Now people are cross because IDS has dared to describe non-disabled people as 'normal'

[Berni]

You couldn't make it up imo.

[Rich]

So why, pray tell, are people up in arms about this?

He made a factually accurate comment. I really don't see the issue. Non-disabled people are normal.

[Berni]

such a term to be hate speech of the very worst type, I'm afraid.

I don't know. IDS seems to be their favourite hate figure at the moment.

[Ashberto]

Normal is actually a somewhat meaningless word, if you think about it. It refers to a vaguely central area of a distribution curve, but distribution of what?

[Red N White Army]

Now that may be factually correct, but surely you can see the problem with implying this?

[Berni]

Thus, in this context means 'conforming to a basic standard of physical ability that is typical of the majority of the population'. Everyone knows exactly what he means in such a statement.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

wd me.

[Berni]

People can be abnormally intelligent or abnormally tall or abnormally well-hung. :shrug:

[Monty91]

Or at best, trying too hard.

[Red N White Army]

But he's a bit of a c**t with lots of history so it's understandable he's not being given the benefit of the doubt. Not that I've seen anything on it other than your post of course!

[Ashberto]

What is standard? What is common? As I said, they are statistical averages rather than a specific thing in itself.

Hence my challenge. Is Rich a normal person? Clearly not, even though we have no evidence of disability.

[Monty91]

He was celebrating the announcement of the new living wage. Now, I know that policy has its critics, but you always see people claiming he was celebrating welfare cuts which is a bare faced lie.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I have my suspicions about you. But I'm watching, don't you worry about that.