Well, I understand you meant something like "having mental problems" or "delusional"; interestingly, it seems that the official validity of the latter term would depend on how many people in the surrounding culture shared the psychiatrist's belief that hearing voices is a good reason for being institutionalized... But yes, delusional, and a danger to others. Literally.
What I have issues with - or take issue with, rather - is the metaphorical use of language related to disabilities (things people can't help) to indicate various harmful attitudes (which they can help); such as calling a bureaucratic organization which systematically refuses to see the obvious "autistic". This enforces the already pervasive (but mostly implicit) belief that disabled people are somehow evil and/or responsible for being disabled and/or difficulties resulting from being disabled.
Concerning the use of "mentally retarded" as an equivalent for "stupid-and-ought-to-know-better" (which wasn't the case here, but does happen), I don't think the term has (d)evolved enough to make it harmless; it's still known (and used by some people) as something technical, unlike "idiot", for instance.
Also, there's a value judgement connected not so much with the term, but with the concept (which is why it doesn't disappear when people change the terms). Many people are extremely angry when [they think] someone mistakes them for being mentally disabled, even if the person [they believe is] doing so doesn't patronize them. That's one sign that it isn't a neutral concept in most people's minds.
I don't think "gay" is much of a parallel at all, for several reasons, but I'm going to stop now.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-03-30 02:14 am (UTC)What I have issues with - or take issue with, rather - is the metaphorical use of language related to disabilities (things people can't help) to indicate various harmful attitudes (which they can help); such as calling a bureaucratic organization which systematically refuses to see the obvious "autistic". This enforces the already pervasive (but mostly implicit) belief that disabled people are somehow evil and/or responsible for being disabled and/or difficulties resulting from being disabled.
Concerning the use of "mentally retarded" as an equivalent for "stupid-and-ought-to-know-better" (which wasn't the case here, but does happen), I don't think the term has (d)evolved enough to make it harmless; it's still known (and used by some people) as something technical, unlike "idiot", for instance.
Also, there's a value judgement connected not so much with the term, but with the concept (which is why it doesn't disappear when people change the terms). Many people are extremely angry when [they think] someone mistakes them for being mentally disabled, even if the person [they believe is] doing so doesn't patronize them. That's one sign that it isn't a neutral concept in most people's minds.
I don't think "gay" is much of a parallel at all, for several reasons, but I'm going to stop now.