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Council bans brainstorming (Word is deemed offensive to epileptics; hundreds of staff retrained)
The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | June 20, 2008 | Nick Allen

Posted on 06/20/2008 7:01:36 AM PDT by Stoat

Council bans brainstorming

By Nick Allen
Last Updated: 2:06PM BST 20/06/2008
 

A council has banned the term "brainstorming" and replaced it with "thought showers".

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent was accused of taking political correctness to extremes after instructing staff to make the change.

The move came as council chiefs feared the word brainstorming might offend mentally ill people and those with epilepsy.

The buzz term is often used by executives to generate ideas among their staff.

But memos have been sent to staff asking them not to use it and some have been given training which encouraged them to use the alternative of thought showers.

Even charities representing epileptics said the ban was taking political correctness too far.

Margaret Thomas, of the National Society for Epilepsy, said: "Brainstorming is a clear and descriptive phrase.

"Alternatives such as thought shower or blue-sky thinking are ambiguous to say the least.

"Any implication that the word brainstorming is offensive to epileptics takes political correctness too far."

Richard Colwill, of mental health charity SANE, said: "This ban goes too far. Few would be genuinely offended by the word brainstorming in the context of council meetings."

A spokesman for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent said: "We take diversity awareness very seriously.


(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: brainstorm; brainstorming; diversity; diversityawareness; epilepsy; hypersensitivity; language; mentalillness; pc; politicalcorrectness; tard; thoughtshowers; workplace
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To: Stoat
"We take diversity awareness very seriously."

You also take stupidity very seriously.

21 posted on 06/20/2008 7:19:00 AM PDT by TexasNative2000 (Is this tagline governed by McCain-Feingold?)
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To: Deaf Smith
Yeah, that's it. And they celebrate with a lemon party afterwords.
22 posted on 06/20/2008 7:19:32 AM PDT by WakeUpAndVote (Huh?)
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To: Stoat
'thought showers'

Hm, sounds flaming gay!!

23 posted on 06/20/2008 7:19:38 AM PDT by Fox_Mulder77
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To: Let's Roll

“AND if they do, it’s time for them to pick a new term instead of forcing everyone else to march to their tune/drummer.”

I agree, Let’s Roll, but read the article - the people representing the epileptics DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM with “brainstorming” - indeed, they come out and say they thing this whole thing’s silly.

The problem is with some leftist dipspit who wants to play fascist and make rule #129,202 how people are allowed to behave so we all end up on that big, flower-laden hill, holding hands and singing “I’d like to teach the world to sing...”


24 posted on 06/20/2008 7:21:49 AM PDT by Pravious
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To: Stoat
Council bans brainstorming (Word is deemed offensive to epileptics; hundreds of staff retrained)

The inane phenomenon of our age: pre-emptive inoffensiveness.

25 posted on 06/20/2008 7:22:25 AM PDT by snarks_when_bored
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To: Stoat

No talking, lest you offend the dumb.


26 posted on 06/20/2008 7:26:00 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: massgopguy
"raging torrent"

Thank you Hedley Lamarr.

27 posted on 06/20/2008 7:26:23 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Stoat

Totally ridiculous.


28 posted on 06/20/2008 7:28:03 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Stoat
So, some think tank thought they mind farted this $h!t out only to discover that it really is just a load of $h!t ?

What?

They're serious?

Someone .... please ..... flush.

29 posted on 06/20/2008 7:28:04 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true.)
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To: knarf

Brain droppings ?


30 posted on 06/20/2008 7:29:06 AM PDT by Celerity
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To: sinanju

**Do epileptics actually use the phrase “brainstorm” in connection with their condition?**

Many epileptocs have seizures controlled by medication and are able to drive a vehicle, hold down a “city” job (LOL!) and participate fully in society.

This is a slap in the face to epileptics.

(They obviously did not do their homework.)


31 posted on 06/20/2008 7:30:03 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: TangoLimaSierra

I’m an epileptic, and I think this is simply insane. I refer to it as “I have a faulty circut breaker in my head, and every so often, it pops.”


32 posted on 06/20/2008 7:31:25 AM PDT by Braak (The US Military, the real arms inspectors!)
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To: onedoug

**No talking, lest you offend the dumb.**

Epileptics are not speechless. Many hold fulfilling positions in our government, as well in private business.


33 posted on 06/20/2008 7:32:53 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: M203M4
I won’t “LOL” because I might offend a mute (or someone without a mouth).


34 posted on 06/20/2008 7:33:34 AM PDT by Dumpster Baby (Real men drink mercury)
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To: sinanju

And, no, epileptics do not use the word “brainstorm” to describe their epileptic condition.


35 posted on 06/20/2008 7:34:14 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: knarf

Think Tank is offensive to those that are now in or have been in the Drunk Tank. The proper PC term is now Amoeba Pond.


36 posted on 06/20/2008 7:37:17 AM PDT by Deaf Smith
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To: reagan_fanatic

You can’t use that word, either. It’s offensive. Take a thought shower and come up with another.


37 posted on 06/20/2008 7:43:09 AM PDT by jwalburg (I live in the 57th state.)
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To: Stoat

I insist that the NBA drop the term “SLAM DUNK”. I live in a power chair and am insulted, nay dissed, when the term is used as I can not do a slam dunk.


38 posted on 06/20/2008 7:47:38 AM PDT by CHEE (ROCK STEADY!)
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To: Free State Four
I'm sorry. That sounds too much like “golden showers”.

Actually describing something as "a shower", "a right shower", "a proper shower", etc. is common Brit slang shorthand for "a shower of sh*t", with the meaning of "not considered useful or desired in any way".

As in: "Tunbridge Wells Borough Council are a right shower"

39 posted on 06/20/2008 8:01:13 AM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Society is well governed when the people obey the magistrates, and the magistrates obey the law)
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To: CHEE
I insist that the NBA drop the term “SLAM DUNK”. I live in a power chair and am insulted, nay dissed, when the term is used as I can not do a slam dunk.

Of course you're making an excellent point and in fact I think that all activities, sporting or otherwise, which cannot be equally enjoyed by all, including the disabled, should be banned.

Here's a contact page for the NBA; I'm sure that they would be delighted to hear from you particularly if you cite this very progressive British Council as the impetus for your request:

NBA.com Send an E-mail to the League Office

40 posted on 06/20/2008 8:03:10 AM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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