Midget Gems



You can't even laugh at dwarves any more. When they're jumping about at panto in Snow White and you're paying £35 a ticket that's fine. They want you to laugh at them then.

But you see the little fella out shopping with his family on Deansgate, you wind your window down and start singing 'Hi-ho, hi-ho', he'll turn around and tell you to p*** off.

Didn't he, Phil?"
Before Xmas 6 of the 7 were in the Dun Cow, one of the lads said sneezy must be self isolating. :lol:
 
Language evolves and words become associated with offensive connotations, working in learning disabilities for much of my career there are lots of words no one would use now that were perfectly acceptable medical terminology years ago. Intent to offend is obviously a factor but offence can still be caused unintentionally and shouldn’t be dismissed entirely. I’d be absolutely livid if the people I support were referred to in archaic medical language by people that intend to offend but more likely to explain the reasons not to use such language where it’s through ignorance rather than malice. I fully understand why midget is problematic.

Language evolves and words become associated with offensive connotations, working in learning disabilities for much of my career there are lots of words no one would use now that were perfectly acceptable medical terminology years ago. Intent to offend is obviously a factor but offence can still be caused unintentionally and shouldn’t be dismissed entirely. I’d be absolutely livid if the people I support were referred to in archaic medical language by people that intend to offend but more likely to explain the reasons not to use such language where it’s through ignorance rather than malice. I fully understand why midget is problematic.
Imo opinion it is not the word that is offensive but the way it is used. Midget is a word that describes something very small. Confectionery has absolutely nothing to do with the description of a very small person, with or without dwarfism.

The idea of that being offensive to anyone is absolutely ridiculous and I dare say 99.9% of people that live with such a condition will have plenty of other things to worry about than the innocent description of small confectionery.
 
Imo opinion it is not the word that is offensive but the way it is used. Midget is a word that describes something very small. Confectionery has absolutely nothing to do with the description of a very small person, with or without dwarfism.

The idea of that being offensive to anyone is absolutely ridiculous and I dare say 99.9% of people that live with such a condition will have plenty of other things to worry about than the innocent description of small confectionery.
Midget is almost always used to describe people in my experience and in that context it’s history is of derogatory use connected to circus and freak shows. No one uses it to describe small things or animals anymore and haven’t for decades.
Imagine making a film based around racism in 70’s Britain and not being able to use derogatory remarks.

It wouldn’t work.
Agree, it’s part of the reality of those times and shouldn’t be ignored or shied away from but certainly shouldn’t be used in the same way now.
 
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Midget is almost always used to describe people in my experience and in that context it’s history is of derogatory use connected to circus and freak shows. No one uses it to describe small things or animals anymore and haven’t for decades.
What are we going to call midget cells, or the MG Midget now?
These midget cells are a terrible slight on small people
 
What are we going to call midget cells, or the MG Midget now?
These midget cells are a terrible slight on small people
MG midget doesn’t crop up often although I actually own one! Midget cells is a medical term that may evolve in the same way spastic has, that description is rarely used now although often spasticity will still be used. We can’t erase all use of language but where it causes offence we can try to use alternative terminology.
 
MG midget doesn’t crop up often although I actually own one! Midget cells is a medical term that may evolve in the same way spastic has, that description is rarely used now although often spasticity will still be used. We can’t erase all use of language but where it causes offence we can try to use alternative terminology.
I've got no problem with language evolving and words will naturally go out of fashion, but imo this shouldn't be engineered.
 
I've got no problem with language evolving and words will naturally go out of fashion, but imo this shouldn't be engineered.
I’m not sure it is engineered in this instance to be honest, it’s a word that is now rarely used for anything but derogatory comments other than the two examples you’ve given. In most respects it’s just a word that has had its day.
 
I’m not sure it is engineered in this instance to be honest, it’s a word that is now rarely used for anything but derogatory comments other than the two examples you’ve given. In most respects it’s just a word that has had its day.
Except for midget gems that had no connotations of prejudice and was a simple description of small confectionery that was well known and well loved.
 

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