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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 3, 2022 13:52:59 GMT
The Lizzo callout was my first realization that the word is problematic. I honestly didn't realize where it came from. I am making an effort to remove the word from my vocabulary now. I found myself almost saying it last week and was able to pick a different word. When you know better you do better. How it's done!
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Post by littlemama on Aug 3, 2022 14:02:55 GMT
The meaning of words can also change over time. Gay, for example, used to mean happy. Now, no one uses it that way. The meaning changed.
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Post by pjaye on Aug 3, 2022 14:08:32 GMT
[/b] Not that it makes it right, but when I was a kid, this is what I thought it meant. I was surprised to hear it come up with Lizzo and then with Beyonce. I had no idea it was referring to a medical condition (CP or MS). When I was little, we used to use the words "retarded" and "gay" to mean "dumb" or "stupid" - and I cringe thinking about that now. [/quote][/quote] Not calling you out specifically, but that use of "loss of emotional control" is still in reference to disabled, autistic & people with neurological damage. When I was at school, we called that sort of meltdown a "spazz attack" and as much as we'd all love to deny it now, it was referencing people with a variety of medical conditions affecting emotions/speech/motor control. Both definitions above come from the same origin.
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Post by pjaye on Aug 3, 2022 14:18:26 GMT
The meaning of words can also change over time. Gay, for example, used to mean happy. Now, no one uses it that way. The meaning changed. No, the meaning didn't change, gay still means 'bright/happy/fun' but it also refers to a homosexual person. Words can have more than one meaning. It's become less popular to use it in the first way, but it still means the same thing.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Aug 3, 2022 14:25:33 GMT
[/b] Not that it makes it right, but when I was a kid, this is what I thought it meant. I was surprised to hear it come up with Lizzo and then with Beyonce. I had no idea it was referring to a medical condition (CP or MS). When I was little, we used to use the words "retarded" and "gay" to mean "dumb" or "stupid" - and I cringe thinking about that now. [/quote][/quote] Not calling you out specifically, but that use of "loss of emotional control" is still in reference to disabled, autistic & people with neurological damage. When I was at school, we called that sort of meltdown a "spazz attack" and as much as we'd all love to deny it now, it was referencing people with a variety of medical conditions affecting emotions/speech/motor control.Both definitions above come from the same origin.[/quote] I honestly was not aware! I will definitely be aware now, for sure!
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Post by malibou on Aug 3, 2022 14:45:05 GMT
And I have only ever known the condition to be called cerebral palsy. There are a few different forms of cerebral palsy. The article I read specified which one Hannah has, and I copied it from the article. The 'spastic diplegia' part of the condition is relevant because of the offensive word that was used. But yes, it is usually just called cerebral palsy. I do know there are different types, but not what the different types are as I've only heard them called cerebral palsy, so I would not have made the association of spaz to the spastic diplegia type. I suspect that as children, a lot of us didn't know that association.
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Post by malibou on Aug 3, 2022 15:07:46 GMT
I'm 100% sure it's been used on this board and not in the distant past either and a quick search tells me I'm right: And damn, that was me. I wouldn't have thought I had used it as an adult, not because I knew it was wrong, because I didn't really know, but because I didn't like being called that as a little girl. I will certainly not be using it anymore.
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Post by tentoes on Aug 3, 2022 15:22:23 GMT
I haven’t heard that word actually used in a really long time. My friends and I used it often many years ago when we were in school (I am over 50). I don’t think we really knew what that word was originally derived from. We used it when someone was being clumsy or really anxious about something. I wouldn’t use it now. I'm a lot older than 50, and it was a word we used a LONG time ago--NOT maliciously at all, but when someone was "super excited" about something. Words change meanings over the years I guess. I haven't heard it used in forever.
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Post by pjaye on Aug 3, 2022 15:29:32 GMT
nd damn, that was me. I wouldn't have thought I had used it as an adult I hate to be the one to break it to you - but you popped up more than once in the search. Actually a couple of other people posting on this thread are in the quotes I listed I deleted the names because I wasn't trying to call out anyone, just to illustrate how it was used and how recently.
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Post by candleangie on Aug 3, 2022 15:29:37 GMT
Thank you for enlightening me. I've never thought about the meaning of the word and haven't heard or seen anyone being called out for using it. If I've used it, it would have been out of ignorance, not a willful intent to "not care." I’m also in the “just cluing in on this word” category.
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 3, 2022 15:33:04 GMT
The Lizzo callout was my first realization that the word is problematic. I honestly didn't realize where it came from. I am making an effort to remove the word from my vocabulary now. I found myself almost saying it last week and was able to pick a different word. When you know better you do better. How it's done! It was one of my childhood go-to words. For me, I realized it was offensive a few years ago. Every once in a while it almost slips out, but I catch myself and do replace it.
