OT: Total rant about today

Okay, so it's freakin' cold out.  Someone who is not that professional got the job of team leader in our group (I didn't dare apply, I'm new!) so it kinda bugs me.  4 out of 6 team members consistently use the term "retarded" when they're speaking.  From my background, it hurts my heart. And it's unprofressional. And inappropriate. 

Anyway.

*sigh*

/rant over

I hate the r word.  People just don't get how demeaning, disrespectful and hurtful it is.  http://www.r-word.org/ is a great site to help stop the use of the word. There are links there to some great psas on Youtube to help spread the word to end the word.  Maybe a company e-mail?  We're doing a big campaign at work right now to spot the use of the word.  You'd think that working for an agency that supports people who have developental disabilties you wouldn't find people using that word.  But we even have some staff who do..so education is the key to getting it to stop. 

Thank you so much for the links!  Much appreciated.  I have worked for 25 years to get rid of these terms.  Started a new position that I love BUT........... they're unprofessional when it comes to this and it bothers the **** out of me.  Will totally save the link and use it, thank you! 

Here's an idea make a poster in microsoft publisher using defining the word orogins of "retarded" frame it and place it in a conspicuous placve in your office (where everyone can see it) and get your message out.  I had a similar issue with a manager who "demanded" respect, I made a similar sign with the quote "every morning I ask myself do I respect those from whom I command respect"  it really changed his attitude.  It know hangs by my door to remind me how to carry myself.

I have an official document that the City endorsed as their own with "person first terminology", that I wrote a few years ago.

My "fear", which is ridiculous I know, is that I just started, have an extensive background in this including training staff, was a manager of this such subject until I took this position, and am 20 years older than everyone else in the office.  I don't wanna be "mom" or the "police" but I'm pissed.

Its hard not to dance around ignorance because we've been taught ''to treat others as we wish to be treated''. So even when those of us with the sense not to say the term, because we've be taught better, still have a hard time with saying out loud to others that its wrong, because we don't want to be seen as ''mean''. But the reality is, its offensive language and if you did something every day that bothered someone, wouldn't you hope they would tell you? I would.

If you ask for people to refrain from using it, they'll respect you as long as the way you ask them is respectable also. 

I know its frustrating and I know you're new but we all have to respect each other and I don't think there is anything wrong with asking at a team meeting if ''we could as team/group/department/organization refrain from use of the ''R'' word because I find it offensive and it makes me feel uncomfortable.

Being honest about our feelings and being tough and taking a stand makes us stronger and I think its a very fair request.

Best of luck!

I know you'e right, and in other situation I'd be all over it.

*sigh*

They're yong Sarah and to them. the term doesn't mean what it does to us. I already feel "old" in the unit.

lol...I know Karen *sigh* I know.

I cringe when I hear it. I've noticed a large resurgence in the use of the term ''gay'' to describe something as 'dumb' and I always think ''oh man, I'd think of all generations, the newer ones would know better''....*sigh*....but they don't!

cheers to being old my friend...we're lucky we have a better sense of these terms and are not irritating the **** out of every one!

I'll still pull my f-bomb over and above these terms any day! Ha!

We're older but wiser. One of the worst offeders is someone who has just been named my team leadwer which pissses me off.

the f-bomb. Use it regulary. Thanks for the understanding.

 Don't you have a policy about this that you could use to back you?

Honestly - I would just say something anyway.  I used to keep quiet to not hurt people's feelings or make sure they still like me - whatever.  Now I'm at the point that I know I can say it in a nice way - and I need to say it.

So when someone from my friends list on FB posts "that's so gay" as their status - I PM them with the wanda sykes video and let them know it bothers me.  The other day at work when someone complained that they got "Gyp'd" - I said "hey - do you know what that means?  I used to say that all the time until I found out it was a derogatory word referring to Gypsy's or the Romany people as being crooks or criminals".  etc.

Most of the time, people apologize and take it well.  They might think I'm a ***** behind my back I guess - but I've never had a bad reaction to my face!  

Worse comes to worse - you could always say something like "my sister (brother, aunt, best friend etc.) just had a baby with Down's syndrome.  It has really made me sensitive to that word - by little "neice" is so sweet and delightful.  I always think how she'll feel as an adult hearing people use the R word in such a mean-spirited way.  Would you mind trying not to use it around the office?"  It's a lie...but it would make an impression.