what Mums thought of people using the term to describe a tantrum. Just interested , particulary if their Child has seizures, do they find it offensive

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iota · 04/10/2005 12:46

well surely a tantrum is a fit of temper as defined in the dictionary -- nothing to do with epilptic fits

Original poster
anniebear · 04/10/2005 12:53

Ok!! Maybe a persons Child has to have Seizures for it maybe to offend them more

Maybe if a child has SN the Parent might be a little more sensitive to certain words

I wasn't saying it did offend me, not really sure if it does or not! although I supose if I do hear somebody use the word in a certain way I will think "Oh that doesn't sound very nice"

Was just asking what others thought

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Bethron · 04/10/2005 12:55

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Bethron · 04/10/2005 12:57

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iota · 04/10/2005 12:59

anniebear, I do truly believe that it is an entirely separate meaning - what about a coughing fit or fits of laughter - these are nothing to do with epileptic seizures.

If someone used the term "having an eppi" for having a tantrum, then yes I would find that thoughtless and offensive.

SoupDragon · 04/10/2005 13:01

I think it's acceptable.

Lacrimosa · 04/10/2005 13:01

do you not think that its just a case of actually knowing what words mean? I don't think its offencive but like Iota I would be very unhappy if someone called a tantrum an Eppi.

Original poster
anniebear · 04/10/2005 13:03

Maybe not Iota,

but as I said, maybe your child has to have seizures (some unfortuantly taking many skills away from a child) to maybe be slighty more offended by the word, however used

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Bethron · 04/10/2005 13:05

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hocuspocusdiplodocus · 04/10/2005 13:07

Anniebear - would it have been okay if your friend had said "She's having a fit of temper because somebody knocked into her"?

Original poster
anniebear · 04/10/2005 13:15

I dont know! She didnt say that did she? I wasn't highly offended by what she said and she is a good friend, just thought it didn't sound too nice

Parents who luckily, have never had to watch their child have seizures aren't going to think there is anything wrong with using the word fit in other contexts, wouldn't cross their minds.

As I keep saying your child obviously has to have seizures for you to maybe find the word slightly more offensive

What about any Mums who's child does have seizures, what are your thoughts?

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ThomBat · 04/10/2005 13:15

thought shower !!!!!!!!!! what??????????

Lacrimosa · 04/10/2005 13:19

I truly think that its just a matter of actually knowing what a word means. One of my friend always refered to my daughters skin being sallow I was highly offended until I found out she actually though it meant a healthy glow!

SoupDragon · 04/10/2005 13:20

But "fit" is a proper word with many more meanings than "seizure" (which is probably the correct term for an epileptic fit) - it's not offensive in the same way as, say , "spaz" is.

Bethron · 04/10/2005 13:20

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Original poster
anniebear · 04/10/2005 13:23

I know there are different meanings

Maybe it's just when somebody says "Oh they had a right fit

reffering to a tantrum which doesn't sound nic3

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