TLC Trading Spaces Guest Comments After Little People Big World

March 26, 2006

I wonder if the TLC Network Producers are embarrassed after last

night's initial Trading Spaces episode. After we watched Little

People Big World last night, we also watched the initial Trading

Spaces episode which soon followed. One of the makeover homeowners

made a comment towards her twin sister... " you have arms like a " M " .

Yes, said the " M " word. It was UNFORTUNATE that the person who said

the " M " word was an ADULT. What decade is this for an adult to say

that? Anyways, I thought it was ironic.

March 27, 2006

well i think alot of us feel that way about the m word everytime i hear that

word i get soooo mad and i cringe. That is a fighting word to me! you can call

me what you want but dont call me the m word! people in this world do not

understand how offensive that is to us but that just people being ignorant! So

bless them one day for getting smart! well i will let you all go have a

wonderful day and god bless you all!!!

sarah

a <quartznh@...> wrote:

Personally I feel that this dwarfism emailing group is a safe place

to talk about dwarfism related topics, including looking for peer

support.

The " M " word is offensive to many people because often times when we

(people with dwarfism) hear this word it is usually in intend to

making fun of us and being insulting, instead of understand we are a

person and not an object. Often when I've heard this word, the tone

and attitude that is associated is rude, uncaring and deliberately

poking at the person to ridicule.

Many of us in this group are people who work and have lives outside

of this and when encountered with this behavior in others, we may

feel comfortable in " educating " the person. This has nothing to do

with people with dwarfism not having enough things to do in their

lives.

Here we " complain " as you put it, but I feel it should be a safe

place to " vent " and exchange ideas. Also this is a good place to

understand other people's point of view even if we don't agree with

it, just to understand and respect the point of view of others.

When people ask me what the politically correct terminology to use,

I take that opportunity to explain it to them. I am making a

difference, and it is a passion of mine because I work for a non-

profit disability organization that works with advocacy as well.

Please understand that certain words are offensive to people because

of how it's been used and the history of people. Media and Society

are the biggest influences in what words people use. If the media

uses the " m " word, so will others. We are working on slowly

explaining why the " m " word is offensive and what are better words

we can use.

Instead of calling of the " M " word, I prefer to be called a person

with dwarfism. Better yet, call me a.

The only time I use the phrase " person/people with dwarfism " is

explaining the medical condition to doctors' and hospitals for my

medical care, or to interested people who are curious and asking

what the correct words they should be using.

If we concentrate on the PERSON first, then medical condition or

other minority, we are respecting that person as who they are and

not labeling them as an object!

a

> >

> > I wonder if the TLC Network Producers are embarrassed after last

> > night's initial Trading Spaces episode. After we watched Little

> > People Big World last night, we also watched the initial Trading

> > Spaces episode which soon followed. One of the makeover

> homeowners

> > made a comment towards her twin sister... " you have arms like a "

> M " .

> > Yes, said the " M " word. It was UNFORTUNATE that the person

who

> said

> > the " M " word was an ADULT. What decade is this for an adult

to

> say

> > that? Anyways, I thought it was ironic.

> >

>

===

March 27, 2006

ok..first off..........in the show he wasnt calling someone with

dwarfism a " m " . so YOU again, are making it an offensive word. when

i had my daughter they told me the difference between dwarf and

midget is one is proportionate and one is not. never ever did i

think anything offensive about it. there is not one word in the

dictionary that can be offensive unless YOU let it be. be it,

the " M " or the " n " or how about the " f " word (fat). should every

time i hear the word fat i cry because i am fat? how about the word

stupid... a word i see on here often. stupid by definition is slow

of mind. should everyone slow of mind be offended when they hear

someone say the word.

