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Correct language

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,.
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  • Sparkingchip:.

    Language and its use changes, Read this article about the charity Scope changing its name.




    Sadly, because perfectly useful terms, which are related to disability (or one of the other protected characteristics) come to be used pejoratively. At one time, one could refer to "spastic paralysis" and "flaccid paralysis" because although the effect was the loss of movement, the cause (always on and always off respectively) was very different. I suspect that neurologists have to be very careful these days.


    Then there is the problem of ignorance.


    A colleague once got "reported" for using the term, "jungle juice" (which originated during the Vietnam war) because the snitch thought that it was similar to "jungle bunny", which has always been a term of abuse.


    I had a similar experience for using the word "ass" because an official didn't understand the difference between a small horse-like animal with big ears and one's posterior. ?

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  • Sparkingchip:.

    Language and its use changes, Read this article about the charity Scope changing its name.




    Sadly, because perfectly useful terms, which are related to disability (or one of the other protected characteristics) come to be used pejoratively. At one time, one could refer to "spastic paralysis" and "flaccid paralysis" because although the effect was the loss of movement, the cause (always on and always off respectively) was very different. I suspect that neurologists have to be very careful these days.


    Then there is the problem of ignorance.


    A colleague once got "reported" for using the term, "jungle juice" (which originated during the Vietnam war) because the snitch thought that it was similar to "jungle bunny", which has always been a term of abuse.


    I had a similar experience for using the word "ass" because an official didn't understand the difference between a small horse-like animal with big ears and one's posterior. ?

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