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Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Sat, 06/21/2008 - 13:31
Topic: Living With Epilepsy - Adults
So my yahoo news feed sent me this. http://social.moldova.org/stiri/eng/128767/ As I was reading it I was thinking how absurd it was. Heck, half of the words we use can be seen as offensive if we were to break them down all entymologically and historically and on and on. I think the bigger issue is ignorance towards what epilepsy is. Outlawing the usage of the word "brainstorming" or another other word like it is not going to educate anyone, if anything it makes me feel like that sort of thing just adds more of a stigma and thus makes us more vulnearable. I see it as just another well-meaning, but wayward, example of institutional action that amounts to not doing anything at all except avoiding measures that might actually be helpful. In this case the measure was declared as extreme and unnessary, as it was, but I think this happens elsewhere as well. If people are ignorant they can still be very mean while trying to be very politically correct in their language. (Like my martial arts instructer who was careful not to address the class as "you guys" since I was (the lone) female but did not allow me to spar when I reached level because "women need to learn pragmatic things, like escape tactics.") What does everyone else think about this? Having epilepsy, are there things people say that offend you? (I don't mean like directly insulting you.)

Comments

Re: Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Submitted by tan_the_fan on Thu, 2008-08-14 - 22:05

To be comepletely honest I have NEVER thought of the word brainstorming in relation to Epilepsy - AT ALL... Where does he the idea that all of a sudden it has now starting offending? His justification of the change offends me more! "epileptics or the mentally ill" As weird as it sonds - I consider myself a person living & dealing with epilepsy - not "An Epileptic" and although yes it does fall in the same Nuerology department I dont like being classified in a general group with the "mentally ill" I think his justification is a lot more insulting to everyone than the word brainstorming.... My mum worked with the 'mentally ill' and got hit over the head with a bed pan by some deranged woman... That's not who we are, (although it feels like it somedays)

PS; Re the "shake & bake" - when I talk to my family I generally refer to it as my 'spaz attacks' ;-) Lightens the mood a bit... 

 

To be comepletely honest I have NEVER thought of the word brainstorming in relation to Epilepsy - AT ALL... Where does he the idea that all of a sudden it has now starting offending? His justification of the change offends me more! "epileptics or the mentally ill" As weird as it sonds - I consider myself a person living & dealing with epilepsy - not "An Epileptic" and although yes it does fall in the same Nuerology department I dont like being classified in a general group with the "mentally ill" I think his justification is a lot more insulting to everyone than the word brainstorming.... My mum worked with the 'mentally ill' and got hit over the head with a bed pan by some deranged woman... That's not who we are, (although it feels like it somedays)

PS; Re the "shake & bake" - when I talk to my family I generally refer to it as my 'spaz attacks' ;-) Lightens the mood a bit... 

 

Re: Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Submitted by LaurenG1211 on Thu, 2008-08-14 - 22:43
i think it's pretty funny actually - sorry if thats being insensitive to anyone who was offended

Re: Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Submitted by katfaerie on Sun, 2008-08-17 - 10:32

i am the exact opposite of offended by the word brainstorm.  i find it's use empowering since it has a very positive meaning.  it helps me to look for the positive meanings in my own brainstorming.  which is how i do visualize my seizures, as thunder and lightening.  i find the dual meanings of the word soothing.

people never fail to amaze me in their ignorance and stupidity.

kat 

i am the exact opposite of offended by the word brainstorm.  i find it's use empowering since it has a very positive meaning.  it helps me to look for the positive meanings in my own brainstorming.  which is how i do visualize my seizures, as thunder and lightening.  i find the dual meanings of the word soothing.

people never fail to amaze me in their ignorance and stupidity.

kat 

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