i believe in the show the man told the woman she had arms like a " m "

or something to that effect. " m " in the dictionary meant unusually

short. a person would really have to twist that to make it

offensive. i understand your view that if the word was said to a

little person in hurtful way it can be offensive. i still believe

that no word can be offensive unless you let it offend you. even if

being said in a hurtful way. YOU own your emotions not the person

saying the word. there are hundreds and hundreds of words that can

be found offensive i suppose, if a person let them. i am very sure

the average person on the street would NOT know 'm' would be an

offensive word. as the mother of a little person i didnt know it

until joining this group. my logic again (im sure many of you have a

thing or two to say about my logic also) would be that the 'm' is

being made offensive by many of yourselves.

anyway.......i have learned awhile ago opinions are like

***holes...everyone has one. this is mine

>

> Amen Chase...

>

> Just_call_me_darlin_31, the point taken was educating the public

and,

> unfortunately, it followed Little People Big Word. No, I am not a

> back seat talker from the bench and don't hide in a closet or go

nuts

> when I hear people call us names. Feel free to check our

> profile. No hiding here. Can adults in this group have a civil

> discussion on this site?

>

March 27, 2006

Well said a!!!

Also, I don't think understands the etymology of the word. As Dan

Kennedy has explained before (and I've written in several editorials) the

" M " word has it's origins in carnival freak shows in the 19th century. It

is a made-up, artificial word, probably related to the word " midge " which is

a type of fly.

Like any label considered offensive, it is how the dominant culture uses the

word (dominant culture in this case being average-sized people). The " M " is

word is used condescendingly, derisively, and for comedic effect. 50 years

ago, when LPA was founded, it wasn't considered offensive. Then again, the

" N " was also thrown about without much thought either. Times change.

Personally, I'm not overly bothered by the word. But then again, if the

majority of people with dwarfism are bothered by it, I choose not to use it

-- OUT OF RESPECT. That seems to be the real problem in this culture, a

lack of manners and respect for other people's feelings. Respecting other

people's feelings in regards to language is not " political correctness, " it

is called compassion. We could all use a little dose of compassion.

-Bill

On 3/27/06, a <quartznh@...> wrote:

>

> Personally I feel that this dwarfism emailing group is a safe place

> to talk about dwarfism related topics, including looking for peer

> support.

>

> The " M " word is offensive to many people because often times when we

> (people with dwarfism) hear this word it is usually in intend to

> making fun of us and being insulting, instead of understand we are a

> person and not an object. Often when I've heard this word, the tone

> and attitude that is associated is rude, uncaring and deliberately

> poking at the person to ridicule.

>

> Many of us in this group are people who work and have lives outside

> of this and when encountered with this behavior in others, we may

> feel comfortable in " educating " the person. This has nothing to do

> with people with dwarfism not having enough things to do in their

> lives.

>

> Here we " complain " as you put it, but I feel it should be a safe

> place to " vent " and exchange ideas. Also this is a good place to

> understand other people's point of view even if we don't agree with

> it, just to understand and respect the point of view of others.

>

> When people ask me what the politically correct terminology to use,

> I take that opportunity to explain it to them. I am making a

> difference, and it is a passion of mine because I work for a non-

> profit disability organization that works with advocacy as well.

>

> Please understand that certain words are offensive to people because

> of how it's been used and the history of people. Media and Society

> are the biggest influences in what words people use. If the media

> uses the " m " word, so will others. We are working on slowly

> explaining why the " m " word is offensive and what are better words

> we can use.

>

> Instead of calling of the " M " word, I prefer to be called a person

> with dwarfism. Better yet, call me a.

>

> The only time I use the phrase " person/people with dwarfism " is

> explaining the medical condition to doctors' and hospitals for my

> medical care, or to interested people who are curious and asking

> what the correct words they should be using.

>

> If we concentrate on the PERSON first, then medical condition or

> other minority, we are respecting that person as who they are and

> not labeling them as an object!

