This couldn't be more wrong. I was pulled up on this in 1985 when I announced in front of a group at College that I was going out that night and get "spastic" on the grog.
One of the group made it quite clear how offended they were, and that their brother had Cerebral Palsy and that she did not approve of the use of the word, or the inference that I was going to get drunk to achieve it.
As the said offended person was a girl I liked, quite a lot, I aplogised and have tried to never use the term again.
When I see it written here, and then the use of it defended, I realise how ignorant some people are.
Shame on you, shame on your ignorance. Shame on your lack of empathy for those who are less fortunate than you.
You are speaking of an experience of yours back in 1985 - 32 years earlier than our current discussion, back when there was a strong association between the word spastic and cerebral palsey.
Have you called anyone "simple" or an "idiot"? or accused someone being "touched by god" ??
They were old terms used to describe cerebral palsey, autism etc. yet because of the passage of time, and the disassociation of the word with its earlier intended use, it no longer carries the same sort of meaning back to these congenital diseases.
Did you read this line that I wrote?
Given this separation between the word spastic and cerebral palsy (and extended somewhat to include other malais such as autism, muscular dystrophy etc and other forms of congenital diseases) the meaning and use of the word has morphed somewhat and now quite often used to describe dubious choices, lack of co-ordination etc.
Shame on you for trying to force your version of right down my throat.
