Say it isn't so?

Posted by Word Camel on October 18, 2004

In Reply to: Say it isn't so? posted by ESC on October 18, 2004

: : A friend from the UK just brought me a newspaper clipping that says "Bedlam", "nitpicking" and "brainstorm" among others) have been outlawed in in goverment work places because they might offend someone?

: Weird. Bedlam I can understand. But I don't see how nitpicking and brainstorm could offend anyone.

"Nitpicking" because it supposedly refers to the nits in the hair of slaves (a variation on th edubious nitty gritty theme), and "brainstorm" because it might offend mentally ill people.

All this would be terrible not least because it is necessary to have access to the term "bedlam" when dealing with the UK civil service.

I'm also wondering whether, if someone were seriously mentally ill, whether there might be many other words one would find offensive - like "door knob" or "egg whisk" or "mustache"?

Say it isn't so? Bob 18/October/04
- It so sadly is TheFallen 18/October/04
  - No wonder... Word Camel 18/October/04
    - [word removed in order to comply with Google's Publisher Policy]rdly Smokey Stover 19/October/04
      - [word removed in order to comply with Google's Publisher Policy]rdly, part deux. Smokey Stover 19/October/04
        
        [word removed in order to comply with Google's Publisher Policy]rdly, part deux. Word Camel 19/October/04
        
        But but but... TheFallen 19/October/04
        
        Elitist? Word Camel 19/October/04
        
        Elitist? TheFallen 19/October/04
        
        Elitist? Word Camel 19/October/04
        
        Elitist? TheFallen 19/October/04
        
        [word removed in order to comply with Google's Publisher Policy]rdly, part deux. Gary 19/October/04
        
        [word removed in order to comply with Google's Publisher Policy]rdly, part deux. Word Camel 19/October/04
        
        [word removed in order to comply with Google's Publisher Policy]rdly, part deux. Gary 19/October/04
        
        For what it's worth Word Camel 19/October/04
        
        For what it's worth SR 19/October/04
        
        For what it's worth - Post Script Lewis 19/October/04
        
        PC words & keeping things in historical context Lotg 19/October/04
        
        For what it's worth Lewis 19/October/04
        
        Grade inflation. Smokey Stover 21/October/04
        
        Grade inflation. David FG 22/October/04
        
        Student loans Lewis 22/October/04
        
        Mind you... Word Camel 22/October/04
        
        GCSE??? Lotg 22/October/04