>

> a

>

> > >

> > > I wonder if the TLC Network Producers are embarrassed after last

> > > night's initial Trading Spaces episode. After we watched Little

> > > People Big World last night, we also watched the initial Trading

> > > Spaces episode which soon followed. One of the makeover

> > homeowners

> > > made a comment towards her twin sister... " you have arms like a "

> > M " .

> > > Yes, said the " M " word. It was UNFORTUNATE that the person

> who

> > said

> > > the " M " word was an ADULT. What decade is this for an adult

> to

> > say

> > > that? Anyways, I thought it was ironic.

> > >

> >

>

> ===

>

March 28, 2006

This is from the Oxford University Press dictionary:

midget /mIdIt/ noun, adj.

noun

1 (taboo, offensive) an extremely small person, who will never grow to a

normal size because of a physical problem; a person suffering from dwarfism

(NOTE the word " offensive " in the above definition)

From Merriam-Webster online:

midget One entry found for *midget*. Main Entry: *midg·et*

Pronunciation: 'mi-j & t

Function: *noun*

Usage: *often attributive*

Etymology: *midge*

*1* *:* something (as an animal) much smaller than usual

*2* *sometimes offensive* *:* a very small person

Now, for the word midge:

Main Entry: *midge*

Pronunciation: 'mij

Function: *noun*

Etymology: Middle English *migge, *from Old English *mycg; *akin to Old High

German *mucka *midge, Greek *myia *fly, Latin *musca*

*:* a tiny dipteran fly (as a chironomid)

So there's the origin of the word for you. I guess my comment about

respecting others out of compassion just blew right past you, huh?

Try Googling " midget " sometime. You'd be surprised how many perjorative

sites pop up: " rent-a-midget, " " midget porn, " " toss a midget, " etc.

Words are power. The bible recognized this when it says " oh what a great

fire can be kindled from the tongue... "

The Buddha recognized this, one of the Four Noble Truths admonishes us to

use " right speech " as a means to enlightenment.

Just because some people are not offended by certain words, doesn't give

them express permission to use them. It is true, as the Stoics would say,

" you can't control others, only your own thoughts. " But the Stoics did say

you can INFLUENCE others, and if doing so causes a positive effect, it is

our moral obligation to do so. This list was created for people with

dwarfism (and their families and friends) to commiserate about the physical,

cultural and social barriers we face. If the majority of the group doesn't

like the word " midget, " why is there such a need to insist on using it, and

lecturing people to " get tough? " If you're intellectually honest, you can't

tell me there is NO WORD you find offensive. And out of respect for you as

a human, I wouldn't use it in your presence.

And you're right, opinions are like a-holes. It's sad when someone lets

theirs turn them into one.

-Bill

On 3/27/06, just_call_me_darlin_31 <just_call_me_darlin_31@...> wrote:

>

> ok..first off..........in the show he wasnt calling someone with

> dwarfism a " m " . so YOU again, are making it an offensive word. when

> i had my daughter they told me the difference between dwarf and

> midget is one is proportionate and one is not. never ever did i

> think anything offensive about it. there is not one word in the

> dictionary that can be offensive unless YOU let it be. be it,

> the " M " or the " n " or how about the " f " word (fat). should every

> time i hear the word fat i cry because i am fat? how about the word

> stupid... a word i see on here often. stupid by definition is slow

> of mind. should everyone slow of mind be offended when they hear

> someone say the word.

> i believe in the show the man told the woman she had arms like a " m "

> or something to that effect. " m " in the dictionary meant unusually

> short. a person would really have to twist that to make it

> offensive. i understand your view that if the word was said to a

> little person in hurtful way it can be offensive. i still believe

> that no word can be offensive unless you let it offend you. even if

> being said in a hurtful way. YOU own your emotions not the person

> saying the word. there are hundreds and hundreds of words that can

> be found offensive i suppose, if a person let them. i am very sure

> the average person on the street would NOT know 'm' would be an

> offensive word. as the mother of a little person i didnt know it

> until joining this group. my logic again (im sure many of you have a

> thing or two to say about my logic also) would be that the 'm' is

> being made offensive by many of yourselves.

