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RE: In Which I Picked Up A Comment Card
have you considered that this kid is a retard? oops, I should say 'intellectually challenged' .... anyway, these big stores have a hiring quota to fill.
have you considered that this kid is a retard? oops, I should say 'intellectually challenged' .... anyway, these big stores have a hiring quota to fill.
I think the phrase you're looking for is "person with an intellectual or developmental disability." Person-first language.
I am aware of that phrase as well, but I wasn't 'looking' for it. Some would argue that even 'disability' is politically incorrect - they prefer "differently abled" - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/differently_abled
Hashtag #facepalm (interesting - there are a pile of entries with that hashtag on twitter, Facebook and other sites - none on Steemit)
I personally like to call a spade a spade and not an excavation implement.
btw - English is not my first language.
I've even read that "differently abled" isn't the most polite term, because it still focuses on the ability instead of on the person. When in doubt, I just try to use person-first language and ask people's preferences in terms of phrasing and how they identify.
read it where? This is not as clear cut as you may think. The National Federation of the Blind adopted a resolution in 1993 condemning people-first language. The resolution dismissed the notion that "the word 'person' must invariably precede the word 'blind' to emphasize the fact that a blind person is first and foremost a person" as "totally unacceptable and pernicious" and resulting in the exact opposite of its purported aim, since "it is overly defensive, implies shame instead of true equality, and portrays the blind as touchy and belligerent".
Fine. Then when a blind person or person who is blind asks me to use the term they prefer, I will use it. But "retarded" is never acceptable and neither is your persistent mansplaining. I don't know what you think you're accomplishing by lecturing us but you aren't changing any minds by using offensive terminology and then projecting on us that we are the ones being offensive.
I used 'retarded' (which I ameliorated within the same sentence) to contrast with 'creepy', a expression directed at someone with a disability. While retardation is a clinical term in medicine, creepy is a modern expression to show disgust. Did I in any way bring gender into this discussion? Your reaction is totally out in left field. If anyone is condescending, it is you trying to berate me what is 'politically correct' without you having the slightest comprehension of the meaning and content of one simple sentence. What I tried to express (and maybe that went way over your head) was that a choice of words such as 'creepy' is demeaning, by using a similarly unacceptable word which I ameliorated to show the difference. Of course nothing I might say could likely change your attitude toward men (boys), and in this specific case against a boy with a disability. Even though I am repetitive within this reply, I do not expect you to understand, so I consider this discussion closed.
"Creeped out" is how she felt. "Politically correct" is often confused for being compassionate and respectful by people who don't want to be. Objecting to someone's lecturing and offensive language is not "berating." And you will not speak to either of us like we're simply too stupid to understand you. Go away.
I try to be respectful with my language because words matter. If the spade prefers to be called an excavation implement, it doesn't put me out in the least to say that instead.
Stacia, thank you for your amazing comments. I thought I deleted the original one because I didn't want this fellow to think for one second that his comment was acceptable.
You are an amazing friend and advocate 💖.
Most welcome! <3
advocate for what? calling a guy 'creepy' and reporting to management, or me cautioning that he may not have all his faculties and overreacting without knowing the background is not a good way to go about. What I sense in this post is a lack of compassion. There is a guy like that in my neighborhood that is exactly like that - when I ride the bus and he sits near me, he always talks to me like that - I never for one moment would even think he is 'creepy'. I know who and what he is, and I cut him slack. I also know a lot of people that would go around calling someone like that 'creepy'. Not my favorite kind of people!
In fact, what is creepy is the illustration used to 'enhance' this post.
The person who used the term "retarded" is now saying the original post "lacks compassion"? We don't always know what people are dealing with, that's absolutely true. But to suggest my friend should ignore a feeling of being creeped out is to suggest that her safety isn't as important as possibly hurting someone else's feelings or making a mistake about someone's intentions. It's possible to do both--stay safe and be compassionate.
I feel the need to point out a few things here.
First, Mr. Plastic - you should have gathered from my comment that ShapeShifter43 and I are friends and I may be referring to something that exists both within and outside this post.
Second - In my original post I pointed out that it could help this young man if someone who was outside the situation of feeling vaguely threatened could teach him the difference between being creepy and being professional. I used the word creepy because I felt creeped out in that moment. That word was not used to make the situation feel worse than it was for the reader. That word was purposefully used because it reflected how I felt in that moment.
Third - You said previously that English is not your first language. In that case, take this conversation as an opportunity to learn about the lingustic and cultural norms of the language. The use of the word "retarded" to describe someone who may have a developmental disability is not acceptable.