You're viewing a single thread.
That was simply the euphemism du jour, on the eternal euphemism treadmill.
The euphemism treadmill sure is differently abled
can you really call it a euphemism when it just used to be a medical term back then?
Pro tip: It still is a medical term. Internet activists deciding they don't like a word doesn't actually change the word.
It’s not only the ‘SJW’ crowd who are asking people to stop using it, but also the medical field, patients, and their caregivers directly asking everyone to stop.
The results of both the parent and professional surveys support a move away from the use of the term mental retardation. The majority of parents indicated that they would be upset if a physician used the term mental retardation.
Right, the euphemism treadmill works on medical terminology same as common speech. The medical terms used to be ‘moron’, ‘idiot’, and ‘cripple’.
Goes medical term-> common language -> insult -> forbidden
I mean it’s not like the crown will cut your tongue out for saying the word. You can still say it, and people decide if it is taboo or not, and dis/approve accordingly.
But much like we don’t use “negroe” despite that having been the word in common use, we’ve recognized the pain it causes that group because of the way language gets weaponized to ‘other’ people.
Probably under pressure from the SJWs. Medical people are practically minded, not given to rewriting the nomenclature to suit the fashion of the hour (they still use Latin for God's sake). Unless the money is threatened of course.
Tell me you’re a reactionary without telling me you’re a reactionary. Did you even read the link?
The results of both the parent and professional surveys support a move away from the use of the term mental retardation. The majority of parents indicated that they would be upset if a physician used the term mental retardation.
Leading with an insult is poor conversational technique.
We’re not conversing - that requires you to read what I said and reply/riff/retort off it to further the conversation. You dropped in with an unsubstantiated claim that was already dispelled.
If you had said something like
“Semantic treadmill does nothing to correct or improve social norms and bigotry”
or
“Hey it wasn’t a problem when I grew up and I’m slow to adapt - no hate here tho”
or
“Demanding linguistic change alienates well meaning people who don’t use it as a slur”
That’s a conversation.
that's not how that works. "idiot", "lunatic" and "hysterical" were once medical terms. they are no longer used as such.
Here's my random two cents about disability euphemisms.
I personally think "special", which was pretty popular like 10 years ago, was/is pretty demeaning. Even the more recent "differently-abled" feels weird.
I think the plain language of "disability", which seems to have been around quite a while now, is fine. It's what is says on the tin, without judgement.
Why does everyone assume it's "eternal" or "never ending"? Each time the euphemisms change, it's due to more inclusivity, more empathy, and more attempts to understand the plight of others. It's reasonable to assume that it'll stop at a point when we reach the right terms. It probably has already, and I just can't think of any examples off the top of my head...
Each time the euphemisms change, it’s due to more inclusivity, more empathy, and more attempts to understand the plight of others.
True if the terminology becomes more accurate, but a euphemism for euphemism's sake is the equivalent of sweeping dirt under a rug.
Not really. Euphemisms don't necessarily need to be super accurate. We can leave that up to the people who are researching such disabilities.