Admitting when I’m wrong
jgh:
jgh:
Alice says that “developmental disability” is the appropriate term, whereas “mentally challenged” is insulting. Noted! My apologies to any/all offended.…..from the “I really am an insensitive jerk” file:
To me, this is another example of “political correctness” run amok. Now, I don’t mean any disrespect by asking this question, but it’s going to come off that way anyway, so here goes:
How do we know that “mentally challened” is insulting?
Seriously. The only ones who would be insulted by the use of the term are those who are actually mentally challenged, right? And if they are mentally challenged, are they competent to make the decision with respect to what constitutes an “insult” and what is “acceptable?” I have worked with or dealt with the developmentally disabled/mentally challenged/mentally retarded (all acceptable terms over the years) during my life time and not a single one of them has ever struck me as being mentally capable of differentiating between an “insulting” descriptive terms and an “acceptable” descriptive term (unless it’s a phrase like “you f***ing retard” hollered at them in an angry tone.)
It is those self-appointed guardians of “right” from “wrong” that have determined that “mentally challenged” is no longer acceptable (even though it was the “term du jour” for many years after “mentally retarded” was first deemed inappropriate).
Um, the person who informed me of the correct term - my roommate Alice — works with developmentally disabled people in a professional setting and can tell you for a fact that this is the preferred term.
So yes, you ARE being a jerk and I’m kind of stunned at the ignorance in this screed. The effort it takes to use a term a group prefers to use is much less than the effort it took you to write about how you want the privilege to use a word that hurts others.
Wow, for someone who has “dealt” with individuals with developmental disabilities, you are fairly fucking ignorant. I suggest you check out your local self-advocacy group of individuals with developmental disabilities and they can explain to you why they find it insulting to be called “mentally challenged”. They believe that in terms of their disabilities, they are still capable of living fairly meaningful “typical” lives. Ask the ones who own homes, who are working on their books of poetry, or the ones who have jobs. They have to work 10 times as hard day in and day out for the respect that assholes like you have thrown at them.
If we were in person, I would fucking punch you in the face.