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 3, 2022 16:07:53 GMT
The meaning of words can also change over time. Gay, for example, used to mean happy. Now, no one uses it that way. The meaning changed. No, the meaning didn't change, gay still means 'bright/happy/fun' but it also refers to a homosexual person. Words can have more than one meaning. It's become less popular to use it in the first way, but it still means the same thing. And when I was in school in the early 80’s kids would say, “that’s gay” in a derogatory way. I overheard some 20 somethings say it recently like that too. I assume their parents are close to my age and they might have picked it up from them. My family never would have let me use gay as a derogatory term, but it was very common growing up in the early 80’s. I also wasn’t allowed to say spazz or call people the r word either. The benefit of having a close family member work in Special Ed was that I was taught early how offensive those word could be.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,899
Jun 26, 2014 22:49:09 GMT
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Post by tracylynn on Aug 3, 2022 16:37:18 GMT
I do not understand why artists with as much money as Beyone do not have someone that reviews their work to identify issues such as this. Especially considering it was just an issue for Lizzo. Unless the controversy is what she is looking for. I know spaz was a word used when I was a kid, never thought of it as derogatory until the actual meaning was pointed out in the last few years. These were my thoughts. Lizzo handled this really well I thought earlier this summer. I'm shocked that Beyonce didn't handle this before her music was released. Did she think that because of who she was it would be ignored? I'll be honest, I hadn't heard the word in years. I'm not sure that I would have immediately gone to "it's a bad word". But after the Lizzo situation I read up and totally understand how this word is inappropriate.
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Post by gizzy on Aug 3, 2022 16:41:08 GMT
I did say it on occasion. Completely unaware that it was now meaning something different. It came to my attention when Beyonce was called out for using it. I honestly meant no harm. I used it interchangeably with ditz. Of course, I stopped after that.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,408
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Aug 3, 2022 16:55:13 GMT
I've only ever heard it used as in "you are a dork." Learn something new every day it seems.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,891
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 3, 2022 17:03:39 GMT
This is a word I need to work on removing from my vocabulary. I definitely need to do better.
I tend to use it to describe my dog when he's acting up.
And it's been an insult for a long time. I'm old and in the movie "Meatballs", which came out when I was a teenager, there's an awkward, nerdy teenager who has the word as a derogatory nickname.
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joelise
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,649
Jul 1, 2014 6:33:14 GMT
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Post by joelise on Aug 3, 2022 17:11:01 GMT
On a positive note, isn’t it good that we can discuss this issue world wide, and share our thoughts to peas in different countries. My Husband has MS and is struggling with spasticity at the minute. He has started using a walking stick, and frequently falls over. He’s 44. It’s heartbreaking when people think he’s drunk, and dismiss him!
I think these conversations need to be said.
I can’t judge any one for using words that they don’t know are offensive, it’s a big world! We don’t all know everything about everyone’s vocabulary. But it’s good to hear that so many are open to listen and understand when they hear how words can be offensive to others.
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Post by gar on Aug 3, 2022 17:36:18 GMT
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Post by Zee on Aug 3, 2022 17:40:21 GMT
We said it all the time in the 80s. It meant "don't freak out", don't overreact. But my aunt, who has epilepsy, heard me say it once and explained that it was offensive. I have never felt so awful in my life and haven't said it since.
Truly I had never made any connection between the word and a health condition. I think most people using it don't really think about it that way but when you know, you do better, such as Lizzo.
Then of course some people are just assholes.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,797
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Aug 3, 2022 17:40:29 GMT
I haven’t used it heard since I was a kid. People used to say things like “he was spazzing out” over the the new Backstreet Boys album.” I think it would have been used like “freaking out” is now. Or someone who is hyper and really excited. I've only ever heard it used as in "you are a dork." This is how I knew and used the word when I was younger. I can't recall using it at all recently so I know it's not a part of my usual vocabulary. I don't think I knew it was a derogatory term though so I'm glad this issue came up with Beyonce's song; at least it's making more people aware.
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Post by papersilly on Aug 3, 2022 17:51:07 GMT
to me that was an 80's era word. it had a lighthearted meaning and wasn't offensive. then.
i haven't heard that word used in years. i figured it stayed in the 80's. are people using it again? and it's offensive now?
