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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Love Actually

129 replies

lou33 · 20/03/2004 17:05

Did anyone who saw Love Actually notice Colin Firth using the word "spaz"? I'm so upset and angry about it I have emailed Richard Curtis' agent, and asked them to pass it on for a reply. Also copied it to Scope, to see what they think?

Am really disappointed that a writer as successful as RC feels he needs to lower himself that much. It's bad enough anyone saying it, but to put it in a film being seen right around the world?! How dare he make fun of people for sometihng out of their control! If he made a racist slur, insulted a religion would that be allowed? I don't think so.

I've noticed a few films recently taking the p out of disabled/sn people. Is it because there are so many rules and regulations for every other group, but none protecting the disabled?

Sorry I am really really upset by it. I rewound the tape just to be sure, and it's been on my mind since last night.

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Tinker · 27/03/2004 17:06

Only just read this thread properly because I've never had any desire to see the film. Lou - you brought a tear to my eye wth your email to RC.

dottee · 27/03/2004 17:22

Lou - this word seems to be raising it's ugly head. Ds aged 9 came out with it the other day and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He was shocked when I explained what it meant because he loves his sister so much. The problem is now he'll be upset when he hears it in the playground by someone who doesn't really understand the true meaning, and may not have the bottle to correct them.

Thanks RC (not!!).

Original poster

lou33 · 27/03/2004 18:09

That's exactly what I was afraid would happen dottee .

Tinker, very kind of you to post on here, thank you.

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dottee · 28/03/2004 12:21

Lou - got to watch it last night (Mother's Day present).

it stood out a mile - even dp commented on that
RC could have used countless alternatives and still kept the meaning and humour (???)
he treat the sister with brother in a secure hospital(?) with compassion and highlighted the issues of caring for someone with a mental health problem

What a shame this spoilt an otherwise good film (and a tender love scene).

kiwisbird · 28/03/2004 12:29

After reading this thread, I was asking DS (10)about any kids use of this word at school and he said he had heard kids use it as well as current fave which is -ohh so gay....
I explained the meaning of the word and he was horrified and I then gave him permission to use the word twat and should the teachers not be best pleased, ask them to put the same effort into the offensive use of the word spaz as well.
He will do this, I have faith.. We shall see what comes.

Original poster

lou33 · 28/03/2004 12:44

That's a good point Dotee. He seems to ahve his own set of rules doesn't he?

Thanks Kiwi for putting him straight. It's hte onyl way to stop these phrases being bandied about.

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CountessDracula · 28/03/2004 13:48

Hmm, I asked my niece about the use of the word spaz - she said no-one uses it anymore, they say scope-head instead after the re-name of the Spastics society to Scope. I told her I hoped she didn't use it and she said no and neither do her friends, it's usually just juvenile boys (her words!!)

LOL at Kiwibird telling dd to use twat (a bit rude though!!)

Original poster

lou33 · 28/03/2004 14:43

Glad she hasn't heard it CD, but we have. Not too impressed with the change of name tho, it's just as bad. Thanks for educating her, hopefully it will trickle through to her friends and others.

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Original poster

lou33 · 28/03/2004 14:55

I just dont understand all this. Does it make people feel stronger to make others feel weaker? How can anyone take pleasure in hurting others?

Even as a child I never used such words, it just seemed cruel.

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dottee · 28/03/2004 14:58

I've always been a firm believer that disability (both physical and learning) should be addressed by the National Curriculum at around KS2. If NT children were invited to discuss 'labels' and understand the true meaning of them, then compassion may naturally nip any problem in the bud. Within the extended family unit, there's more than likely to be someone who has special needs (for example, an aged or inform great-grandparent) and the idea of caring and its implications could be discussed.

Sorry to go off in a rant - I spit my dummy when it's e.g. 'Children in Need', it's all very well raising lots of money, but disability awareness needs to be promoted too.

IMO if we want Inclusion to work, we need to concentrate on educating people in mainstream life (including you Mr. RC!) to be more PC and disability aware etc.

Rant over!!!!

