I was taking a group of building service engineers through the 18th. We were discussing the use of Appendix 5. One chap was very exercised about the BA3 category which is described as utilization-capability-handicapped. He claims the latter word was exorcised from common parlance years ago and would be offensive to many. I am not that politically correct but maybe he has a valid argument,.
I suspect you cannot win, as language moves over time, so the new word becomes just as offensive. I see that a bit with the scouts, who as a simple example now use the word 'special' as an insult to each other when someone is being particularly stupid ; presumably now that children as school with problems are called 'special needs' . I imagine that will be on the ban list in a few decades.
You only have to look at the changes to the words terrific, gay, black and wicked over the last half century or so, to see how this operates. I fear there is little point in getting too hung up if the intent is not malicious, it just tells you the era of the author..
I suspect you cannot win, as language moves over time, so the new word becomes just as offensive. I see that a bit with the scouts, who as a simple example now use the word 'special' as an insult to each other when someone is being particularly stupid ; presumably now that children as school with problems are called 'special needs' . I imagine that will be on the ban list in a few decades.
You only have to look at the changes to the words terrific, gay, black and wicked over the last half century or so, to see how this operates. I fear there is little point in getting too hung up if the intent is not malicious, it just tells you the era of the author..
