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01192009 Monday Jan 19, 2009

'Monging out' - a response

On Thursday I posted a blog post asking about using the term monging out.  I posted it because it'd been pointed out that the word originated from a reference to people with Down's Syndrome; something I was unaware of and so were the people I asked.

This was not trying to be offensive or controversial, I certainly have no desire to upset or discriminate against people with Down's Syndrome or other illnesses. I'm not prepared to use personal experience as a defensive, suffice to say I have a lot closer connection with Down's Syndrome than many other illnesses.

But I'm also not going to go down the route of pandering to every Daily Mail reader who gets offended by the slightest thing we say on this website. If a word, that once had an association with Down's Syndrome, but is now in common use with no reference to that association, has offended one person... does that really mean we should drop everything to remove it?

So I did what I felt was best... crowd-source and ask our audience. And you have answered.  For that reason I have removed the word.

Olly

Posted by Olly ( 9:26 AM ) Link to this post  |  Comments[2]

Comments:

Olly, I was one of the one's who complained about the use of the term 'monging out'. I like to think i'm quite broad minded & often become quite frustrated with alot of 'PC' rubbish that goes on these days, i'm also not a Daily Mail reader who complains about slightest things! I'm just a sister of a brother, who has memories of hurtful times in the past & present. I do consider that 'monging out' is a term that has derived from mongrel. I don't like to think of it as a term that we now accept, because those terms were all in the past therefore they can now be accepted. The fact still remains that it started out in reference to mong's who could supposidly do nothing more than sit in front of a t.v. My brother is far more capable than that as are many other's like him.
Anyway I would like to thank you for removing it from your blog & hope it has raised more awareness to others & it's true meaning.
Jo

Posted by Jo on January 20, 2009 at 08:26 PM GMT+00:00 #

you, sir, are an idiot.
Downs syndrome is not an illness.
Not everyone who complains about things is a daily mail reader.
Using the daily mail as a part in your argument is offensive, and will not get you any friends.
for gods sake, you said you shouln't pander to one person. THINK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF RESPONSES YOU HAD.
Down's syndrome is nothing that should be used as a term of offence! Think, Man!

Posted by matt on February 02, 2009 at 11:00 AM GMT+00:00 #

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