Enthusiasm Handicapped or… Be politically correct
Lana: Hi, guys!
Larry: Hello!
Lana: Yeah, so this is a follow-up to a series of our tutorials on political correctness. And this one is
kind of touchy. You might have heard Larry's tutorials. I'm going to keep it low because it's a rather
uncomfortable to me, it kind of breaks my heart when I hear subjects like this, when people are
using wrong, disrespectful words for particular situations. This particular is about mentally and
physically conditioned people, who are my sweethearts, and I would really like to do whatever I can
to raise awareness about importance of flawless, perfect, most caring, most loving words when it
comes to such communication and addressing people with such destiny, so to speak. So, Larry, I
would just like to start off, what I've seen lately was on one Instagram – a little girl was holding a
transparent, a beautiful girl saying “Please don't call me retarded. Jesus loves me.“ Why did it hurt
me so much?
Larry: Well, because the word is harmful. As I said in my tutorials. By the way, you are right. A lot of
this stuff that we have done are touchy. And it's difficult to communicate that, OK? Like, when I'm
out communicating it's exceedingly difficult. To be able not to stammer on and to feel visibly
uncomfortable, because it's not easy. And when you saw that, it evoked something inside, the caring
person that you are, it touched you because of the word itself, and it's hard for me to imagine that
that word... You still feel the need to tell people not to say that word because at this point in our
culture this word has long been buried. It is the word that is on acceptable, it's long been passed, as
far as the acceptability. I am for this day and age for this word, for that person to say that, she feels
the need to tell people not to call her that, it tells you that they're still is something that we say
ignorance, sensitivity, or even beyond that - malevolence. But I think a lot of it, probably it's not
malevolence, maybe it's just not knowing, Maybe it's just ignorance and insensitivity, like you said.
So, that's one word that, if you can get anything from my tutorial, you get something from this here,
is that that word is a No No, OK?
Lana: Instead?
Larry: I said – “challenged“, for example. But the thing is, even that tutorial was not so black or
white - I sad that one is, you know, not that acceptable, OK? And the other one is really
unacceptable. There is gradations here, it's complex. But that word here is an absolute No No.
Lana: So, appropriate substitute would be, as you said, “physically or mentally challenged“, or
“conditioned“, although I'm not fine with those words... Don't put any labels!
Larry: Yes, exactly!
Lana: You know, don't categorize people in anyway, actually.
Larry: Yes, that's true as a general truism. Right?
All Rights Reserved – Copyright
PowerEnglishByLana
Lana: ...but language has to have a form, right?
Larry: Yeah, right. That's why there are these tutorials. Because even though you should avoid, if you
can, that's the thing, if you can avoid, then do so. But if you can't, OK? And if there's really no way to
go around it, then you have to know how you're going to express. What is acceptable...
Lana: And to be as sensitive as possible.
Larry: To be as sensitive as possible. And, as always, communicating with the person, OK? trying to
gain what is acceptable, too... you know, that is always something that should be done.
Lana: Get informed, get informed...
Larry: Well, yes, I mean, really, why would it be wrong to ask somebody “What's the best way that I
can address you?“ If you are involved in communication, OK? And if that has become a topic, if you
will, is something that is being discussed, then there would be nothing wrong with you being just
that way.
Lana: So would it be appropriate and politically correct to ask that person upfront, straightforward,
“What will be the right way to address you?“ I mean, would that be disrespectful? I wouldn't mind...
Larry: Personally, I think it would be acceptable. OK, personally, I think it would be.
Lana: But why would you call me anything? I'm a person!
Larry: Exactly! That's true, you're right, but...
Lana: But, the language has its forms!
Larry: I mean, if that something you are finding that in communicating you can't avoid that, for some
reason, whatever that is, let's say you were talking about the people with that condition, and you're
talking about with this person, regarding policies perhaps, whatever, OK?
Lana: The way to come up with resources, something for them...
Larry: Exactly. So in that sense you have to use a certain word in that context and it wouldn't be
inappropriate to bring it up at that point.
Lana: But make sure what's appropriate. That's like... step one.
Larry: Yeah, like I said, like you said, if you'll learn anything, just avoid... if I can avoid one word, just
one word, that's progress.
Lana: Yeah. And another thing really worth mentioning, because I've had these situations, been
there, done that, people in a wheelchair. First of all, there is a question how to address them, do not
say “handicapped“, for gods sake, please!
Larry: Yeah. That's another word to avoid completely.
Lana: What's the substitute word? That fits the best.
All Rights Reserved – Copyright
PowerEnglishByLana
Larry: “Challenged“, “physically challenged“.
Lana: So it's not “people with special needs“, that's also kind of very limiting...
Larry: Yeah, relatively speaking, that would be fine. There is a gradation here, right? It's not always
as simple as that.
Lana: As long as it's not “handicapped“ and as long as you make sure what works for them.
Larry: Exactly. “Handicapped“ is regarded as acceptable.
Lana: Out of option!
Larry: That's it. That's the thing is that you have to address this and know where the line is, OK, and
then outside of that you've got the general idea of where you should be. You know, some people
would actually not want to be called “physically challenged“. This might be seen as overweening, as
overly sensitive, don't be so sensitive, why can't you just...
Lana: I'm just a regular person...
Larry: I'm just a regular person... So, again, you know, communication! Get a feeling for, I guess you
have to have some sensitivity to know what to do. If you're not really communicating with that
person, and you're not really feeling the situation, then you're probably not going to be able to
effectively, you know...
Lana: But the bottom line is, we always come down to the same conclusion in every follow up, and
every tutorial - Relate, relate, and be as empathetic as possible! And try to walk in their shoes, and
just relate.
Larry: Exactly.
Lana: We'll be talking about these things, we have a few more follow-ups to go, and please, guys, let
us know how you have handled situations like that, regardless of position you have found yourself
in, we would like to hear from you and pass it on to other viewers as well. Love you, bye-bye.
Larry: Till then!
All Rights Reserved – Copyright
PowerEnglishByLana