This is a poster put out by the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas. This is a group that no doubt does fine work, so don't take this the wrong way... but this poster is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read. I mean, it's utterly and completely insane. Allow me to explain.
The bottom half of the poster is taken up by a chart which is supposed to give people an idea of the proper words and phrases one should use when talking about disabled persons. It also shows what not to say. I know the picture above is pretty small, so let me break a few of these down for you:
You shouldn't say "able-bodied."
Whoa. What?
Able-bodied?? That's an offensive phrase? Ok, ok, I can see (sort of) how it might be, so what should I replace it with?
"Nondisabled."
I'm really confused. I have full use of all my limbs, as well as full use of my (decent) mental capacity. I also have no psychological or physiological disorders. But I can't call myself "able-bodied." I have to be "non-disabled." Is disabled the normal condition, or is it the other way around?
Let me put it this way: Is it offensive to a disabled person if I say someone is "able-bodied?" Will they automatically assume that that means they are not "able-bodied?" The dictionary definition of 'disabled' is 'persons who are crippled, injured, or incapacitated.' I don't mean to be rude, but being disabled means that your body is not able to do some things that someone with a fully functioning body can do.
To recap: "Disabled" means "not able-bodied." It's not an insult, it's not discriminatory; it's the truth. But that's not the only set of phrases on this list that irked me. Onward we go...
- Don't say "hyper-sensitive," say "person with environmental illness."
That, my friends, is what I like to call a large load of feces.
- Don't say "paralyzed," say "person with a spinal cord injury."
Paralyzed?? This one blows my mind. Let's just get right to it- if you think 'paralyzed' is an offensive term, you are way too sensitive.
No, wait. Excuse me. You 'are a person with environmental illness.'
- Don't say "wheelchair-bound" or "confined to a wheelchair," say "uses a wheelchair."
Holy crap. I'm going from slightly amused to sort of angry... I mean, really? Who believes this stuff? Tell me, for I want to know, yea verily. One more point, and I'm done.
If someone cannot get from place to place without the use of a wheelchair, isn't it fair to say that they are 'confined to a wheelchair'? I mean, sure, they could get out of the wheelchair, but what would they do? Lie down? Sit in another chair? Let's just think about this logically for a second. Say there's a guy named Bob and he has to use a wheelchair to get around. And I ask Bob, "Bob, what is it like to be confined to a wheelchair?" How many people in that situation are going to be offended and say "How dare you say I'm confined to a wheelchair! I'm not confined; I can get out of it and move around any time I want!"
Hint: None of them. Know why? Because it's not offensive. Political correctness definitely has its place, and some of the suggestions on this poster were good ones. (i.e. don't say "retarded" or "brain damaged") But when political correctness takes precedence over common sense, there's a problem.
Please comment and let me know if you agree/disagree. (Also, reader suggestions are always welcome)
6 comments:
Instead of being overweight, obese, or (God forbid) fat, I prefer "underheight." For my weight my ideal height would be about 7'6". And let's no even talk about "morbidly obese!" Again, that is just "very underheight." I'm proud that I have whipped anorexia's butt!
Just remember, you're not 'fat,' you're 'unskinny.'
The PC people are destroying the language. Look at what the feminists have done:
You can't say mailman anymore, it's letter-carrier; policeman has become police officer; the Chairman of the Board is now the Chairperson of the Board; the perfectly good word 'foreman' has been banished and replaced with the less descriptive 'supervisor'; cameraman has likewise been recast as camera operator.
This is crippling the language, something akin to putting one of those "no bite" collars on a dog. It's pathetic. And the worst part is this: has anyone complained that there are no gender neutral terms for middle-man? What about con man? And what do you call a gender neutral madman? ...Oh, right. Those are called feminists.
The title of the poster itself tells you we're got a problem. "Your words--Our image"? OK, so what I say determines who you are. Might be true for children, but not for adults. Oh sorry, "nonchildren." This is another nondisfunny blog. I am ilunamused. Oh, and that icon next to the word verification box is really offensive!
this poster is retarded!
...and gay!
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