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Post by peano on Aug 3, 2022 17:59:26 GMT
It was commonly used on the playground when I was in elementary school, but I don't think I ever gave any thought to where it came from. Despite all the Lizzo coverage a few weeks ago, I found myself, to my horror, using that word for my puppy. Need to work on that.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 3, 2022 18:17:43 GMT
No, the meaning didn't change, gay still means 'bright/happy/fun' but it also refers to a homosexual person. Words can have more than one meaning. It's become less popular to use it in the first way, but it still means the same thing. And when I was in school in the early 80’s kids would say, “that’s gay” in a derogatory way. I overheard some 20 somethings say it recently like that too. I assume their parents are close to my age and they might have picked it up from them. My family never would have let me use gay as a derogatory term, but it was very common growing up in the early 80’s. I also wasn’t allowed to say spazz or call people the r word either. The benefit of having a close family member work in Special Ed was that I was taught early how offensive those word could be. I did not say “that’s gay” when I was a kid. My mom wouldn’t even let us say shut up. I’m the same way, but I have caught my kids saying “that’s gay” or other words I don’t condone before. I think it is pretty naive to think that kids only learn words or actions from their parents.
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 3, 2022 18:25:59 GMT
And when I was in school in the early 80’s kids would say, “that’s gay” in a derogatory way. I overheard some 20 somethings say it recently like that too. I assume their parents are close to my age and they might have picked it up from them. My family never would have let me use gay as a derogatory term, but it was very common growing up in the early 80’s. I also wasn’t allowed to say spazz or call people the r word either. The benefit of having a close family member work in Special Ed was that I was taught early how offensive those word could be. I did not say “that’s gay” when I was a kid. My mom wouldn’t even let us say shut up. I’m the same way, but I have caught my kids saying “that’s gay” or other words I don’t condone before. I think it is pretty naive to think that kids only learn words or actions from their parents. I didn't say that it had to come from their parents, I said I assumed. I don't think that is naive. Kids who are in their 20s right now most likely have parents about my age. I have not heard it in school for years and years. I used to hear it when I first started teaching and again the parents of those kids were my age. Obviously I know for a fact kids do not only learn things from their parents and I never said that. I am sorry you took what I said that way.
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Post by SnoopyFan on Aug 3, 2022 18:30:49 GMT
to me that was an 80's era word. it had a lighthearted meaning and wasn't offensive. then. i haven't heard that word used in years. i figured it stayed in the 80's. are people using it again? and it's offensive now? I used it all the time in my teens (I'm in my 50s now). It just meant goofy or clumsy, or at least that's what it meant to me/how I used it. I had zero clue it had something to do with a medical condition until I read this thread. I also have no idea who Lizzo is, so I guess I need to Google...
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Post by papersilly on Aug 3, 2022 18:36:11 GMT
to me that was an 80's era word. it had a lighthearted meaning and wasn't offensive. then. i haven't heard that word used in years. i figured it stayed in the 80's. are people using it again? and it's offensive now? I used it all the time in my teens (I'm in my 50s now). It just meant goofy or clumsy, or at least that's what it meant to me/how I used it. I had zero clue it had something to do with a medical condition until I read this thread. I also have no idea who Lizzo is, so I guess I need to Google... i'm in my 50's too and i didn't hear that word used in connection with a medical term until i was probably into my 40's when someone said "spastic colon". i still don't know what that medical term even means. i would google but i'm always afraid it will end up as one of those rabbit holes of regret.
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Post by malibou on Aug 3, 2022 20:00:47 GMT
nd damn, that was me. I wouldn't have thought I had used it as an adult I hate to be the one to break it to you - but you popped up more than once in the search. Actually a couple of other people posting on this thread are in the quotes I listed I deleted the names because I wasn't trying to call out anyone, just to illustrate how it was used and how recently. Thanx for the further ratting out.😊 Will be watching my mouth carefully.
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Post by shessoaverage on Aug 3, 2022 20:31:38 GMT
There used to be charity called The Spastic Society in the UK - it changed its name in 1994 to Scope due to the connotations and that's almost 30 years ago! When I went to riding school in Somerset in 1987, I remember donation boxes on the High Street in Minehead for that charity. Even back then, it sort of shocked me a bit.
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Post by sean&marysmommy on Aug 4, 2022 0:08:48 GMT
We adopted a cat back in 2001 that the shelter had named Spaz. I was more than a little taken aback by that, and we changed it right away.
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Post by AussieMeg on Aug 4, 2022 0:30:37 GMT
Huh, I had no idea it was now an offensive word. That's why I asked the question. Because it's not just 'now' that's it's offensive, it's been considered offensive here for at least two decades, probably more. There used to be charity called The Spastic Society in the UK - it changed its name in 1994 to Scope due to the connotations and that's almost 30 years ago! We have Scope here too, I'm not sure when the name was changed. This is some info on the name change in the UK: "The Society provided residential units and schools, as well as opening a chain of charity shops. The term spastic had long been used as a general playground insult, so in 1994 the organisation changed its name to Scope."
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