The "British Tabloid Media" why would anyone with more than 1 brain cell care what they write or think! Tiger made a slight slip and if one of my kids had said it well I would correct them gently and say something like "it would be better to use another word to describe how badly you did something kids" but to start ripping into him for that.........The Sun *&^%$ in my opinion and I wonder why anyone would read such %&$*
The word I stay MILES away from is 'retard'. Terrible, terrible word that was used SO much as a kid to describe others acting foolish or unintelligently.
Like Stlcard, I had never really considered SPAZ to be in that category. However, after reading the first post where it generally defines the word as someone with physical disabilities, it could very well be in that category.
So, Tiger could probably choose his words a bit more carefully next time if the two words are so similar in meaning as pointed out. Because if he had said "I putted like a retard" he would have some serious explaining to do...
What would of been wrong with saying "I putted like a retard"?
Are people really that thin skinned? I think it terrible that in today's world grown people crumble and tremor at the mere mentioning of a non PC word. Grow up and worry about more important things.
I mean come on - there is still some life that needs to be beat out of that horse in the Wie threads
The term spaz is a pretty vile phrase over here, although I have not heard it used for some time...but there is no way that Tiger would have meant it as has been interpreted... , he is a classy sort of chap that has done alot for charity, and this article in `The Sun` newspaper just shows how unfamiliar they/it is with golf... ...and insofar as Tiger`s distorted putting pose is concerned, it was just a light hearted play on Arnold Palmer`s putting pose and no more than that... ...geez
Tiger has used that Arnie imitation quite a few times over the years to make fun of himself when he's not making putts or when he leaves one short (which in this case he wimped out on an 8 footer for birdie at the 3rd hole and felt like making fun of himself). The term spaz, at least how I've always understood it within AMERICAN culture, is used to mean dork or idiot and has nothing to do with making fun of the physical disabilities of spastic people. Tiger grew up in America, so which one do you think he meant? I'm pretty sure he meant no harm by it and I wouldn't be surprised if he's like me and didn't even know it originated as a term for a bad physical disease until NOW thanks to the British "uproar" over his comments. The fact that the newspaper made a big deal to point out his Arnie impression WITHOUT mentioning that it was obviously a joke, makes the article a joke in and of itself.
Come on, the term "spaz" can't be THAT bad. If it was, the moderators here at GR would be editing it out, and we'd all be wondering what **** really meant!
Children all over the UK use the word Spaz to mean idiot.
The Sun must have had a blank space to fill and could not find a photo of a half naked drunk celebrity.
Here in the UK, I for one was very surprised to hear Jimenez; who does not speak too much English; shout "Get down, Get down, "****" after his tee shot at the 6th on Sunday.
Jimenez done that at another par 5 he flew miles over the green.
"Oh get down, Oh ****....... oh ****"
Nothing mentioned, this thing about Tiger is only because this is Tiger.
Last edited by leaguegolf : April 11th, 2006 at 04:22 PM.
Reason: Not enough *s
That's the context I'd use "spaz" in if I were using it. I'd never even heard of spaz as being a term for an idiot or otherwise slow person until this thread.
Spastic or "spaz" was used as derogatory slang for someone with a physical disability that affects muscle control such as cerebal palsy. Just as folks with mental disabilities used to be called "idiots" or "retards". I haven't heard spaz used in this derogatory fashion since I was a kid... some... well it was a long time ago. Using it as originally coined would be archaic here. Whereas "retard" is not... it's still considered to be in extremely bad taste, unlike "idiot". "Idiot" has now, at least here, passed into a more generic form. Perhaps it's different in England. My only point was that "spaz" is a much more generic slur today. Those that use it probably have no clue as to its origin.
Last edited by wazmankg : April 11th, 2006 at 04:51 PM.
Spas or spaz has the same meaning in the US. Although on a daily basis we do not us the word spastic to describe our mentally or physically disabled people. In the US we refer to them as mentally or physically challenged. It have been a really slow press day for them to make that comment an issue. Sort of falls in line with what you would call a cigarette in the UK. Some Americans would take that term a bit offensive.
Pistol, that reminds me of a George Carlin routine about euphemisms. He rants and raves about the "physically challenged" who he calls "CRIPPLES!!!!" He even rants about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, saying that during WWI it was called "shell shock" with more simple, honest, and direct language. Then it became "Battle Fatigue" in WWII, then "Operational Exhaustion" (which he jokes sounds like something that would happen to your car! LOL) in the Korean War, and then finally PTSD, which he says if we had spent less time making up PC expressions to describe it, maybe we would have helped more of the veterans who were affected. He also makes fun of the term "learning disabilities" by saying that no one is stupid anymore. "Your child is minimally exceptional." LOL. Toilet paper has been replaced with bathroom tissue. Old people have been replaced with senior citizens. Using the word "old" to describe someone's age has now been replaced with the antonym "young." For example, "Look at him, he's 90 years young!"
He concludes his rant by saying that this kind of PC language wants to make him vomit...well maybe not vomit: have an involuntary protein spill!!!!
BTW, disabled, mentally of physically, is now no longer acceptable. The preferred term is "differently-abled"... at least that is the way some of the activists groups would have it.
April 11th, 2006, 02:25 PM
, he is a classy sort of chap that has done alot for charity, and this article in `The Sun` newspaper just shows how unfamiliar they/it is with golf...
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