The term "Mong"
Discussion
Am I the only one on here who does find it grossly offensive?
I am not a precious PC type.
I am if anything quite right wing and intolerant of left wing PC people who use terms like "challenged" "differently able" and the like.
I grew up in the 1980s where we laughed at and imitated Joey Decon. Where the terms Spastic, Spacca, Mong and a host of other words were socially acceptable.
Times change and I doubt any reasonable person would use a term like "Spacca" or "Joey" these days.
Not so with "Mong". Do those who use the term not connect it with people who have Downs Syndrome? 20 or more years ago, they were commonly known as "Mingols". People of my parents generation would use the term, not as a term of abuse, but because it was in general use.
I read today on here Mongs drive Audis. Most days I learn that the woman a PHer had a row with in a car park was a fat Mong, that the man over the road is a Mong.
I can not believe that the people here on PH really hate Downs sufferers. I think the term must be used in ignorance, but that still doen't make it OK.
I am not a precious PC type.
I am if anything quite right wing and intolerant of left wing PC people who use terms like "challenged" "differently able" and the like.
I grew up in the 1980s where we laughed at and imitated Joey Decon. Where the terms Spastic, Spacca, Mong and a host of other words were socially acceptable.
Times change and I doubt any reasonable person would use a term like "Spacca" or "Joey" these days.
Not so with "Mong". Do those who use the term not connect it with people who have Downs Syndrome? 20 or more years ago, they were commonly known as "Mingols". People of my parents generation would use the term, not as a term of abuse, but because it was in general use.
I read today on here Mongs drive Audis. Most days I learn that the woman a PHer had a row with in a car park was a fat Mong, that the man over the road is a Mong.
I can not believe that the people here on PH really hate Downs sufferers. I think the term must be used in ignorance, but that still doen't make it OK.
Edited by wildcat45 on Thursday 17th July 10:28
To clear things up, I find the term offensive.
It may be an age thing. A mate of mine - early 40s like me - heard two of his staff describing someone as a Joey. He questioned them about it. They thought it was as inoffensive as Wally. They knew nothing of Joey Deacon, who most kids of a certain age (me included) mocked.
I think it must be ignorance. I still hate the term Mong.
It may be an age thing. A mate of mine - early 40s like me - heard two of his staff describing someone as a Joey. He questioned them about it. They thought it was as inoffensive as Wally. They knew nothing of Joey Deacon, who most kids of a certain age (me included) mocked.
I think it must be ignorance. I still hate the term Mong.
I was somewhere recently where a footballers wife type woman had called her little boy Deacion. She kept calling him, which made me smile. Kept it to myself though and felt really bad.
So, because there is rarely bad intent behind the term, can I take it that in general Mong is no longer offensive? Just a modern use of an archaic term?
Not that I want to discuss this guy's ailments but I feel you deserve a response.
He has heart, breathing and early dementia issues which I understand (have been told by his family) are connected to DS. This is what I have been told so it could all be rubbish.
The guy is getting on for 50.
I would say he is suffering a bit. It hasn't always been that way.
He has heart, breathing and early dementia issues which I understand (have been told by his family) are connected to DS. This is what I have been told so it could all be rubbish.
The guy is getting on for 50.
I would say he is suffering a bit. It hasn't always been that way.
Oh and I agree with the ignorance bit.
We had a great system at a school I went to. It was 1980, so probably crude by today's standards.
It was a primary school with a great big annexe dedicated to kids with various learning disabilities though I think back then it was still called mental handicap. The kids abilities varied tremendously, and the great thing was it was all part of the school, so we did stuff together all the time.
No ignorance. Just acceptance.
I think that's why I was offended by "Mong" because I saw it as referring to kids I knew and who I played with, sung with swam with.
We had a great system at a school I went to. It was 1980, so probably crude by today's standards.
It was a primary school with a great big annexe dedicated to kids with various learning disabilities though I think back then it was still called mental handicap. The kids abilities varied tremendously, and the great thing was it was all part of the school, so we did stuff together all the time.
No ignorance. Just acceptance.
I think that's why I was offended by "Mong" because I saw it as referring to kids I knew and who I played with, sung with swam with.
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