tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post114491544815457719..comments2007-04-14T11:05:04.827+01:00Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145423772840573172006-04-19T06:16:00.000+01:002006-04-19T06:16:00.000+01:00

My linguistic use of the word refers to a type of clumsy action, not a disability. English varies from nation to nation. If it is used to describe a disability, then it is right that he apologized.

Godwhackerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06337984432156799228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145376412438030602006-04-18T17:06:00.000+01:002006-04-18T17:06:00.000+01:00

We'll always have this trouble, I think. It's how language evolves. I have a list of words that I find so offensive that they almost make me ill to hear. Then I find out that people are using some of those words as a badge of pride. It challenges me.<BR/>Words offend. They are sometime meant to offend too.<BR/>If only it was only labels that offend...

Omanibloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08858635678928876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145352507531081632006-04-18T10:28:00.000+01:002006-04-18T10:28:00.000+01:00

Nice and asy now everyone...nobody's making a villian of anyone. That girl's comment was about how there are cultural differences in our views of diability, that's all.<BR/><BR/>Hugh this is true - disability is highlighted when soemthing happens that gives people the opportunity to be outragde and self-righteous without having to inspect their own views on disability.

Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12144800343627879060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145325156338276142006-04-18T02:52:00.000+01:002006-04-18T02:52:00.000+01:00

(previous comment directed toward "that girl" only)

Daedalushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291479913130967235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145325044056361392006-04-18T02:50:00.000+01:002006-04-18T02:50:00.000+01:00

I wasn't even aware that "spaz" referred to a disability until this "incident."<BR/><BR/><I>"I was shocked by how casually the words "handicapped" and "retarded" are used in the USA - they are genuinely used as part and parcel of daily speak - I think we've evolved on this side of the pond away from the medical model of disability...shocking really"</I> <BR/><BR/>I think maybe those of us on the

Daedalushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07291479913130967235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144934708557480622006-04-13T14:25:00.000+01:002006-04-13T14:25:00.000+01:00

I don't think spaz is used the same way over there as here but wonder if it is not disabilist why journalists were quick to edit it or ask Tiger for another word. Given that the word , <I>bullshit</I> has been deemed to be profane by the FCC in the US in the last week or so I wonder if spaz is seen for profanity rather than discriminatory. By the way 'dickhead' is not profane according to the FCC

Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02433697441297009328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144932456383486502006-04-13T13:47:00.000+01:002006-04-13T13:47:00.000+01:00

This demonstrates that a word is only "offensive" by virtue of the context within which it is most regularly used rather than the intended use. If society uses the word as an offensive term, anyone who uses it, even if they don't mean to be derogatory, can be accused of causing offence.<BR/><BR/>Remember Mark O'Rourke + "Blacks".<BR/><BR/>Tiger Woods is by most assessments a most inoffensive

Paige A Harrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03143303087225850395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144923319500480392006-04-13T11:15:00.000+01:002006-04-13T11:15:00.000+01:00

I was shocked by how casually the words "handicapped" and "retarded" are used in the USA - they are genuinely used as part and parcel of daily speak - I think we've evolved on this side of the pond away from the medical model of disability...shocking really

that girlhttp://www.thinkingoutloud.biznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144922101864832852006-04-13T10:55:00.000+01:002006-04-13T10:55:00.000+01:00

What I find frustrating about this sort of incident is that it is basically the only way in which disability gets highlighted in the media: as a talking point for whenever a famous figure supposedly offends people with disabilities. This happened with former England manager Glenn Hoddle a few years back, when he was supposed to have said that disability was karma at work or something similar. <

Hugh Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06850733994393687469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144921682474623342006-04-13T10:48:00.000+01:002006-04-13T10:48:00.000+01:00

You cannot finish an hour on the athletic fields of any major US university without hearing someone referred to as spastic. It's a term of affection shouted by offensive line coaches right before they bite off a player's earlobe.

Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14526498542728281191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144921038820123232006-04-13T10:37:00.000+01:002006-04-13T10:37:00.000+01:00

I don't think he meant any harm- I believe he meant he played like an idiot- unfortunate choice of word, but the fact that he apologised should be the end to it. Hardly worth the drum beating the BBC are giving it.

fatmammycathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12307960277363243051noreply@blogger.com