# A Rose By Any Other Name... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2001, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692 "2001-06-05T15:53:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Big\_SUV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Big\_SUV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_SUV)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/1 "2001-06-05T15:53:24Z")
History of Physical Impairment Nomenclature Era - Dawn of Time until 1940: Those unable to walk were referred to as ‘cripples’. Since this term was applied only to those who were unable to walk, it was obviously discriminatory and was changed. Era 1940 until 1975 Those unable to walk were referred to as ‘handicapped’. Since this term was applied only to those who were unable to walk, it was obviously discriminatory and was changed. Era 1975 until 1989 Those unable to walk were referred to as ‘physically challenged’. Since this term was applied only to those who were unable to walk, it was obviously discriminatory and was changed. Era 1989 to Present Those unable to walk are referred to as ‘physically special’. Since this term is applied only to those who are unable to walk, it is obviously discriminatory and will soon be changed. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/2 "2001-06-05T15:58:08Z")
10:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., June 5, 2001: Those unable to make a point in their OP are referred to as “boring.” ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/3 "2001-06-05T16:01:14Z")
I would also like to point out that in my 28 years of life, which included working with physically challenged people for several summers…I have never once heard someone called “physically special”. Big SUV, if you want to use the word cripple, go right ahead…because I think that’s the point you’re trying to make. If I’m wrong, let me know. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Tiki_God)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/4 "2001-06-05T16:01:48Z")
Como? ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/5 "2001-06-05T16:09:04Z")
Personally, I prefer the term “gimp.” ---
**Author:** ![schief2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@schief2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schief2)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/6 "2001-06-05T16:09:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by **Big SUV** \* Man oh man, where’s **fatherjohn** when you need him? I’m sure the judges will be along to score your rant as soon as they wake up from the boredom-induced sleep it put them in. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/7 "2001-06-05T16:12:12Z")
First off, i’ve never heard of anyone being referred to as “physically special”. Physically special? FFS. Secondly, are seriously saying that the only reason different terms have been suggested and adopted/rejected over the years is because they were discriminatory due to referring only to people who are unable to walk? Is that _really_ what you think? Because it’s a ridiculously naive and oversimplified view if it is. Fran Damn, **schief2** got in with the joke before i did. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/8 "2001-06-05T16:23:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Big SUV \* > **Those unable to walk were referred to as ‘handicapped’. Since this term was applied only to those who were unable to walk, it was obviously discriminatory and was changed.** Since when has the description “handicapped” referred only to those unable to walk? ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/9 "2001-06-05T16:38:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Since this term was applied only to those who were unable to walk. Since when? I have NEVER heard the term “physically special”, and I work with the disabled! ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/10 "2001-06-05T16:43:16Z")
So, Big SUV… wanna rethink the OP and come back later? ---
**Author:** ![Big\_SUV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Big\_SUV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_SUV)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/11 "2001-06-05T17:09:27Z")
Idle hands are the devil’s tool. Very little thought went into the original post, so it’s difficult to RE-think it. I’ll try to ratchet up the intellectual level of future posts. The point of the OP was that people often use words not to communicate, but to actively obscure an idea. However, I seem to have done just that, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/12 "2001-06-06T01:16:21Z")
Damn, I wish this had been posted a few weeks back. The Onion had a graphic entitled “How do we refer to the handicapped?” My favorites: Prey Differently pleasant to be around The Cincinnati Bengals Stumbly-wumblies ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/13 "2001-06-06T01:26:40Z")
Y’know, we always hear of those specially-marked parking spots as “Handicapped parking spaces”… so, in that sense, “handicapped” hasn’t been abandoned. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/14 "2001-06-06T01:32:38Z")
Smeg: I liked “The Advantageously Parked,” myself. I hear the term “physically special” all the time. Mostly from girls. \ ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/15 "2001-06-06T01:33:02Z")
Background: I am a person with a disability and just finished taking a course called “disabled in America”, for which I read about and used many modern references regarding terminology for people with disabilities. You’ll note that thus far I’ve said “people with disabilities”- that seems to be the preferred term at this point. The idea is to emphasize the person first, then the disability. For example, not “cripple”, but “person who uses a wheelchair”. Not “hunchback”, but “person with scoliosis”. See how that works? Not “retard”, but “person with mental retardation/intellecutal disability”. Most people with a disability reject term like “handi-capable” and other touchy feely phrases. They want to be treated like everyone else and be free of labels. BigSUV, you obviously (and admittedly) did not think this through prior to posting. I’m not being sarcastic when I say that I will glady provide you with more information about this if you are interested. E-mail me at [suzette100@yahoo.com](mailto:suzette100@yahoo.com) Zette ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/16 "2001-06-06T02:46:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*Y’know, we always hear of those specially-marked parking spots as “Handicapped parking spaces”… so, in that sense, “handicapped” hasn’t been abandoned. \*\* You took the words right outta my hands. I was just about to mention the “handicapped” car tags that I see everywhere, and also the “handicapped” restroom stall signs. The few people I know that are handicapped use that terminology themselves, so I guess it’s not so out-dated or out of use as some people think. [sub] God…I can’t believe I just quoted **SPOOFE**! He’s like, well, one of my heroes…_(near swoon)_[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/17 "2001-06-06T04:36:23Z")
Wow… I’m somebody’s hero? How the heck did that happen? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/18 "2001-06-06T05:53:37Z")
5124 posts … the odds were with you. ---
**Author:** ![Revedge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecae2f/32.png) [@Revedge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revedge)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/19 "2001-06-06T06:34:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*5124 posts … the odds were with you. \*\* Ok, the odds are now 5123 to 1. Who wants to handicap, er… “physically special” the betting on his next post. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692/20 "2001-06-06T09:56:29Z")
Each post that didn’t contain my joke raised my hopes higher and higher until you brought me crashing down. I forgive you though, especially since you were a lot funnier about it than I was planning to be. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-by-any-other-name/67692.md?page=2)