> anyway.......i have learned awhile ago opinions are like

> ***holes...everyone has one. this is mine

>

> >

> > Amen Chase...

> >

> > Just_call_me_darlin_31, the point taken was educating the public

> and,

> > unfortunately, it followed Little People Big Word. No, I am not a

> > back seat talker from the bench and don't hide in a closet or go

> nuts

> > when I hear people call us names. Feel free to check our

> > profile. No hiding here. Can adults in this group have a civil

> > discussion on this site?

> >

>

> ===

>

March 28, 2006

Biil,

You of course (like usualy i have started to notice)

twist what i say to make it uncomfortable for you just

so you can bicker.

first off. you listed the same definition as i , so i

think i was aware of the origin . i said that the

average person would not know that word would be

offensive. as for your compassion comment, you again

twist what i said which was, i can understand your

view if someone said to a little person in a hurtful

way it could be offensive, (if you let it). the topic

of the post was that OMG someone average height called

someone else of average height the 'm' word on tv.

they didnt call a little person a 'm' . i go back to

all the many other words that can be offensive every

single day in life. only the person themselves can

make them offensive .

to make myself clear, my point was getting all upset

from simply hearing the word is on YOU not the person

saying it. if the person had called a little person on

tv a 'm' i would have understood the post more. still

with the beief it can only be offensive if YOU make it

offensive, but if said with hurtfullness i can

understand that. but it wasnt . my duaghter has been

referred to as everything under the sun that can mean

little. she is never offended. thank god i have

instilled my belief on her that only she can make a

word hurt her or should would grow up as bitter about

the world as you seem to be bill.

anyway last post on the matter since im sure everyone

is sick of hearing about it already. will gladly

respond to emails if anyone would like

nancy

--- Bill Bradford <tslug1@...> wrote:

> This is from the Oxford University Press dictionary:

> midget /mIdIt/ noun, adj.

> noun

> 1 (taboo, offensive) an extremely small person, who

> will never grow to a

> normal size because of a physical problem; a person

> suffering from dwarfism

>

> (NOTE the word " offensive " in the above definition)

>

> From Merriam-Webster online:

> midget One entry found for *midget*. Main Entry:

> *midg·et*

> Pronunciation: 'mi-j & t

> Function: *noun*

> Usage: *often attributive*

> Etymology: *midge*

> *1* *:* something (as an animal) much smaller than

> usual

> *2* *sometimes offensive* *:* a very small person

>

> Now, for the word midge:

> Main Entry: *midge*

> Pronunciation: 'mij

> Function: *noun*

> Etymology: Middle English *migge, *from Old English

> *mycg; *akin to Old High

> German *mucka *midge, Greek *myia *fly, Latin

> *musca*

> *:* a tiny dipteran fly (as a chironomid)

>

> So there's the origin of the word for you. I guess

> my comment about

> respecting others out of compassion just blew right

> past you, huh?

> Try Googling " midget " sometime. You'd be surprised

> how many perjorative

> sites pop up: " rent-a-midget, " " midget porn, " " toss

> a midget, " etc.

>

> Words are power. The bible recognized this when it

> says " oh what a great

> fire can be kindled from the tongue... "

> The Buddha recognized this, one of the Four Noble

> Truths admonishes us to

> use " right speech " as a means to enlightenment.

> Just because some people are not offended by certain

> words, doesn't give

> them express permission to use them. It is true, as

> the Stoics would say,

> " you can't control others, only your own thoughts. "

> But the Stoics did say

> you can INFLUENCE others, and if doing so causes a

> positive effect, it is

> our moral obligation to do so. This list was

> created for people with

> dwarfism (and their families and friends) to

> commiserate about the physical,

> cultural and social barriers we face. If the

> majority of the group doesn't

> like the word " midget, " why is there such a need to

> insist on using it, and

> lecturing people to " get tough? " If you're

> intellectually honest, you can't

> tell me there is NO WORD you find offensive. And

> out of respect for you as

> a human, I wouldn't use it in your presence.

