The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #127023   Message #2828852
Posted By: Nigel Parsons
03-Feb-10 - 11:04 AM
Thread Name: BS: A Change of View
Subject: RE: BS: A Change of View
A questionnaire provided for parts of the UK 'civil service' which looks at the proportion of workers with varied disabilities gives, as the default option, "Not disabled".
It seems strange to descrbe those who are, in the general view, able bodied by the use of a 'double negative'
A similar questionnaire on sexual orientation gives the default option (most likely response) as "Heterosexual/straight". Now I know that some in the gay community may choose to describe hetero's as straight (or straights) but to use the reverse to describe gay persons might not be considered PC!
It seems the language is being skewed in favour of supporting minorities.