Re: Reality check - using the words afflicted and suffering

[Guest guest]

OK Gretchen,

Here's my 2 cents worth.I have no problem with the words

afflicted or suffering.How were they used in your writing? In using these two

words do they drive home the point needed to be made a little better? Can you

tell us what words you had used first?

We are afflicted with a condition - I hate the word 'disease.' And many of us

are suffering because of it.

Barb

[Guest guest]

Gretchen,

It's difficult to truly comment out of context but I would generally steer clear

of 'labels' and use descriptions which is basically what does in the

article that you have directed us to review.

I did, however, disagree with a couple of the word choices that used

(hearing impaired vs hard of hearing) but, technically is correct in her

choice of 'hard of hearing'. Guess I would have said

'has difficulty hearing' lol. In any case, 'hearing impaired' is putting a

label on someone whereas 'hard of hearing' is describing a physical condition

that a person has.

As far as 'afflicted' or 'suffering'...well, those are just degrees of severity

and based on a very personal account from the individual being referenced. I

don't believe that an editor can take that type of liberty in assessing someone

that they haven't even met in most

cases.

And yes, I would NOT choose the terms 'afflicted' or 'suffering' to describe my

disability in any way.

To turn it around, would someone describe a gifted child as being 'afflicted

with above-average intelligence' and 'suffering from having to deal with the

inadequacies of his classmates'?

Perhaps a bad example but, get the point?

GfijiG6@... wrote:

> Dear ers,

>

> I need to ask you all for your thoughts on this. One

of my jobs is a

> writer. So, I am very careful with the words I

choose. I am even MORE

> careful when writing disability-related materials.

>

> Naturally, writers have editors. Fine. I just wrote

a piece about

> someone with a disability which was very positive

and uplifting.

> Fine. Until my editor changed a couple of words and

now the

> words " afflicted " and " suffering " are in my writing.

>

> My thoughts on this (now that I've calmed down!) are

these are

> archaic (ancient) words and this was a poor

editorial choice. I sent

> the following link to my editor (who does not have a

disability) as just

> FYI.

>

>

http://www.lindacrabtree.com/Terminologyforwriters/copyforterminologyf

> orwriters.htm

>

> What I want to know is if someone wrote about YOU

and CMT and used

> these words, are they " acceptable " or " not

acceptable " to you? Would

> you be offended if these words were used in writing

about YOU? I just

> want some feedback on this. lol, I have to admit I

was pretty pi****

> off at this editor of mine today and when I got in

the pool really

> kicked that water around and got about 2 days of a

workout in one

> hour. Good way to take anger down a few notches.

Hopefully burned a few

> thousand calories too lol

>

> Thanks to all for any response in advance,

>

> ~ Gretchen

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Amen to you, GREAT example and GOOD point! Thanks. ~ Gretchen

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[Guest guest]

Hi Barb,

I simply stated in my writing that person " X " has CMT. My editor (non-

CMT and non-disabled) added in " person X is afflicted and suffering "

with CMT. This editor is obviously trying to tear at the

reader's " heartstrings " . So these additional adjectives do that,

however, completely wrecks the article and the life of person " X " who

is so positive and upbeat, which is what the whole da** article is

about!

I appreciate your comments and thoughts. Very interesting. I too hate

the word " disease " - makes CMT sound contagious like the Bird Flu or

something. I am on a hunt for more writing books and info on " tips for

writers and editors on correct language use for persons with

disabilities. "

~ Gretchen