Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

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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 E_Loner on Sun, 2008-06-22 - 15:56

When I was a teen-ager a friend of mine ran up to me to tell me two guys called me "pumpkin brain". I asked him, "So, what should I do about it?" His response, "We art to go kick their butts." I told him, "If I go fight them I will have to fight millions of dumb butts just like them." I went on to say, "Me having epilepsy is their problem not mine." My point was, I did not fear having epilepsy. Epilepsy was just a "thing." I looked and look at epilepsy as a wart. Plus, that "pumpkin brain" had to go to his girlfriends. So, which was more important?

I guess I have offended myself several times due to the fact I have used the phrase "brainstorming." I guess now I would say "half brainstorming" since I have been through 2 brain surgeries.

I don't understand why these PC groups think they are right. If they want to keep and eye on a group, how about children and teens. Children and Teens with epilepsy go through it harder than adults.

Good Luck, E_Loner

When I was a teen-ager a friend of mine ran up to me to tell me two guys called me "pumpkin brain". I asked him, "So, what should I do about it?" His response, "We art to go kick their butts." I told him, "If I go fight them I will have to fight millions of dumb butts just like them." I went on to say, "Me having epilepsy is their problem not mine." My point was, I did not fear having epilepsy. Epilepsy was just a "thing." I looked and look at epilepsy as a wart. Plus, that "pumpkin brain" had to go to his girlfriends. So, which was more important?

I guess I have offended myself several times due to the fact I have used the phrase "brainstorming." I guess now I would say "half brainstorming" since I have been through 2 brain surgeries.

I don't understand why these PC groups think they are right. If they want to keep and eye on a group, how about children and teens. Children and Teens with epilepsy go through it harder than adults.

Good Luck, E_Loner

Re: Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Submitted by Beckyboo on Mon, 2008-06-23 - 16:06

Brainstorming is when people get together and try to think of things to solve a problem. It's not, in any way, offending anyone with epilepsy. It just means to bring your minds together and storm them so that you can come up with a solution.

Becky

Brainstorming is when people get together and try to think of things to solve a problem. It's not, in any way, offending anyone with epilepsy. It just means to bring your minds together and storm them so that you can come up with a solution.

Becky

Re: Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Submitted by uys on Thu, 2008-06-26 - 04:30

Hi you all, I'm loving the brainstorming in the chatroon, its electrifying! People are the weirdest creatures. I live in South Africa which is probably the most sensitive country in the world especially when it comes to race. It is to some degree understandable but for heavens sake it gets totally out of hand. Last week Chinese South Africans were declared black! They now enjoy the benefits of Black Economic Empowerment! To be honest, on the merits of the case it is Politicly Correct...

I'm, like most of you, not offended by the word brainstorm. I know it has been banned in Wales a year ago and i see that you Americans have jumped on the bandwagon. Well, i get the feeling that most of the time it isn't epilepsy sufferors that fight for such minor causes but rather the Commissions for Human Rights and affiliated movements. One thing i can tell you guys, out of experience in my colourfull country (chinese incl) is that Political correct words and phrases and sentences and alfabets etc can get totally out of hand! On the other side we should be thankfull for the people standing up for our and other peoples rights. We were all created equally in the eyes of God and therefor we must be treated as equals by our fellow human beings.

In light of the above I must submit that to be politically correct will result in equality and protection of all peoples rights but somewhere along the line an equilibrium must be established. I the world goes on like this we are going to talk really, really weird. What other word will be used for brainstorm? Mindsharing, head-glueing, brain-embracing etc.

Thanks guys, i really enjoyed this topic and your comments.

Strength & Honour

Hi you all, I'm loving the brainstorming in the chatroon, its electrifying! People are the weirdest creatures. I live in South Africa which is probably the most sensitive country in the world especially when it comes to race. It is to some degree understandable but for heavens sake it gets totally out of hand. Last week Chinese South Africans were declared black! They now enjoy the benefits of Black Economic Empowerment! To be honest, on the merits of the case it is Politicly Correct...

I'm, like most of you, not offended by the word brainstorm. I know it has been banned in Wales a year ago and i see that you Americans have jumped on the bandwagon. Well, i get the feeling that most of the time it isn't epilepsy sufferors that fight for such minor causes but rather the Commissions for Human Rights and affiliated movements. One thing i can tell you guys, out of experience in my colourfull country (chinese incl) is that Political correct words and phrases and sentences and alfabets etc can get totally out of hand! On the other side we should be thankfull for the people standing up for our and other peoples rights. We were all created equally in the eyes of God and therefor we must be treated as equals by our fellow human beings.

In light of the above I must submit that to be politically correct will result in equality and protection of all peoples rights but somewhere along the line an equilibrium must be established. I the world goes on like this we are going to talk really, really weird. What other word will be used for brainstorm? Mindsharing, head-glueing, brain-embracing etc.

Thanks guys, i really enjoyed this topic and your comments.

Strength & Honour

Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Comments

Re: Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Submitted by E_Loner on Sun, 2008-06-22 - 15:56

Re: Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Submitted by Beckyboo on Mon, 2008-06-23 - 16:06

Re: Brainstorming: Should we be offended?

Submitted by uys on Thu, 2008-06-26 - 04:30

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