SimplyMe
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- Jul 19, 2003
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Calling people ‘spastic’ is a reference to disabled people. Its use in this kind of context is basically saying that they’re acting crazy and/or idiotic, and comparing that to the disabled.
It might not be considered as big a deal in the US, but in the UK it’s considered highly offensive and it can be extremely hurtful to disabled people.
Ah, I see. Well, in their defense, this is the world wide web--and seeing as they're from the US, I don't think they meant it in the way that it's used in the UK.
It has a similar meaning in the US, and people with diseases like Cerebral Palsy find it insulting. As an example, here is the definition from dictionary.com, "Slang: Offensive. awkward or clumsy." Though perhaps I know about it because I've had a couple of friends that suffered from diseases that caused muscle spasms.
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