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Euphemisms of the Politically Correct Persuasion


Turtle

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What really interests me with PC language is how it backfires in some cases.

 

An example is with some blind, which where started to be refered to as 'visually challenged'. Since this means that we are going out of our way to cut around an issue that we think may be insulting to them if addressed in such a direct way, they found it insulting. Because it would mean we think they have something to be ashamed of that we are helping them hide, but really they arent ashamed at all..

 

:shrug:

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What really interests me with PC language is how it backfires in some cases.

 

An example is with some blind, which where started to be refered to as 'visually challenged'. Since this means that we are going out of our way to cut around an issue that we think may be insulting to them if addressed in such a direct way, they found it insulting. Because it would mean we think they have something to be ashamed of that we are helping them hide, but really they arent ashamed at all.

Actually, it is due to a term, which is not insulting, coming to be used as an insult, or even in the context of an insult. "Are you blind?" or "blind idiot" etc.

 

Another example is the chain cripple -> handicapped -> disabled... over here some of them have been objecting to the last and calling themselves "differently able". :doh:

 

School children are specialists at using terms as an insult and it then spreads, especially when they have grown up on the use of a term. Whatever elaborate and convoluted PC expression you can concoct, it will eventually be defeated by misuse. Simple and direct, but with unpleasance avoided, is the way to go. The term officially used for blind over here has long been "non-seeing". Quite schoolkid-proof, along with the above "differently able".

 

OTOH, some things such as garbage are intrinsically unpleasant. Over here the term for "garbage man" came to be "ecological operator". Somewhat overblown, but now garbage collection is just part of a broader municipal service: environmental hygiene. Even long before all this talk of PC, there were denominations such as "Municipal Agency of Urban Cleanliness and Hygiene" around here. A few years ago, for political reasons (but not for the sake of PC) in my current hometown, it became the "environment sector" of one big municipal services company.

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  • 1 year later...
...Another example is the chain cripple -> handicapped -> disabled... over here some of them have been objecting to the last and calling themselves "differently able". :)...
I see that Italy is about a decade behind trends in the US. (which is not necessarily a bad thing :) ).

 

Here, the chain went cripple -> handicapped -> disabled -> differently abled -> physically challenged... and I think there are now even more PC synonyms.

 

I grew up using the word "handicapped" and I have always preferred that. I am about the most "able" cripple you may ever meet, so I never liked the word disabled. And the "differently..." and "...challenged" and such all struck me as ludicrous attempts to promote denial. Dealing with a handicap (I had polio at the age of 5) starts by accepting it on its own terms, and then going on from there.

 

If someone tries to say I'm differently challenged or whatever, I usually let them know (with a smile), "it's okay, lady, I know I'm handicapped. I have a mirror at home." :) :) :) :)

 

OUT: Wheelchair

PC: Personal Anti-Challenge Enablement Vehicle :warped:

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