>

> And you're right, opinions are like a-holes. It's

> sad when someone lets

> theirs turn them into one.

> -Bill

>

> On 3/27/06, just_call_me_darlin_31

> <just_call_me_darlin_31@...> wrote:

> >

> > ok..first off..........in the show he wasnt

> calling someone with

> > dwarfism a " m " . so YOU again, are making it an

> offensive word. when

> > i had my daughter they told me the difference

> between dwarf and

> > midget is one is proportionate and one is not.

> never ever did i

> > think anything offensive about it. there is not

> one word in the

> > dictionary that can be offensive unless YOU let it

> be. be it,

> > the " M " or the " n " or how about the " f " word

> (fat). should every

> > time i hear the word fat i cry because i am fat?

> how about the word

> > stupid... a word i see on here often. stupid by

> definition is slow

> > of mind. should everyone slow of mind be offended

> when they hear

> > someone say the word.

> > i believe in the show the man told the woman she

> had arms like a " m "

> > or something to that effect. " m " in the dictionary

> meant unusually

> > short. a person would really have to twist that to

> make it

> > offensive. i understand your view that if the word

> was said to a

> > little person in hurtful way it can be offensive.

> i still believe

> > that no word can be offensive unless you let it

> offend you. even if

> > being said in a hurtful way. YOU own your emotions

> not the person

> > saying the word. there are hundreds and hundreds

> of words that can

> > be found offensive i suppose, if a person let

> them. i am very sure

> > the average person on the street would NOT know

> 'm' would be an

> > offensive word. as the mother of a little person i

> didnt know it

> > until joining this group. my logic again (im sure

> many of you have a

> > thing or two to say about my logic also) would be

> that the 'm' is

> > being made offensive by many of yourselves.

> > anyway.......i have learned awhile ago opinions

> are like

> > ***holes...everyone has one. this is mine

> >

> > >

> > > Amen Chase...

> > >

> > > Just_call_me_darlin_31, the point taken was

> educating the public

> > and,

> > > unfortunately, it followed Little People Big

> Word. No, I am not a

> > > back seat talker from the bench and don't hide

> in a closet or go

> > nuts

> > > when I hear people call us names. Feel free to

> check our

> > > profile. No hiding here. Can adults in this

> group have a civil

> > > discussion on this site?

> > >

> >

> > ===

> >

March 28, 2006

In this context I agree that the " m " word was used derogatorily. But I

continue to insist, from experience I've gained since living with my

wonderful lp wife, that when most average sized people search for the

correct word to describe LP's the word “midget” seems less offensive to

them than " dwarf " (dwarf having fantasy connections as in Snow White) so

they guess and they guess wrong all the time. When it is explained to

them they drop the " m " word instantly.

The " m " word is intentionally used offensively but I don't think that is

the case most of the time. Most of the time I think it is use ignorantly

with good intentions. In other words, to get down to basics, some people

are asshole but most people do have good intentions but are more

preoccupied with sports or what's on sale at the supermarket than with

what's PC at the moment. These people guess wrong but mean well.

Marty

a wrote:

> Personally I feel that this dwarfism emailing group is a safe place

> to talk about dwarfism related topics, including looking for peer

> support.

>

> The " M " word is offensive to many people because often times when we

> (people with dwarfism) hear this word it is usually in intend to

> making fun of us and being insulting, instead of understand we are a

> person and not an object. Often when I've heard this word, the tone

> and attitude that is associated is rude, uncaring and deliberately

> poking at the person to ridicule.

>

> Many of us in this group are people who work and have lives outside

> of this and when encountered with this behavior in others, we may

> feel comfortable in " educating " the person. This has nothing to do

> with people with dwarfism not having enough things to do in their

> lives.

