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Subject:Re: Political Correctness and the Writer From:Bob Morrisette <Robert -dot- Morrisette -at- ENG -dot- SUN -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 29 Sep 1997 14:23:36 -0700
> From soundy -at- ROGERS -dot- WAVE -dot- CA Mon Sep 29 12:43:35 1997
> Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 12:43:29 -0800
> From: Matt Ion <soundy -at- ROGERS -dot- WAVE -dot- CA>
> Subject: Re: Political Correctness and the Writer
> Comments: To: Carl Stieren <STIEREN -at- SIMWARE -dot- COM>
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
>
> On Mon, 29 Sep 1997 13:39:00 EDT, Carl Stieren wrote:
>
> >It is always correct to
> >refer to the condition or diagnosis that people have (multiple sclerosis,
> >polio myelitis, cystic fibrosis).
>
> But this leads to another dilemma. Are these people "victims" (eg. "MS
> victim" - good for the sympathy play)? Are they "suffering from" their
> disease/condition/disability (also good where sympathy is needed or
> desired)? Or are they "survivors" (which to me sounds rather
> condescending)? Or should things be worded such that they simply "have"
> their disease/condition/whatever?
>
>
> Your friend and mine,
> Matt
> <insert standard disclaimer here>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't refer to us as victims or survivors. We suffer in varying
degrees, and are survivors, but don't want others to say so.
I prefer the last idea - "He has MS." No sympathy, please.
Bob Morrisette
writer1 -at- sabu -dot- Eng -dot- sun -dot- com
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