Posted on 04/12/2006 10:46:37 AM PDT by Daytyn71
Golfer Tiger Woods has been criticised for saying he played like 'a spaz'. Can using the word ever be right?
Two years ago I was involved in a linguistic incident at work. I called a disabled colleague a spaz after hearing he'd spilt coffee over yet another expensive bit of computer kit.
My colleague laughed it off. It was a friendly bit of banter - spaz in this case meaning I thought he was being a bit of a stereotype like the helpless disabled people you used to see in telethons and charity posters.
I use the term with irony as someone who was regularly called a "spaz" in the school playground, though I'm visually impaired and not what we once called "a spastic".
To confuse the issue, a non-disabled colleague had overheard and told me that she found that term offensive and thanked me not to use it in front of her. I was offended that she was offended because I didn't feel it was her place to be offended... after all, it's not her word and she wouldn't have been taunted with it.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
In the UK, the words spaz and spastic seem to pack a bigger punch. I think we can firmly place the blame at the door of Blue Peter for this.
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Get over yourselves you politically correct British Retards!!
If they think this is offensive, they should hear Tiger's comments when he hits a bad shot.
Well, I don't know about you, but I avoid using words like "spaz" to refer to people with physical disabilities. I can see no reason to make fun of them. I could be in their situation, as could you.
There are some things that are "politically correct" that we should be offended about, but jokes about people with physical disabilities aren't, I think, in that group.
Think about it.
I had heard his eyes were real bad prior to laser eye surgery.
What do you expect from the English?
They need to learn to speak American, for God's sake.
/yes, joke/
I don't think by Woods referring to himself "playing like a spaz" was a shot at the physically disabled.
You think about it.
I used to have a cat named 'Spaz', when I was in California.
I took him out drinking one night. 'I'll have a shot of Yukon Jack with a white creme de menthe floater with a Moosehead chaser, and a saucer of milk for my cat'.
Didn't get called on it, either. Nobody complained, I guess. The bartender thought it was a hoot.
I have a dissabled dtr, who does have issues with spasticity.....but geesh....the word "spaz" has been used for eons to describe clumsy personal behaviour.....enough said....
From the article:
"When people say 'you're such a spaz' they're talking about someone with cerebral palsy," says Nancy Salandra from Philadelphia ADAPT."
No, I'm talking about the normal, but geeky, kid who was picked last a dodgeball.
So lame!
(pun intended)
Geez! This is nothing for the Brits to get all spazzed out about.
No they shouldnt get over themsleves they need to grab their guns off the mantels and riot in the streets over this....oh wait they are completely disarmed that wont work ok they need to grab their knives with blades longer then two inches and riot in......oh wait thats not possible either well i guess they are screwed.
It actually was quite an acceptable term in England - at least until 1994 when the Spastics Society charity of England changed it's name to a generic "Scope".
Details here...
http://society.guardian.co.uk/charity/story/0,,719599,00.html
Many of the older generation will still refer to spastics in a non-derogatory way...
Obviously this woman has never seen the Bill Murray film "Meatballs."
Spaz is ultimately based on the word spasm which is an involuntary or abnormal muscle contraction. Woods was simple alluding to the fact that he had poor muscle control in executing his putts.
Anyway, it's not illegal to be offensive and even more poignant is the observation that he didn't intend any malice.
To the folks griping in the media, I wish he'd just say piss off and go be offended somewhere else.
I'm glad Tiger is getting some flak, because didn't he go after some television commentator a few years ago who made a derogatory comment about him which was racially tinged? Maybe that guy was a racist, and maybe Tiger is insensitve towards the disabled.
Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander.
Well, I don't know about you, but I avoid using words like "spaz" to refer to people with physical disabilities. I can see no reason to make fun of them. I could be in their situation, as could you.
I agree. I don't agree with the MSM narrowly defined meaning. Ie., framing the debate.
Spaz, spastic, spasm have broader definitions.
Main Entry: spaz
Pronunciation: 'spaz
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural spaz·zes
Etymology: by shortening & alteration from spastic
slang : one who is inept : KLUTZMain Entry: 1spas·tic
Pronunciation: 'spas-tik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin spasticus, from Greek spastikos drawing in, from span
1 : of, relating to, characterized by, or affected with spasm <a spastic colon> <a spastic patient>
2 : SPASMODIC 2 <a spastic influx of data>Main Entry: spasm
Pronunciation: 'spa-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English spasme, from Middle French, from Latin spasmus, from Greek spasmos, from span to draw, pull
1 : an involuntary and abnormal muscular contraction
2 : a sudden violent and temporary effort or emotion <a spasm of creativity>
Are you referring to the GQ article? That was actually Tiger making the comments - or specifically telling very off-color jokes that the reporter then printed verbatim.
We've had to make use of the official permit for them often enough we think nothing of abbreviating the term.
Of course we never use that term in front of fully "capped", healthy people without broken ankles or banged heads, or crunched gizzards ~ oh, nosirree because they'll report us to the PC patrol.
What is it with the lucky ones that they have to pile on even more oppression on those who get hurt?
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