>

> Here we " complain " as you put it, but I feel it should be a safe

> place to " vent " and exchange ideas. Also this is a good place to

> understand other people's point of view even if we don't agree with

> it, just to understand and respect the point of view of others.

>

> When people ask me what the politically correct terminology to use,

> I take that opportunity to explain it to them. I am making a

> difference, and it is a passion of mine because I work for a non-

> profit disability organization that works with advocacy as well.

>

> Please understand that certain words are offensive to people because

> of how it's been used and the history of people. Media and Society

> are the biggest influences in what words people use. If the media

> uses the " m " word, so will others. We are working on slowly

> explaining why the " m " word is offensive and what are better words

> we can use.

>

> Instead of calling of the " M " word, I prefer to be called a person

> with dwarfism. Better yet, call me a.

>

> The only time I use the phrase " person/people with dwarfism " is

> explaining the medical condition to doctors' and hospitals for my

> medical care, or to interested people who are curious and asking

> what the correct words they should be using.

>

> If we concentrate on the PERSON first, then medical condition or

> other minority, we are respecting that person as who they are and

> not labeling them as an object!

>

> a

>

> > >

> > > I wonder if the TLC Network Producers are embarrassed after last

> > > night's initial Trading Spaces episode. After we watched Little

> > > People Big World last night, we also watched the initial Trading

> > > Spaces episode which soon followed. One of the makeover

> > homeowners

> > > made a comment towards her twin sister... " you have arms like a "

> > M " .

> > > Yes, said the " M " word. It was UNFORTUNATE that the person

> who

> > said

> > > the " M " word was an ADULT. What decade is this for an adult

> to

> > say

> > > that? Anyways, I thought it was ironic.

> > >

> >

>

> ===

>

March 28, 2006

I absolutely agree with Bill on this.

In addition words can be used to cut like a knife regardless of " how you

take them. " That’s part of the art and beauty in language. Language is

the talent that separates us from beasts and in cases like this it can

make us similarly vicious to beasts. It's not what the dictionary reads

but rather in how we use the word and in our tone.

When I say someone is innocent in the use of the word because of

ignorance I mean to say that they have not been exposed to that

knowledge and can not be blamed because of that lack of knowledge. When

someone clearly uses the word as an insult that person has done wrong

and deserves every bit of the blame that follows.

Marty

just_call_me_darlin_31 wrote:

> ok..first off..........in the show he wasnt calling someone with

> dwarfism a " m " . so YOU again, are making it an offensive word. when

> i had my daughter they told me the difference between dwarf and

> midget is one is proportionate and one is not. never ever did i

> think anything offensive about it. there is not one word in the

March 28, 2006

Let's try a new word, look it up.

It's called hypocrite. Do I need to define it? Or do you know what it

means?

Here's your original post:

OMG. I cannot believe you wrote this. Ya know the only person who

can make the " m " word offensive is the person who believes it is. The

dictionary defines the " m " word as something much smaller then

usual.why would anyone think that would be offensive when saying it? If

that is all you have to do in your life is pounce on words you hear then

im sorry but you seriously need a hobby.

If many many of you in this group got off your butts and instead of

complained and attacked about words being offensive and actually

used your passions for good you could really make a difference.

Just unbelievable.

Seems like you went on the attack first, attacking bmlhobby and Jayme for

their OPINIONS on a list group specifically designed for allowing LITTLE

PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION. A place where people can vent their

frustrations over the sh*t they face in the real world, and perhaps find

some sympathy. How dare you tell them " to get a hobby. " How dare you tell

us " to get off our butts. " I've written editorials for the Seattle Times,

The Los Angeles Times, and New York Newsday expressing our opinion of the

" M " word. I've served as an officer in LPA. I've served as the vice

president of my university's Disabled Students Union. Many, many people on

this list work as advocates for the disabled, at the local, state and

national level. And many of these same people are the ones who come to this

list to vent about the " M " word and other daily frustrations. They make

changes -- they DO things. They need a space -- this space -- for it's

theraputic value. You have NO RIGHT to attack someone for an opinion, and

make a judgement on their lives when you have NO CLUE who they are, or what

they've done.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, OTHER THAN ATTACK PEOPLE AND INSULT THEM???

