This headline from Publishers Weekly is not acceptable:
Using 'lame' as a derogatory term is, to me, as insulting as saying it's 'gay'. Trust me, I'm both. I'm pissed.
Publishers Weekly: mistakes happen, but, hey, it's not difficult to fix a headline on a website. So please do. Oh, and an apology would be nice. And a promise to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Readers: please feel free to let PW know this isn't acceptable: @Publisherswkly. Or leave a comment on the article.
ETA: The author of the article, Cal Reid, has promised to amend the headline. Thanks, Cal, for a swift response.
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Interesting. I never really thought about lame as being offensive, though I worked for a wheelchair company. It seems kinda casual, slangy language for a PW article anyway.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard gay used as derogatory for quite awhile, except when my 12 year old came home and sprung it on me and trust me, I set him straight! (No pun intended) Lame was fashionable slang when I was in college, er, a looong time ago, but I haven't heard it for a long time either. Quite obnoxious, I agree.
ssas, people just don't think. In our house, we now use 'limp' instead of lame. If the Viagra-users of the world want to hassle us for that then, hey, I'm guessing we'll think of something else...
ReplyDeleteLimp is a good substitute. I agree it's oppressive language.
ReplyDeletetbl, it works for us--though I think it makes some boys uncomfortable...
ReplyDelete