Talk:Spastic (word)

David Farmbrough: Conducting a revert war?

You keep reverting my line with NO reason offered. JohnO

Spack Attack

GREGORY —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.151.121.10 (talk) 17:55, 6 May 2009 (UTC) Has anyone except the person who posted this come across this in everyday use? It seems to be a piece of local slang to me, and in any event not really appropriate to the Spastic article. Shouldn't there be a separate article on the word spack? DavidFarmbrough 11:44, 6 October 2005 (UTC)

Further to this, I am not sure that the references to spastics having fits or seizures are quite right as (unless a medical expert tells me this is wrong), it is not a feature of cerebral palsy that the person suffers from 'fits'. (I am quite prepared to accept that a spastic may also suffer from epilepsy, but not sure that this fits in with the spastic article). Can an expert enlighten us please? DavidFarmbrough 13:12, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

David, David, David! I'm glad you asked! Check out Cerebral_palsy#Presentation_.28signs_and_symptoms.29. (Why do I have to lead you by the hand like this...?) If you won't follow the link, it says "The classical symptoms are spasticity, paralysis, seizures, unsteady gait, and dysarthria." (Check the history of that page - I didn't write it.) Happy now? --JohnO You found the secret writing! 22:09, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Why you are wrong

One section of this article deals with 'terms of abuse.' Well, spack attack is a term of abuse. It is a common term of abuse. Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't make it untrue, or unworthy of being in this article. So why don't you get out of that ivory tower and do some frigging research. I am the person who put it in. I've lived in six major cities, in three countries, on two continents during my adult life. I've heard this term plenty; it is NOT local slang. But don't take my word for it...

• For a picture of the term EMBLAZONED on a train carriage, see [1]!
• For usage of this phrase dating back to January of this year (2005), i.e. before we got into this revert war, see the post in this forum [2]
• Want to see it in an online dictionary? Try [3]. Here it is claimed to be Australian slang. I've never been to Australia...
• Want to see it on Wiktionary? [4]
• Want to see it on a non-English language site? Go here... [5]
• Too much of a moron to Google it? Just follow this link... [6]

So stop riding me and turn your attention back to something more on your level, like Carry_On_Teacher.

--211.217.148.90 01:59, 9 October 2005 (UTC) JohnO

JohnO,

I checked a s__load of definitions of CP, and the only one I found where seizures were referred to as being a symptom of that condition, and not another condition that sometimes occurs concommitantly with CP is the Wikipedia definition you cited. I'm aware that you didn't write the Wikipedia definition, but last I knew Wikipedia wasn't seen as the final arbiter of what's correct.

Jazzman60

Just to add to it - Apart from rolling on the floor laughing at some of the Naivity of the American products, Spacker, Spazzer, Spazmod, and Spazz Attack (we used that at school - dont have a spazz' in its abbreviated form), were all common insults at our school. I remember "youre a right joey" as well, but it never made sense to me until this article. ;P seamanrob —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.198.206.229 (talk) 00:15, 20 October 2008 (UTC)

Spanner as a term of abuse

I think this was derived from the name of the tool, in the same way as "dipstick" is used as a term of abuse, rather than from the word "spacker". Christidy 15:29, 14 October 2005 (UTC)

You know this for sure, or you think it? What good are opinions in an encyclopaedia?--211.218.1.236 04:49, 20 October 2005 (UTC) JohnO

Suffering

I hope I'm not being too picky -- I'm not aware that people necessarily "suffer" from disabilities. I imagine spasms involve physical pain, so I've left the word "suffer" in some places, but only where it's obvious that it referes to spasms.24.64.223.203 09:50, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

yeah, i think the language is biased as well but i'm hesitant to edit it. also, if i'm not mistaken, isn't spastic diplegia regarded as a variant of CP? if so they shouldn't be listed as two separate things.

What do you mean, people don't suffer. people with mental disabilities have suffer just as much as people with physical disabilities.

