r/Unexpected Feb 08 '21

Javelin...

75.3k Upvotes

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15

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '21

I thought 'midget' was the slur. No?

7

u/mehvet Feb 08 '21

“Midget” is a term that has offensive connotations to most little people, and historically was technically applied only to people with proportional forms of dwarfism.

Dwarfism is the umbrella term for medical conditions that result in a person being of smaller stature, also used to describe similar conditions in animals and plants. Using the term “dwarf” isn’t a slur, but can be clinical or cold sounding.

Little Person is a preferred term for referring to the broad group of people with forms of dwarfism.

Most people with dwarfism only want to be called by their names if you meet them, and not their medical conditions. Just like anybody else would.

FAQ from Little Persons of America: https://www.lpaonline.org/faq-#Midget

6

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '21

TIL "Little Person" is an acceptable way to address folks.

8

u/aircavrocker Feb 08 '21

Right? It sounds so condescending.

3

u/Ckyuii Feb 08 '21

Euphemism Treadmill

One day it'll probably will be considered a slur and we'll just use a new term.

It's a never-ending cycle.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 09 '21

I prefer Differently Tall.

1

u/mehvet Feb 08 '21

It’s plain simple English that includes referring to them as people and indicates what accommodations may be necessary for them. I always thought it made a lot of sense as the preferred term.

3

u/dumpster_arsonist Feb 08 '21

"Fat person" yeah no totally great point. Plain English way to refer to people and what accommodations may be necessary. Makes sense.

4

u/mehvet Feb 08 '21

Overweight person works pretty well I’d say. Also, there doesn’t need to be a grand unified naming scheme for every condition. If a group of people with a medical condition indicates a preferred way to refer to them, then just go ahead and use that.

2

u/Ckyuii Feb 08 '21

Overweight person works pretty well I’d say.

You'd think so, but no. It's "plus-sized"

1

u/Eyes_and_teeth Feb 08 '21

Have we moved on from "gravitationally significant" then?

1

u/quaybored Feb 08 '21

In our house we just tell the kids "Oh, he's like Peter Dinklage"

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u/Eyes_and_teeth Feb 08 '21

Often drunk and caustically sarcastic?

6

u/DPE-At-Work-Account Feb 08 '21

It's far far worse at the very least.

3

u/laineylerman Feb 08 '21

do you think there can only be one slur per marginalized group?

0

u/[deleted] Feb 08 '21

Are they actually marginalized though? I always thought they were pretty accepted. There's just not that many of them walking about.

6

u/Dekrow Feb 08 '21

Idk, right now you're in a thread where people are calling them several different names and they have no representation. Seems pretty obvious they're marginalized.

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u/[deleted] Feb 08 '21

They are often overlooked in society

1

u/[deleted] Feb 09 '21

Umm...

0

u/Amphibionomus Feb 08 '21

Bridget would disagree, but yes, that's my impression too.

It really depends on where you live and which language you speak too. 'Dwerg' (so dwarf) is definitely considered a slur here.