We don’t always manage to hold on to our ideals as we are all people and sometimes we all screw up and do the wrong thing.
In the case of Kevin Leitch and Harold Doherty to name just two people, these people have ideals about using pejorative terms but don’t always see that the terms they _do_ use are just as pejorative.
So its time to change that behaviour I believe. From this point on LBRB will try its absolute best to be a pejorative free zone. We would never use racist terminology so using ableist terminology should be equally without a place on a blog dedicated to enhancing the rights of autistic people.
Some may believe this is political correctness gone too far but I don’t believe it is. It wasn’t that long ago that ‘idiot’ was pejorative, as was ‘moron’, ‘imbecile’ and a whole host of other terms. So lets not bring the stigma back to those terms and lets willfully try and not refer to people in these terms. We’re here to debate ideas, not to attack people after all. Its time I remembered that and its time a lot of others did too.
And whilst we’re at it, maybe when we’re visiting and commenting on others blogs, when we see behaviour like that in others, a polite pointing out of the pejorative nature of the word in question may dissuade them from using it again.
Left Brain Right Brain 
[LBRB say] We’re here to debate ideas, not to attack people after all.
“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)
“a polite pointing out of the pejorative nature of the word in question may dissuade them from using it again.”
There are some for whom that is not going to work.
I wish there was a ‘like’ button here – I’d press it for Stanley’s quote.
The pharma ploy of the moral high ground nothing to beat it ,guys right..
No swearing now, I`m back..you will hurt my feelings..
@David, it surprises me to hear a psychologist suggesting “small minds discuss people” 🙂
Personally I prefer the company of people who can do all three(ideas, events and people).
To the topic. I have written and deleted several responses to this post. As although I am not in 100% agreement with the restriction in use of language despite the honourable intention. I feel more strongly that those who facilitate the blog get to call the shots so will try my best in future to be more mindful of my own langauage when commenting here.
Be careful…
“There is no prude greater than a reformed whore” (anon)
I agree with this comment by Kev and I support it and will try to be more careful myself in ensuring that I do not use hurtful language or permit it on my blog.
Along with the many, many other things on which we disagree, I do not share David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. ‘s pessimism about what Kev has suggested.
I respect Sharon’s concerns about restrictions on use of language but I also believe that we should not be causing harm by using hurtful language.
Sharon: “David, it surprises me to hear a psychologist suggesting ‘small minds discuss people’ :)”
Kinda know what you mean. To be honest, I’d say that those with restricted minds will just talk about people with no reference to events or ideas. But that just isn’t what our sound-bite societies like to see… not a fan of sound-bites, nor of societies that like to exist on them. Yeh – psychologist speaks again – but it’s so sad to see a lot of usable intellectual ability go to waste.
“Personally I prefer the company of people who can do all three(ideas, events and people).”
This would work for me.
If words like “retard” & “imbecile” are going to be banned, can you also ban “Aspie” – as to label a human being with the diminutive of a pathological condition, to me is just as offensive.
Oh, I don’t know Socrates. A lot of people with Asperger’s actually call themselves Aspies, and I personally wouldn’t find it offensive to be called an Aspie.
Thank you Kev and all I will try to do the same. And thank you Socrates — I don’t often use “Aspie” in written language, but I will try to avoid it.
Julian, it is a very complicated nest of issues hiding within one little word. I think if its use was restricted just to people with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS)I’d feel less bad about it. But when I see a neurotypical using it as a general label for anyone with AS – it makes me howl. (Steve Silberman please take note. Could you imagine a white journalist referring to Black people as niggers?)
Also, of course it is your right to call yourself whatever you want ie “I’m aspie and proud” – but I think it would be out-of-order for you to say “All aspies…” I am many things, but the diminutive of a pathological condition I am not.
For me it’s just degrading – autism may dominate and distress all my waking hours, but there is no way I am autism and no way autism is me. I am a human being first, and many, many other things after. But never an aspie.
Thank you, Kevin.
Jay
“I do not share David N. Andrews M. Ed., C. P. S. E. ’s pessimism about what Kev has suggested”
I’ll believe that you’re doing something about it when I see it consistently applied. I have recently commented on your blog (the exorcism post). We do not agree on many things, but – for what it’s worth – I agreed entirely with you on the place of exorcism in autism.
Socrates, taking note.
@Socrates/Seth Allen
So you are going to claim in court that you are autistic, and that because of this autism, you will claim you have special issues that make it OK for a person of your caliber/disease/mental problem to stalk others, harass them, defame then, libel them, and a host of other issues for the last 10 years online that you have committed all because of your new claim of autism correct?
Neato Soc, neato.. I don’t know if this claim will stand up, but, if you are on medication and have a history of mental illness (which many believe you do) then I guess the judge will probably have to buy your claims. But you will have to claim it, and as you are now doing here, I guess this is the start of you defending yourself on those charges lol.
Only don’t tell Patterico.com that, as they will lose respect for you. You have them all fooled you know, you have them believing you are this left wing guy who hangs out on extremist right wing forums begging for money to defend your stalking and abuse of the left wing you claim you are a part of. But, I can see where your claimed mental issues could be caused by an Autistic personality. Yes, I could see that. Good defense too…
Steve, I now love you *hugs*
Slim, Lord and Master Kev has asked to keep it sweet, so I invite you to my place to continue… But in the mean time — check out the Ealing Gazette from about March 1975 and the story about the retarded boy who turned out to be not-so-retarded. It’s me. I HAZ ME DOX. U?