Mental Health Advocates and Teddy Bears

[KSig RC]

[link to story ]

OK - so the Vermont Teddy Bear company releases its Valentine's Day bear, called the "crazy for you bear" - it happens to be wearing a straight jacked and has commitment papers.

Vermont's 'mental health community' (no clue what that refers to) has called the bear demeaning and stigmatizing to people with mental illness. The Vermont Teddy Bear people apparently agree, as it was announced today that the bears will be removed from their website etc.

Since GC has had relatively in-depth mental health discussions before, I figured this would be a pretty good place to run some inquiry.


Now - the question presented is simple: how far is too far to protect small groups from being 'marginalized' or 'stigmatized' by common usage, or this sort of portrayal? Does this actually carry a stigma with it? If you've had mental health issues before, does this bear send you back to the doctor?

Finally, where does it stop? Should the words 'crazy' and 'insane' be eliminated from common lexicon, along with their blacksheep cousins such as 'retard'?

Also, can someone make a comprehensive list of common words I can't say anymore? Thanks.

[Rudey]

I bet all the whakos who take whako pills are gonna get all upset. But the great thing is that no matter how upset they get, they can either eat and make themselves throwup, take some pills, or go share their feelings with their shrinks.

-Rudey

[chideltjen]

Originally posted by KSig RC
Finally, where does it stop? Should the words 'crazy' and 'insane' be eliminated from common lexicon, along with their blacksheep cousins such as 'retard'?

Well I can't give you a complete list because I'm sure there are words out there that offend different people. (Gosh, if 'crazy' offends people, I'm screwed...)

But I worked for a charity this holiday season that fostered inclusion programs for children with disabilities, or more common in education, special needs. That group has a specific lexicon when referring to children with different abilities. And many of the volunteers DO get offended when the word "retarded" or "retard" gets thrown around casually. And I have done my best to stop using the word, because it was a common word in my vocab.

Of course I can only throw around the correct vocabulary when I'm representing that charity. (Don't even get me started on what they think about the word "normal." I've become very careful about how I use that word too.) And it just kind of filtered into my everyday vocab. So much, that I cringe everytime I read the word "retard" or some form of it.

Bottom line, you will probably only change your vocab to something more PC if you come into contact with someone to which those words offend.