Re: Language -- am I being too vigillant?

> oh, this is easy, do no harm.
> Handicapped does harm to some so why not use something harmless even it
> does take a bit more space to write or a bit longer to say.  Besides, I
> doubt the guy's assertion that most people would say handicapped or
> disabled provided they are made aware of the facts in the matter.  For
> him to continue to be uninformed willingly shows a real character flaw.

The brevity/ease-of-scanning argument has never worked for me.  "Broad" is
one syllable; "woman" is two.  "Nigger" is two syllables; "African-American"
is seven.  Which should be the preferred term?

Received on Thursday, 8 November 2001 22:13:49 UTC