Storm in a teacup

[victor]

Is "Whitey" deemed to be offensive?

[Workingman]

It was unwise for the MP to use the phrase, but once it was pointed out to her that it is now an offensive term she apologised, that should have been the end of it.

What irks is all the *faux outrage* by those who (claim to) have never uttered an inappropriate word or phrase in their perfect livers: ever. They are the problem.

My brother was born (1949) with severe physical and mental problems. He was at that time officially described as Spastic and Mentally Handicapped. My parents were instrumental in setting up Mencap (the Society for Mentally Handicapped Children) in Leeds. Mencap was also an umbrella society for a group now known as Down's Syndrome as they did not have one of their own - they were known as Mongoloids. I was brought up with those descriptions and they were accepted.

For many decades I have avoided Spastic, Mentally Handicapped and Mongoloid to describe these individuals as I know how directly offensive they can be. However, I refuse to decry, shout down, criticise or even demand apologies from people, especially of a certain age, who might inadvertently use them once in a blue moon to express themselves in some way. I much prefer to inform them and to offer alternatives and send them on their way in the hope that they will have learned something and will not use those words and phrases in the future.

[Suff]

Is "Whitey" deemed to be offensive?

Of course. But, in general, we're not allowed to be offended... Personally I believe that had Jeremy Vine not had a helmet webcam with audio, that his incident would not have received the coverage it did.

[Kaz]

Just don't use any words on here that you wouldn't be allowed to use on any public forum, and I won't have to edit them.

Win, win.

[Suff]

Of course. However I managed to cause offence by using bozo and it was _seriously_ not intended that way.

Bozo, btw, is what #2 son was called for a week before his name could be agreed. The nurses all called him that...

[miasmum]

That was me Suff, I didn't particularly take offence at Bozo, more at what it implied. But you apologised and I, up until 3 minutes ago, had completely forgotten it, so you should too

[Suff]

You had nothing to be embarrassed about mm. I do and, sadly, I don't forget. I try to learn from it.