Since this last message was added today (4 years after the original post to which it is responding) I think the original person is referring to the Political Correctness movement to say that physical/mental disabilities shouldn't be couched in negative terminology. "Suffer" is a negative, and there has been efforts to purge terminology when dealing with disabilities.---Balloonman ^{NO! I'm Spartacus!} 13:44, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

Spazz

Does anyone really know that this derived from a misconception that spasticity is associated with mental retardation? "Spazz" seems to me used more often of people who make erratic decisions or are unstable, which would seem like a reference to the erratic movements of those with cerebral palsy, not to a supposed mental retardation. Ichelhof 10:18, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

yes, though i'm not sure as i live in the US, but i've seen the term used in the UK sense to refer to people with autism, etc.

spastic...

The article currently reads "A sufferer of spasticity. This usage is generally believed to have been popularized from its use in the name of The Spastics Society" This would appear to be incorrect, because article on the Society gives us "SCOPE was started in 1952 by Ian Dawson-Shepherd, Eric Hodgson, Alex Moira and a social worker, Jean Garwood. In 1952 it was known as the National Spastics Society and in 1963 it merged with the British Council for the Welfare of Spastics to become The Spastics Society. They provided sheltered workshops and day centres for people with Cerebral Palsy (commonly referred to as spastics at the time, despite spasticity being a symptom of only one variant of C.P.)". This states that they were commonly referred to as spastics at the time, and the prior existence of the British Council for the Welfare of Spastics appears to bear this out. Any comments before I change it (and risk a four paragraph backlash!)? DavidFarmbrough 12:23, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

In American slang, the term "spaz" is generally inoffensive

Is it "inoffensive" because of ignorance of its derivation? Denishowe 10:55, 8 February 2007 (UTC) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4902432.stm has some interesting points. Denishowe 12:05, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Right. And I'll thank you to not use the noun "rubber" in front of the children, too. Or maybe the words legitimately mean different things because Americans and Britons speak different dialects, no? 70.242.127.246 02:17, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Actually, that source has a British bias. I suspect that the reason has more to do with Linguistic reclamation. Many words that were once offensive (geek, nerd, cowboy, sooner, torie, Christian, Mormon, gay, etc) have had their meanings changed as a result of being embraced by a community. In the US the term once was offensive, but in the 80's had a major transformation. The British section discusses how a similar movement was undertaken in England at the same time, but it didn't take hold in England. Likewise, the US didn't have Blue Peter to make the term highly offensive.Balloonman 02:46, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

NOTE: I did some research into the term as a result of this discussion. And it appears that the two cultures had a drastic change in understanding of the term in the 1980's. In England, it appears to have transformed from a mildly insulting term to become one of the most taboo words to the British Ear. This appears to be largely the result of Peter Blue/Joey. At the same time, in America, it went from a mildly insulting term to something even less insulting. It can still be an insult, but because American Audiences were more familiar with Steve Martin's Chaz the Spaz and Meatballs character Spaz, the word evolved into something completely different.Balloonman 23:58, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

This is a medical term, not just an outdated/offensive name for sufferers of spasticity

I'm not going to edit this article as I know nothing about the the subject and don't have the time or inclination to learn. However, it would be nice if somebody with some medical knowledge were to change this to actually indicate the correct meaning of the word "spastic". A quick google search (http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3ASpastic) should be enough to satisfy anyone that "a name given to someone who suffers from spasticity ... often used as a derogatory term for a sufferer of the disease, especially in the UK." really doesn't cut it. This word has a much more general meaning. From the google link, how does the article in its current form explain the following phrases?

• spastic paralysis
• spastic gait
• spastic bladder
• spastic colon
• spastic diplegia
• spastic closure
• spastic contracture
• spastic hemiplegia
• spastic abasia

Simple, those are complete descriptions of medical conditions. "Spastic" without the "paralysis", "gait", "bladder", etc is not the same as with them.Balloonman (talk) 16:39, 3 January 2008 (UTC)

What about

• spastic cough

I think it was something to do with asthmatics. It is both a medical term and outdated and I cetanly find it offencive 87.80.103.44 (talk) 20:24, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

A quick Google would agree with that, it does seem to be used in connection with herbal remedies and rarely within modern medical literature; however, as stated above by Balloonman, it is used as a qualifier rather than a term of abuse in itself. Rodhullandemu 20:31, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

