Not to hijack Robins amusing thread, but while I respect and support the idea of that webpage, the world is just getting way to Politically Correct! One of my favorite fish to see when diving, is no longer called a Jewfish... now it is a Goliath Grouper (and it wasn't the Jewish community that started that, it was some PC do gooder!).
It is how words are used... and the A-holes using them that make the word "evil"... that or the occasional oversensitive somebody who is so easily offended that you can't even breathe around them.
When is this nonsense going to stop?
While I see both sides here, I tend to agree with Charlie here. We go so far overboard trying to avoid words that carry these negative connotations, but the truth is--they are only negative when they are USED in a negative way. We can avoid them, and slowly, as the English languages evolves, we can add more and more words to the "offensive" list, and pretty soon we have this great big long list of words to avoid calling people...and yet, the bullies and mean-spirited of the world will STILL have no problem coming up with new terms to make it clear that they are being derogatory.
I think it was Steven Wright, a comedian, who said he had decided to only tell "Stupid People" jokes, because nobody was likely to come up to him afterwards and tell him, "Hey, I'm stupid and that joke really offended me." :lmao:
So, Robin...I hate to bear the bad news, but...that was STUPID. :lmao:
On a side note about the "which word is PC" issue--
As a professional editor/writer who often has to write copy for governmental agencies, I get this little booklet every year called the "People First Language Style Guide" that basically spells out what the ADA folks consider "acceptable" terms for different individuals with disabilities.
Developmental Disability? That's a no-no; it's "individuals with a disability." Retarded, disabled, handicapped, autistic, epileptic and brain-damaged are all TABOO.
Some of the ones that really leave me shaking my head:
Deaf: they recommend you not USE "deaf" but rather, and I quote, "ask the person who is being written or talked about what term they prefer." Well, good grief, how do I do that when I am referring to an unknown GROUP of people who cannot hear?? I'm sorry, I mean no offense, but they are DEAF.
Blind: Nope, don't call 'em blind. Call them either "person who is visually impaired" or "person with visual impairments." NO, I'm Sorry...a person with visual impairments is someone like ME; I can SEE, but I have vision issues. People who cannot see are BLIND, get over it.
And my favorite? You are not supposed to refer to anyone as "normal" or "healthy." You should refer to these people as "typically developing." :lmao:
Well, I'm sorry if I offend those of you who have this particular disability, but this is EATEN UP with STOOPID.