(Why is it always that someone without dwarfism thinks they can tell us how

to think?)

Seems like you're the one that is bitter.

And you're a hypocrite.

I'm glad the " M " doesn't bother your daughter. Let's see how she feels when

she is 16 and rejected from dating a nice boy, because he thinks she is a

midget. I'm parent, and now a grandparent. The " M " doesn't bother me, but

if it bothered my daughter or grandchild, I'd do as Chass did, and bust

someone in the mouth who used it derisively toward them. Hopefully, your

daughter grows up with better manners than you!

-Bill (who may be an a**hole, and pissed off, but not bitter)

On 3/28/06, Darlin' <just_call_me_darlin_31@...> wrote:

>

> Biil,

> You of course (like usualy i have started to notice)

> twist what i say to make it uncomfortable for you just

> so you can bicker.

> first off. you listed the same definition as i , so i

> think i was aware of the origin . i said that the

> average person would not know that word would be

> offensive. as for your compassion comment, you again

> twist what i said which was, i can understand your

> view if someone said to a little person in a hurtful

> way it could be offensive, (if you let it). the topic

> of the post was that OMG someone average height called

> someone else of average height the 'm' word on tv.

> they didnt call a little person a 'm' . i go back to

> all the many other words that can be offensive every

> single day in life. only the person themselves can

> make them offensive .

> to make myself clear, my point was getting all upset

> from simply hearing the word is on YOU not the person

> saying it. if the person had called a little person on

> tv a 'm' i would have understood the post more. still

> with the beief it can only be offensive if YOU make it

> offensive, but if said with hurtfullness i can

> understand that. but it wasnt . my duaghter has been

> referred to as everything under the sun that can mean

> little. she is never offended. thank god i have

> instilled my belief on her that only she can make a

> word hurt her or should would grow up as bitter about

> the world as you seem to be bill.

> anyway last post on the matter since im sure everyone

> is sick of hearing about it already. will gladly

> respond to emails if anyone would like

> nancy

>

> --- Bill Bradford <tslug1@...> wrote:

>

> > This is from the Oxford University Press dictionary:

> > midget /mIdIt/ noun, adj.

> > noun

> > 1 (taboo, offensive) an extremely small person, who

> > will never grow to a

> > normal size because of a physical problem; a person

> > suffering from dwarfism

> >

> > (NOTE the word " offensive " in the above definition)

> >

> > From Merriam-Webster online:

> > midget One entry found for *midget*. Main Entry:

> > *midg·et*

> > Pronunciation: 'mi-j & t

> > Function: *noun*

> > Usage: *often attributive*

> > Etymology: *midge*

> > *1* *:* something (as an animal) much smaller than

> > usual

> > *2* *sometimes offensive* *:* a very small person

> >

> > Now, for the word midge:

> > Main Entry: *midge*

> > Pronunciation: 'mij

> > Function: *noun*

> > Etymology: Middle English *migge, *from Old English

> > *mycg; *akin to Old High

> > German *mucka *midge, Greek *myia *fly, Latin

> > *musca*

> > *:* a tiny dipteran fly (as a chironomid)

> >

> > So there's the origin of the word for you. I guess

> > my comment about

> > respecting others out of compassion just blew right

> > past you, huh?

> > Try Googling " midget " sometime. You'd be surprised

> > how many perjorative

> > sites pop up: " rent-a-midget, " " midget porn, " " toss

> > a midget, " etc.

> >

> > Words are power. The bible recognized this when it

> > says " oh what a great

> > fire can be kindled from the tongue... "

> > The Buddha recognized this, one of the Four Noble

> > Truths admonishes us to

> > use " right speech " as a means to enlightenment.

