Talk of brainstorming 'may offend epileptics' ("brainstorm" is not PC)

UK Telegraph ^ | 4.26.03 | Liz Lightfoot

[mhking]

The term "brainstorming" has become the latest target of political correctness, according to a charity.

Trainee teachers are being told to avoid the word for fear of offending pupils with epilepsy. Instead they are being advised to use "word storm" or "thought shower".

However, charities working with epilepsy say "brainstorming" is not offensive. "We had several inquiries from teachers about it so we did a survey of our residential home," said Gemma Baxter from the National Society for Epilepsy.

"We also contacted people with epilepsy in the community and the overwhelming response was that 'brainstorming' implies no offence to people with epilepsy, and that any implication that the word is offensive to people with the condition is taking political correctness too far."

People found it more offensive that the question was being asked of them, she said.

The Teacher Training Agency said it was not responsible for the suggestion that students avoid the word.

"We are responsible for overseeing the general quality of the courses provided by universities and colleges and we don't get involved in the minutiae of what they teach."

[TigersEye]

The term "brainstorming" has become the latest target of political correctness, according to a charity. Trainee teachers are being told to avoid the word for fear of offending pupils with epilepsy.

I wonder what spaz came up with this?

[thulldud]

I wonder what spaz came up with this?

Some stercoencephalopathic goob or other.

[MEGoody]

Oh good grief. Soon we'll all have to be carrying around at least a three volume set of books to tell us what we are no longer allowed to say. It will take 3 hours to have a 5 minute conversation.

I can see it now. "Then he, er, uh, I mean, the individual conducted a brainstorming session, er, I mean a, oh damn, let me look that one up."

[k2blader]

Thought showers? How unbecoming.