Suffering

I have removed the word sufferers as people with cerebral palsy do not like to be viewed as suffering from their condition. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Robyn189 (talk • contribs) 01:17, 2 March 2007 (UTC).Robyn189 01:19, 2 March 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia does not care whether or not people with cerebral palsy like to be viewed as suffering with their condition. In keeping in line with other articles about physical/mental deficiencies, the use of suffering should be re-instated. The removal of the term demonstrates a lack of NPOV, as the editor plainly had an agenda (pandering to the cares of sufferers of cerebral palsy). Though Robyn189 plainly had good intentions, it is unfortunately not the place of wikipedia to censor itself to protect the feelings of spastics.--86.157.71.1 (talk) 23:17, 4 August 2008 (UTC)

Especially Popular in the '80s?

I know that this was a common term when I was in grade school (Seattle, WA) in the late 50's and early 60's. At the time I didn't know that it referred to CP, but the context was such that I now recognize it as meaning the same thing. I don't recall that there was a mental connotation, just descriptive of uncoordinated physical movement, such as someone with CP might display. It was used in a derogatory manner, as kids often do. Bjskelly 17:48, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

... out

What about the term 'spazzing out' or to 'spaz out' which I take to mean a loss of control. I've heard this in use on both sides of the Atlantic and it might be useful to insert it, I would myself, but I'm not too good with the integration of new material.

history of the word

Ok, I have no doubt that Spastic is highly offensive in England. I also have little doubt that it was not a polite term Prior to Peter Blue/Joey. But I do have to wonder how offensive it was prior to the 1980's in England? There is no way that it evoked the same outrage that it appears to do today? I mean, if it was that offensive in the 70's then Joey would never have been introduced as a Spastic. If it was that offensive in the 50's, then Scope would never have used it as part of its name. Based upon what little research that I could find on the term, it has only been the past 25 years (since the introduction of Joey) that Spastic has been the taboo word that it has become. I also find it interesting that 25 years ago, while British culture was demonizing the term, the American media was defanging it.Balloonman 19:01, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

”Spastic” and its derivatives, along with equally offensive terms like “mong” and “flid”, were in common usage at the school I got sentenced to in 1972. We wouldn’t have used words like that as insults if they weren’t offensive, horrible little monsters that we were. Mr Larrington (talk) 20:41, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

SCOPE -> Scope

I can find no evidence on Scope's own website - www.scope.org.uk - that SCOPE is an acronym. On their website it is written as a word with an initial cap. I have therefore changed the references in this article to be consistent with that Njjh201 (talk) 16:05, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

Evolution of the term in the United Kingdom

I've tagged this section as needing better sources, because I think it needs some; in particular, the variants of insult are unsouced, and on that point, I don't think we regard urbandictionary.com as a reliable source because it is self-written by its contributors and not subject to any moderation or academic rigour. There also appears to be some personal research. Rodhullandemu 17:17, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

I added the urbandictionary references (but not the words themselves). In the context, I think it is sufficiently reliable as all it's being used for is evidence that these words do have the use claimed. I'm not sure what else exists for such slang, which by its very nature will rarely be found in a mainstream publication. It's also quite important to the article as it shows that the rebranding has been paralleled in the pejorative use of the term. As for original research, I have contributed to this section over the years, as have others, and have tried to make sure it's fully referenced. Is there anything in particular that concerns you? Sidefall (talk) 17:45, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

This "The charity's rebranding was therefore only partly due to Blue Peter, and can also be seen as part of the anti-discrimination movement of that period" worries me, as it's uncited and does not seem to necessarily follow from the citation that precedes; quite the opposite, in fact. On the face of it, it's either an opinion or a synthesis. I could tag "can also be seen" with a {{who}} to invite sourcing but I think now we have the matter under discussion it's better to attempt to deal with it. Rodhullandemu 17:58, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

I've had a go at rewording all this. Hope it does not upset anyone. Thanks for the refs, sidefall. ComputScientist (talk) 19:37, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

Jennifer Aniston

Similar to the Tiger Woods controversy, the DVD boxset of Friends Series 1 was reclassified in the UK on 23 June 2009 with a "12" rating rather than "PG"(Parental Guidance), because of one moment in one episode in which Rachel refers to herself as a "laundry spaz".

