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

[anniebear]

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?

hitc- I think I avoided using it with my friend because I thought it would "jar" (rather than being outright offensive)- I think that's a good description.

i find the expression 'oh that gave me a heart attack' hard and sometimes cant bring myself to say it.

never really thought about the fit thing before.

Yes Misdee, I can understand you there. I am sure that is a thing I will have said before now, most probably would not offend many people, but there could always be that one or two around that the word, due to circumstances could upset

Didn't think my post would cause so much discussion!!!!

Heh heh Anniebear - can I just say that you said in your original post "Ellie got in a bit of a nark" ...now there's a word!!!!

I agree, it's only natural to feel sensitive about certain words that have more importance and meaning to you, than to others. I heard my autistic ds being called a pea brain last week. I know it's common for children to do abit of naming calling but nevertheless I still find it upsetting.

lol, looked up nark!! ok so as well as Ellie being 'annoying' she's also a 'criminal' !!

I've thought about the word 'fit' too and checked myself from using it, as I thought it could be offensive. I certainly wouldn't use it around anyone with SN children. I can understand how you would feel a bit offended by your friend using it anniebear and might do if someone used it about dd2 (although from this thread it looks like we are too PC for our own good!) Quite a few medical people I've come across still refer to 'fitting' rather than seizures.

macwoozy - I think most parents would get upset at their child being called a pea brain (I certainly would)

Too be honest I have used the word Fit before now in the context of "Ellie fitted for a whole day and night before going on a life support machine"

I am not totally against it being used to as somebody actually having a fit/seizure, although it seems like seizure is a more appropriate word to use

Just passing the time of day and wondered what others thought!!

I'll have to think of another word for tomorrow!!!

I know annie - how about "brainstorming"

lol lol lol

Hi, my son has lots of seizures, and although i dont find it particulary offensive, if some one describes their child as 'having a fit'(meaning temper), my ears prick. Also, just because a word is in a dictionary and has a meaning, doesnt make it less offensive. The word 'mentally retarded' is still on lots of anti epilepsy medicines, and also appears in the dictionary, but i find it offensive. I personally dont find 'brainstorming' offensive, but i hate my son being referred to as an 'epileptic' and find it very offensive.
Those of you with children who have seizure disorders, i know where you are coming from, Harry can have up to 150 on a bad day, its enough to make anyone ultra sensitive, i would give anything to see my child have a 'fit of temper'.

Excactly Dizzy, it is not a really offensive thing for somebody to say, but, yes your ears do prick up when it is used like that and you do feel a little unsure about whether you like it or not

Annibear said:
"Some people would say they can hardly say anything nowadays without offending others"

yup, that about summarises how I feel.

In an recent email, my cousin with an adult son who has Down's Syndrome referred to him (from her other son's perspective) as "mentally retarded". So it's ok if my cousin speaks of her own son that way, or tolerable to her if she knows her 2nd son thinks of his big brother that way, but I know it's absolutely & totally off limits for me to use that description. I suspect my cousin used it because it's an honest assessment. But not ok for anyone else to say as much...

I give up; best to never say anything.

Yes I think mentally retarded is a horrible word

Maybe it might be used still by older people?

I wouldn't like anyone calling my little girl that (although she is, but would use other words)

It's ok for her to use mentally retarded because she loves him (and presumably her other son loves him brother). Same as I will describe ds1 to dh as a complete nutter, and I am happy for him to describe him as insane (he is). We both know we love our son to the end of the world and back again. The same is not true of the rest of the world, and I expect strangers and professionals to be sensitive when talking about any of my children. I don't expect everyone to like my children, but I expect them to be polite about them if talking to me.

Sooo t5hat's the reason I avoid using the word "fit" if I know someone's child hads epilepsy, and why I actually changed the wording of a post a few weeks ago from heart attack to fit when talking directly to misdee(I knew it would be inappropriate misdee- I'm not surprised it gets to you). My language is often not PC, and as such could unintentionally offend, but it doesn't take much to be sensitive to other people's situations.

Both mine are nutters!!!!

It's a case of you can say what you like about your own family, but if anyone else does.........