> > Just because some people are not offended by certain

> > words, doesn't give

> > them express permission to use them. It is true, as

> > the Stoics would say,

> > " you can't control others, only your own thoughts. "

> > But the Stoics did say

> > you can INFLUENCE others, and if doing so causes a

> > positive effect, it is

> > our moral obligation to do so. This list was

> > created for people with

> > dwarfism (and their families and friends) to

> > commiserate about the physical,

> > cultural and social barriers we face. If the

> > majority of the group doesn't

> > like the word " midget, " why is there such a need to

> > insist on using it, and

> > lecturing people to " get tough? " If you're

> > intellectually honest, you can't

> > tell me there is NO WORD you find offensive. And

> > out of respect for you as

> > a human, I wouldn't use it in your presence.

> >

> > And you're right, opinions are like a-holes. It's

> > sad when someone lets

> > theirs turn them into one.

> > -Bill

> >

> > On 3/27/06, just_call_me_darlin_31

> > <just_call_me_darlin_31@...> wrote:

> > >

> > > ok..first off..........in the show he wasnt

> > calling someone with

> > > dwarfism a " m " . so YOU again, are making it an

> > offensive word. when

> > > i had my daughter they told me the difference

> > between dwarf and

> > > midget is one is proportionate and one is not.

> > never ever did i

> > > think anything offensive about it. there is not

> > one word in the

> > > dictionary that can be offensive unless YOU let it

> > be. be it,

> > > the " M " or the " n " or how about the " f " word

> > (fat). should every

> > > time i hear the word fat i cry because i am fat?

> > how about the word

> > > stupid... a word i see on here often. stupid by

> > definition is slow

> > > of mind. should everyone slow of mind be offended

> > when they hear

> > > someone say the word.

> > > i believe in the show the man told the woman she

> > had arms like a " m "

> > > or something to that effect. " m " in the dictionary

> > meant unusually

> > > short. a person would really have to twist that to

> > make it

> > > offensive. i understand your view that if the word

> > was said to a

> > > little person in hurtful way it can be offensive.

> > i still believe

> > > that no word can be offensive unless you let it

> > offend you. even if

> > > being said in a hurtful way. YOU own your emotions

> > not the person

> > > saying the word. there are hundreds and hundreds

> > of words that can

> > > be found offensive i suppose, if a person let

> > them. i am very sure

> > > the average person on the street would NOT know

> > 'm' would be an

> > > offensive word. as the mother of a little person i

> > didnt know it

> > > until joining this group. my logic again (im sure

> > many of you have a

> > > thing or two to say about my logic also) would be

> > that the 'm' is

> > > being made offensive by many of yourselves.

> > > anyway.......i have learned awhile ago opinions

> > are like

> > > ***holes...everyone has one. this is mine

> > >

> > > >

> > > > Amen Chase...

> > > >

> > > > Just_call_me_darlin_31, the point taken was

> > educating the public

> > > and,

> > > > unfortunately, it followed Little People Big

> > Word. No, I am not a

> > > > back seat talker from the bench and don't hide

> > in a closet or go

> > > nuts

> > > > when I hear people call us names. Feel free to

> > check our

> > > > profile. No hiding here. Can adults in this

> > group have a civil

> > > > discussion on this site?

> > > >

> > >

> > > ===

> > >

March 28, 2006

thank you bill!!!amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i am president of a group called people

1st, here in roswell new mexico, and i LOVE doing what i do..its not

specifically a group for dwarfs, but for all who are disabled, and lemme tell u,

its fun and i just love it!i know so many people that work for the state and all

that jazz, its not easy for them, in fact, some of those people have some sort

of disability, which is cool..again, i just love the fact that im president of a

group for the disabled so we can get things done in this town and let people

know there are disabled people out there

jayme

Bill Bradford <tslug1@...> wrote: