Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

Mykltron wrote:

Jimmy Drift wrote:

Wasp-shot23 wrote:

craggy wrote:"cor blimey guv, 'asbro's legged it up the apples and pears and won't be giving us any of these bleedin' Trasformatrons. "

"aye, ken, jings crivens and help me boab, hud on a minnit tho, at least there's nae been a murrrrder."

"gawd'n'bennet, this is a right ol turn up for the books then innit?"

"sod this fir a game ae soljers, I'm off oot tae smoke a fag."

lolololol!!!! I'm probably the only other person who understood all that!
"yer ol' cockerney sparrah! 'ow hintelligent of you."

I'm Irish, and i got the whole thing

And you've just given me an idea for a new TF - a Reliant Robin called Rodney!!

Great! Just please, DON'T put T.I.T. on the side!!!

Now you've gone and opened a whole new can of worms

Whats the betting this gets brought up at the Hasbro Q and A at Botcon???

Hopefully I'll be there and no I wont be the one asking. Tempted as I might be I'd have other things on my mind at that time I'm sure.

Perhaps we should draw a line on this matter now and close the thread?

Interesting; I did a quick survey in my Attitudes & Persuasion class this morning, and no one had heard of "Spastic" being an epithet of any form, except as a colloquial, none-to-serious descriptor for someone who is rather neurotic, personality wise.

That wouldn't be so surprising, except:

A) This is a group of people who are generally very sensitive to matters of what would, commonly, be referred to as 'political correctness' - research in our field, especially in the context of this class, is heavily focused on bias/bigotry/discrimination/social oppression.

B) The professor is by far more well traveled than the average American, I believe having spent a great deal of time in Europe, and she had no clue that there was an alternate meaning or connotation to the word.

I have to wonder if the cultural distinction here could run deeper than simply variable word meaning across countries. Anecdotally, it seems America has very strong stigmas attached to race/ethnicity, sexuality, obesity, mental illness, and people suffering from communicable diseases. Discrimination against those physically disabled by seizures, however, while (I assume) present, doesn't seem to be so systematic and 'oppressive' as people are describing it to have been in Europe.




Also, I'll admit that I'm a bit disinclined to get too upset over this whole deal - I remember when we had a poster come through throwing out a heap load of sexist bullshit and talk diminutive of people with Bipolar disorder, and I got bitched out by everyone else for telling him it was offensive and had no place on the site.

So I have to wonder, for all of the longer-standing members that are so quick to take offense over American ignorance of a term apparently disparaging towards the physically handicapped, or to get in a huff because you feel the non-Americans aren't taken racism seriously enough, where were you when I was being demonized for objecting to someone's verbal abuse of women and the mentally handicapped?

Edit: I'm sure some people will feel that was petty of me to bring up, after all this time and in this context, but the hypocrisy on this board sickens me, and playing along by not pointing it out doesn't help.

Neurie wrote:Perhaps we should draw a line on this matter now and close the thread?

Seconded.

I have the medical condition called spasticity in my legs due to multiple sclerosis. I didn't find the name offensive. In fact, I thought it was pretty funny. I might actually buy the toy just for the name. I think the world takes itself too seriously. Lighten up, human race.

Neurie wrote:Perhaps we should draw a line on this matter now and close the thread?

I wholeheartedly agree. Let's not go overboard on this one.

kjeevah wrote:Just wait till your child turns out to be disabled and has their life made hell by people using terms like that, you'll soon change your mind.

They won't. Take a good look at the reaction of us yanks throughout the thread. The common factor is that none of us were even aware this was an issue. The word spaz hasn't been offensive for 60 years, it's not going to start being offensive any time soon.

To sum it all up, it's not an insult over here. So stop trying to enforce foreign customs and telling people what they can or cannot say.

Shadowman wrote:

kjeevah wrote:Just wait till your child turns out to be disabled and has their life made hell by people using terms like that, you'll soon change your mind.

They won't. Take a good look at the reaction of us yanks throughout the thread. The common factor is that none of us were even aware this was an issue. The word spaz hasn't been offensive for 60 years, it's not going to start being offensive any time soon.

To sum it all up, it's not an insult over here. So stop trying to enforce foreign customs and telling people what they can or cannot say.

Although you and I know this, it's not going to change his attitude any. It's like CP said, he has an agenda.


On to the actual word itself, I've always used the word spaz as a substitute for hyper or extremely energetic. I have a crested gecko I call a spaz all the time because he freaks out at his own shadow and runs around his cage like it's the end of the world. He's just skittish and hyper.

I even call my nephew a spaz because he never calms down, he's a 9 year old child full of energy and likes to bounce off the ceilings when possible and wouldn't sit still if you hogtied him.

In fact, this is the only form I've grown up understanding the usage as (aside from such things as someone having a spastic colon or muscle spasms):

Urban Dictionary.com:

Someone who is hyperactive, or overly energetic
"She can never sit still, she is a bit of a spaz"

And there's a similar definition listed for Spastic, going as far as associating someone being spastic with someone having ADD, implying they don't sit still long or stay focused long.

Edit* not at all saying it doesn't mean whatever it means in the UK and other parts. Mostly, I don't care if it does. I do care it doesn't here.

I'm getting the suspicion this whole thread's an excuse by some to post racist words without getting banned.

Mykltron wrote:

MYoung23 wrote:As an African American I can tell that the N-word has always been a demeaning and insulting term. It was never neutral even though it was a corruption of the word Negro.

Where you around in the days of slavery or do you have references to back this statement up? If you do I'll admit I'm wrong but etymonline says: 'the word in some cases could be used without deliberate insult.'

You try greeting a black man with that word, and let us know what happens.

i call shananagins

kjeevah wrote:Seibertron - there is no 'understanding' needed. It's simple enough, I assume I don't need to re-post the quotes from American disability rights groups explaining how offensive the term is in the US.

It is not an issue of trying to forcefully export culture and language.

And also for the record everyone can safely ignore wikipedia and it's usual fantastic accuracy of information.

'Fag' is just as offensive in the UK as in the US, and 'queer' 'homo' and 'poof' are certainly not in common use by anyone under the age of 60.

The word has multiple meanings though. **** also means a type of meatball. Not too long ago it also meant a bushel of wood, and to be 'fagged' meant tired, as an abbreviation of 'fatigued'.

That's what happens when you have a language like English that mangles together multiple foreign languages.. you get duplicates.

Just like I can't bear this Hasbro misconduct, I'd rather be eaten alive by a bear than buy their products.

So go get yourself eaten by a bear. Have someone post the video here.

soundwave#1!!!500% wrote::CON: i call shananagins

Watch it. You'll piss off the carnies!

I am quite surprised that this word has negative connotations in the UK. I had never heard of this before. I always thought "spastic" just meant hyper, and that's the same reason why my aunt named one of her cats "spaz".
I am glad they will not use the name in the UK though. I would probably be critical too if I lived there.

Pontimax 01 wrote:

soundwave#1!!!500% wrote::CON: i call shananagins

Watch it. You'll piss off the carnies!

hope not

They should just change the name to "Gingivitis"...arch enemy of all who is British!

Droptested Thrice wrote:I'm getting the suspicion this whole thread's an excuse by some to post racist words without getting banned.

Mykltron wrote:

MYoung23 wrote:As an African American I can tell that the N-word has always been a demeaning and insulting term. It was never neutral even though it was a corruption of the word Negro.

Where you around in the days of slavery or do you have references to back this statement up? If you do I'll admit I'm wrong but etymonline says: 'the word in some cases could be used without deliberate insult.'

You try greeting a black man with that word, and let us know what happens.

By "without deliberate insult" means "The people who used it saw blacks as less than human and didn't actually think they could insult them" in most cases, I mean, when selling a bunch of slaves and you're saying "I got a bunch of n-words to sell for cheap, they'll do good labour for you, I'm moving overseas and need to get rid of them" it isn't meant as an insult but it most certainly still demeaning. Just because you don't know any better doesn't make it less wrong.

And I guess I've inadvertently added more fuel to the UK fire.

The big argument here is that the word has distinct and recent offensive meanings in one location and any offensive meaning, save for the claims of some quoted fringe groups (find me a more recognized source and I will treat it fairly), was lost stateside in the 50s, meaning 60-ish years of inoffensive use.

Honestly, I'm more upset the Slag can't be used anymore than anything this thread can do to make me really care about the word spastic/spaz. I really want a new Classics set of Dinobots (I have serious beef with classics Grimlock and deem him in need of replacement) and now I have no idea how they can give me both Slag and Snarl without having to invent a new and ridiculous name....

GetterDragun wrote:They should just change the name to "Gingivitis"...arch enemy of all who is British!

Oh yeah, that's gonna go over well.

Maybe it's a harsh word elsewhere and to some people, but it's not pointed at any particular group. Before this thread I never even knew it was any more offencive than calling someone stupid or and idiot.

And ... I can't rightly say that I care right now. I just can't bring myself to care that spazz is particularily offencive in places I don't live. I'm much more surprised by the word slag being offencive. Didn't see that one coming.

Speaking of words you never thought were offencive, gyp is evidently a slurr against gypsies and not just old slang that has a ring to it. I used to use that word all the time until I found out.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:
Speaking of words you never thought were offencive, gyp is evidently a slurr against gypsies and not just old slang that has a ring to it. I used to use that word all the time until I found out.

When Buick was bringing out the LaCrosse several years ago, there was bad press about LaCrosse being slang for masturbation in Quebec. I believe they renamed it something else for the Canadian market, the Allure IIRC.

PrimeGestalt wrote:

Neurie wrote:Perhaps we should draw a line on this matter now and close the thread?

I wholeheartedly agree. Let's not go overboard on this one.

Really? Because not everyone agrees with each other you think the answer is to close down the entire discussion? That is a discussion.

NuclearConvoy wrote:By "without deliberate insult" means "The people who used it saw blacks as less than human and didn't actually think they could insult them" in most cases, I mean, when selling a bunch of slaves and you're saying "I got a bunch of n-words to sell for cheap, they'll do good labour for you, I'm moving overseas and need to get rid of them" it isn't meant as an insult but it most certainly still demeaning. Just because you don't know any better doesn't make it less wrong.

It's slavery. That whole arrangement means a whole bunch of people have been granted much fewer rights than the average citizen. Of course it's going to be demeaning and insulting.

NuclearConvoy wrote:Honestly, I'm more upset the Slag can't be used anymore than anything this thread can do to make me really care about the word spastic/spaz. I really want a new Classics set of Dinobots (I have serious beef with classics Grimlock and deem him in need of replacement) and now I have no idea how they can give me both Slag and Snarl without having to invent a new and ridiculous name....

Snarl has been reused several times. Animated's Dinobot triceratops and one of the beast Mini-cons carry that name.

Mykltron wrote:In the UK a slag is a person with loose morals - a prostitute or promiscuous person. Again, it depends on how you use it. A slag heap is very different to calling someone a slag!

A slag heap sounds like a fun party.

Pontimax 01 wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:
Speaking of words you never thought were offencive, gyp is evidently a slurr against gypsies and not just old slang that has a ring to it. I used to use that word all the time until I found out.

When Buick was bringing out the LaCrosse several years ago, there was bad press about LaCrosse being slang for masturbation in Quebec. I believe they renamed it something else for the Canadian market, the Allure IIRC.

Lacrosse is actually the name of a sport. I remember my high school had a team.

Shadowman wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:
Speaking of words you never thought were offencive, gyp is evidently a slurr against gypsies and not just old slang that has a ring to it. I used to use that word all the time until I found out.

When Buick was bringing out the LaCrosse several years ago, there was bad press about LaCrosse being slang for masturbation in Quebec. I believe they renamed it something else for the Canadian market, the Allure IIRC.

Lacrosse is actually the name of a sport. I remember my high school had a team.

In Quebec Lacrosse is a sport that a man plays when he is alone.

That's not as bas as Vicks Vapor Rub in Germany.

Quaternion wrote:I have the medical condition called spasticity in my legs due to multiple sclerosis. I didn't find the name offensive. In fact, I thought it was pretty funny. I might actually buy the toy just for the name. I think the world takes itself too seriously. Lighten up, human race.

Exactly