Original poster

lou33 · 28/03/2004 15:14

Round of applause for Dottee

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Janh · 28/03/2004 18:28

lou, thought you might be interested to know that the "spastic" is automatically moderated by BBC message boards so it's on their list of offensive words.

motherinferior · 28/03/2004 19:02

Is it worth taking up with the Disability Rights Commission? I know some of the DRC press officers...it's precisely the sort of thing they should be incensed about.

hmb · 28/03/2004 19:08

Can I put in a huge plus for some of the kids I teach. I teach in a secondary school and have had very positive responces when we have discussed Downs syndrome etc in lessons. One girl was reading and old text book which said that people with Down's were 'retarded', and she said that this was offensive and not the case. I was so proud of her! I have also had a boy in year 10 talk about his brother with Down's. I think that things are changing, even if it is too slowly.

spacemonkey · 28/03/2004 19:13

I asked my kids about the use of this word too. Ds (10) had no idea what it meant, although he has heard it used before, so I explained it to him. When I told him it was as bad as calling someone a "paki", he understood. DD knows what it means and thinks it is offensive.

The word "mong" is in far more common usage IME. Just as offensive!

The sight of RC on Britain's Best Sitcom last night raised my hackles ...

eidsvold · 28/03/2004 19:49

dottee - you may be horrified to know one of the worst Episodes where I had a year 8 mimicking someone who had CP turned out to have lost a number of people in his family through a degenerative muscle wasting disease?!?! Go figure..

I was furious when I caught him doing it and went ballistic ( outside the classroom - away form the class) telling him that he needed to be very careful what he did and said as he had not idea the family situation of people in the room and I was even more angered by the fact that he knew about my daughter and how dare he do that in my presence.

I only found out about his family when discussing this with the SENCO at school. Had I known that I do not know what I would have said on top of what I already did. I had to stop myself as he was on the verge of tears.

I have students who can mouth all the right responses and still call each other horrible names and say terrible things about each other.....

eidsvold · 28/03/2004 19:50

sorry way off track I know

Original poster

lou33 · 28/03/2004 20:34

MI, am I right in thinking you are a journalist? It would always be worth a go contacting the DRC. Good idea .

Can I just say how wonderful you have all been, I am really overwhelmed. Thank you all

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hmb · 28/03/2004 21:01

Eidsvoid, hugs to you! But some of them are good, and some of them have learned better in school. Not enough, but some are so good. Just hold onto that. And some will be much better because you have taught them.....even if they don't want to admit to it in front of the other kids.

dottee · 28/03/2004 23:03

Janh - that's interesting. I do use 'spastic' and 'spasticity' when talking about my dd in the right (?) sense e.g. 'when she becomes excited, her right hand tenses up with the spasticity of her muscles' or 'she has a spastic reaction'. I suppose it's how our strange language evolves over the years.

eidsvold - yes, it's hard to take that in but at least the poor guy knows now and hopefully won't do it again.

Original poster

lou33 · 28/03/2004 23:18

But that is in the context of appropraite use Dottee. I don't mind that.

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Janh · 29/03/2004 09:24

dottee, the BBC message boards have what is described as a "profanity filter", which means that words or parts of words which could be used offensively are picked up before posting and are then screened by a human to see if the word concerned has been used legitimately or not. If so (as in your example) they would subsequently appear on the board - if not, not. (They also have a button to complain about posts which don't use offensive words but are still offensive.)

It means the BBC considers it a word that has the potential to be used offensively - but the abbreviation doesn't get picked up the same way, unfortunately.

Original poster

lou33 · 29/03/2004 14:34

Ok, finally managed to get my email through to my local radio station, which has been givng away copies of the film (their email was down), and also just emailed the press office at Woolworths, to ask why they are promoting it so heavily too.

Still nothing from RC.

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Marina · 29/03/2004 14:54

I've had nothing from either Ms Vile or Scope, actually Lou. But I positively foamed about it to my MIL and SIL yesterday who were burbling on about going to see the film next week...

Original poster

lou33 · 29/03/2004 14:56

Also just emailed my bil who knows lots of celebs, on the off chance he knows him. Are they still going to see the film Marina?

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