davieG Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Is it offensive to Downs Syndrome people as it used to be or has it's meaning changed significantly to be just another derogatory term for being stupid. Or is Gervais a disabled for his over use of the word? Ricky Gervais has been criticised by disability groups for repeated use of the word "disabled" on his Twitter feed.The comedian's recent tweets have included phrases like "Good monging everyone", "Night night monglets" and "Two ****** don't make a right". The word is sometimes used offensively about people with Down's Syndrome. Mencap said using it could reinforce prejudice but Gervais insists the word has changed meaning and that he never meant to refer to people with Down's. The Office star criticised "the humourless PC brigade" on his Twitter feed and said the term is now commonly used to refer to someone who is very stupid or idiotic. Continue reading the main story "The modern use of the word disabled means 'dopey' or 'ignorant'," said Gervais in a statement. "It's even in modern slang and urban dictionaries." On Sunday, he tweeted: "Well done everyone who pointed out that disabled USED to be a derogatory term for DS [Down's Syndrome], Gay USED to mean happy. Words change. Get over it." However, disability charity Mencap called Gervais's tweets "very disappointing". Campaigns and policy officer Mark Gale said: "When people in the public eye use words of this type [it] can be offensive to people with a disability and their families. "We want people to know that such language can perpetuate discriminatory attitudes towards disabled people." Down Syndrome Education International also said it was concerned and claimed many people would find it just as bad as offensive language related to race or sexual orientation. It is also not the first time the 50-year-old has got into hot water for using the word. During a 2010 stand-up show he used it to describe singer Susan Boyle, but following criticism again made it clear he was not intending to refer to people with Down's Syndrome.
StanSP Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 The meaning has moved on. Like he says, gay very rarely means happy these days. If I heard someone calling another person a 'disabled', I wouldn't make the association of that person having Down's Syndrome. I do understand why some might though because they have probably grown up with that being the meaning.
AdamN Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Couldn't give a shit. If people want to get offended over something that wasn't intended to be offensive then that's their problem.
Simmo86 Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 I see it as a derogatory term for someone thats stupid or a Coventry fan As Stan says though different people will take it different ways and some could be offended.
21st Century Fox Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Idiot used to to be a legitimate medical term.
The Year Of The Fox Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 With simmo86 on this. It's just a negative term used to describe someone who's daft.
Finnegan Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 To chill out, usually by chemical or herbal means!
Len Finsbury Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Saw this on Twitter and wonder why people follow him if they find him offensive. Loads of meanings of words have changed. Surely it should be taken in the context that the speaker intends it to used in. People find all sorts of things offensive when they're not meant to be. Ricky Gervais is an intelligent man. He's unlikely to be using a word like 'disabled' if he's referring to Downs. What about the word 'spaz' or 'spag'. I imagine it was initially used as a shorter word for spastic but now spastic isn't used, can we use these terms without causing offence?
Saxondale Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Cultural context. The term Mongol is no longer used and i suppose it has evolved into a less offensive term in general consensus. Interestingly, the BBC (for example) publish internal offensive word guidelines, which are updated periodically as the zeitgeist dictates.
Ashley Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 I can see why people do get offended by it yes but there is so many terms that have changed now days. You've probably heard the youth of today go that's bad or that's sick, meaning its good... Or youth of today saying to there mates stop being gay and do it etc?
EnderbyFox Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Ricky Gervais is about as funny as downs syndrome, can't stand the guy!
Yojoe36 Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 There's more important, and pressing issues in life than "Abusive words and language". Grow up people.
Wycombe Fox Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Idiot used to to be a legitimate medical term. That's right. There used to be a place called the Great Barr Idiot Colony. Could you imagine that now
Trav Le Bleu Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Didn't we do all this a couple of months ago? Anyhow, at early 40s I'm old enough to remember it being used as an offensive term for mongoloid or Downs Syndrome people. But as people say, once offensive words can change their meaning. So with that in mind I am wanting to reclaim some words previously seen as offensive and tell you all don't worry, you can use them now, even if you're a nigger, a packi, a wog or a queer.
The Doctor Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 I wouldn't say it was offensive anymore, it's just another colloquialism for stupid. And enderbyfox is spot on about Gervais.
AoWW Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Can't say I'm a big fan of the word - nor am I the word 'retard' - because there's no denying where the terms stemmed from originally. It's not that I'm deeply offended by them but to be honest I just tend to feel embarrassed for the person using it as it always strikes me as being a bit jeuvenile - if you're going to insult someone there are better words to choose, surely?
Raj Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Didn't we do all this a couple of months ago? Anyhow, at early 40s I'm old enough to remember it being used as an offensive term for mongoloid or Downs Syndrome people. But as people say, once offensive words can change their meaning. So with that in mind I am wanting to reclaim some words previously seen as offensive and tell you all don't worry, you can use them now, even if you're a nigger, a packi, a wog or a queer. Its Paki NOT packi!!! Im same age group as you Trav(although im probably better looking!) and its funny how so called offensive words now aint offnesive. Did i miss the day when someone in authority deemed them okay to use and not offensive anymore. Was there a National no longer offensive words day that i slept through? Only those who are ofended by such words can deem them offensive or not surely?
davieG Posted 20 October 2011 Author Posted 20 October 2011 Can't say I'm a big fan of the word - nor am I the word 'retard' - because there's no denying where the terms stemmed from originally. It's not that I'm deeply offended by them but to be honest I just tend to feel embarrassed for the person using it as it always strikes me as being a bit jeuvenile - if you're going to insult someone there are better words to choose, surely? That's my take on it, the dictionary is full of derogatory words.
AoWW Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Its Paki NOT packi!!! Im same age group as you Trav(although im probably better looking!) and its funny how so called offensive words now aint offnesive. Did i miss the day when someone in authority deemed them okay to use and not offensive anymore. Was there a National no longer offensive words day that i slept through? Only those who are ofended by such words can deem them offensive or not surely? Raj, your spelling of offensive is offensive!
StanSP Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Didn't we do all this a couple of months ago? Anyhow, at early 40s I'm old enough to remember it being used as an offensive term for mongoloid or Downs Syndrome people. But as people say, once offensive words can change their meaning. So with that in mind I am wanting to reclaim some words previously seen as offensive and tell you all don't worry, you can use them now, even if you're a nigger, a packi, a wog or a queer. Its Paki NOT packi!!! Im same age group as you Trav(although im probably better looking!) and its funny how so called offensive words now aint offnesive. Did i miss the day when someone in authority deemed them okay to use and not offensive anymore. Was there a National no longer offensive words day that i slept through? Only those who are ofended by such words can deem them offensive or not surely? yeah Trav, if you're gonna insult someone, do it properly!!
Webbo Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 I honestly can't remember this word from when I was at school, I think I only started to hear it when I came on here.
acooling08 Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 I always thought it meant ugly. Not just ugly but a trashy, council estate single mum looking character.
Salieri Posted 20 October 2011 Posted 20 October 2011 Cant say I have heard of it. How can you not have? It's bandied about on here (along with retard) with alarming regularity. Personally I hate both words, but, I don't believe the youngsters (it does seem to be younger people who have 'latched' onto these words) today use the term in the way that it was used years ago.
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