Source quote: "The first rating decision to be affected by the new rules concerns a repackaged DVD set of Friends that contains an episode from the first series that was judged in the 1990s to be PG material. This time the BBFC has imposed a 12 rating on The One with the East German Laundry Detergent because of the moment when Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston, describes herself as a “laundry spaz” to explain her inept efforts to load a washing machine." http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6565478.ece

Much better than the Firefly/Buffy section currently in the article. Thanks.---Balloonman ^{NO! I'm Spartacus!} 17:05, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

Asthmatics

There should be something about the malicious use of the term "spastic" to mean asthmatic or refer to asthmatic and how it relates to the nature of asthmatics and there mistreatment. Has no-one written on this important subject? 79.72.136.68 (talk) 15:52, 9 September 2009 (UTC)

Has anybody ever heard this before? This is the first time I've ever seen that connection, thus it would need some sources.---Balloonman ^{NO! I'm Spartacus!} 15:25, 22 September 2009 (UTC)

uk/us english and others?

The article has this: The level of severity depends on whether one understands it as it is used in the United States or the United Kingdom. which seems to suggest that the term is used only in the US and the UK. I doubt this could be the case. Tiger Lilly Dogsbreath (talk) 01:33, 20 November 2010 (UTC)

The term is probably used in other English speaking nations, the US and UK being the most prominent, it probably depends on their connection with British culture. Australia and New Zealand still retain strong cultural ties to the UK and the term is understood there. The majority of the world's countries obviously don't use the term. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.69.49.196 (talk) 19:51, 27 November 2010 (UTC)

"At its route refers to" claim

How can the Latin root of the word refer to a condition defined by medical science? I'm not sure etymology works that way, and it makes this article claim that the word "spastic" inherently refers to a medical condition. 2602:252:D13:9C10:5C4A:7E75:6003:2D67 (talk) 00:13, 15 March 2016 (UTC)

“The word "spastic" has been largely erased from popular English usage”

No it hasn't. Only a spacker would write that.

The spaz gods only know why “spacker” isn't included. It's a very popular term. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7F:4C0D:1700:821F:2FF:FE2F:35DE (talk) 00:34, 23 November 2017 (UTC)

Joey Deacon

Although the word has a much longer history, its derogatory use grew considerably in the 1980s and this is sometimes attributed to the BBC children's TV show Blue Peter;[5] during the International Year of Disabled Persons (1981), several episodes of Blue Peter featured a man named Joey Deacon with cerebral palsy, who was described as a "spastic". Phrases such as "joey", "deacon", and "spaz" became widely used insults amongst children at that time.[6]

The very fact that the makers of Blue Peter apparently didn't realise that their program would have this effect only underlines the extreme lack of understanding of their target audience. I think I went to a fairly typical comprehensive school, but literally one day after the program was shown, virtually everyone (including some normally sensible and diligent students) were happily going around calling people "You Joey!" and doing the impersonations. And....I'm 55 now...and I actually still find the whole thing quite amusing. Tough old life innit?

UK schoolchildren allegedly developed a derogatory adaptation of the Spastic Society's new name

"However, UK schoolchildren allegedly developed a derogatory adaptation of the Spastic Society's new name, "scoper"" This is not allegedly. 99% true, in the area I grew up it was "scopie" not "scoper". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.132.185.41 (talk) 16:59, 3 February 2021 (UTC)

There was a lot of local variation, as you'd expect with kids' slang. 'Spanner' was another variant, with bullied kids often being referred to as 'the school spanner'. There is very little stuff in WP:RS about this though. --Ef80 (talk) 14:43, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

We have two WP:RS cited for "scoper", so I think that's pretty well established now. I'm not sure "spanner" is an adaptation of "spastic" though. — The Anome (talk) 19:00, 3 May 2022 (UTC)