But the National Society for Epilepsy says it is "political correctness gone too far".
A spokesman for the charity said: "It's not offensive. It is a term we use as a charity in our working environment.
No Comment.
Posted on 06/20/2008 7:01:36 AM PDT by Stoat
The move came as council chiefs feared the word brainstorming might offend mentally ill people and those with epilepsy.
The buzz term is often used by executives to generate ideas among their staff.
Even charities representing epileptics said the ban was taking political correctness too far.
Margaret Thomas, of the National Society for Epilepsy, said: "Brainstorming is a clear and descriptive phrase.
"Alternatives such as thought shower or blue-sky thinking are ambiguous to say the least.
"Any implication that the word brainstorming is offensive to epileptics takes political correctness too far."
Richard Colwill, of mental health charity SANE, said: "This ban goes too far. Few would be genuinely offended by the word brainstorming in the context of council meetings."
A spokesman for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent said: "We take diversity awareness very seriously.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Council bans term 'brainstorming' for 'thought showers' for fear of offending epileptics Mail Online
Instead the council have sent hundreds of staff on training courses to teach them to adopt a new phrase - 'thought showers'.
Let's meet in my office...for a thought showering session KentOnline News
A spokesman for the charity said: "It's not offensive. It is a term we use as a charity in our working environment.
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If you would enjoy contacting the Turnbridge Wells Borough Council and speaking with them about this, you may do so here:
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - Complaints & Suggestions
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Come on. That has to be Scrappleface.
Is there anyone out there with the “falling sickness” who could weigh in?
Do epileptics actually use the phrase “brainstorm” in connection with their condition?
I’m sorry. That sounds too much like “golden showers”. I am offended. You cannot say that. Go back to the retraining centers, you troglodytes.
That was my thought surely if I click on that link it goes to The Onion?
It has to be true, cause no one could make this crap up.
I won’t “LOL” because I might offend a mute (or someone without a mouth).
Do epileptics actually use the phrase “brainstorm” in connection with their condition?
AND if they do, it’s time for them to pick a new term instead of forcing everyone else to march to their tune/drummer.
Thats what all these ‘offended groups’ should do - get over it or change their lexicon.
And everyone else should stop knee jerking to the ‘sensitivities’ of the hand-wringing, bed wetting crowd.
This is satire.
Isn’t it?
If they come up with what they think is a good idea during a Thought Shower, they can call it a Golden Shower.
“My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading in to a water fall of creative alternatives.”
You just can’t make this stuff up :-)
While I have no trouble with the word “storming” the word “brain” and “thought” both suggest that someone was thinking. For use of the Council I propose a term that better scribbles their process of not thinking. “Muddle Puddle”
Insane.
More like thought sprinkles ... or maybe a thought drip.
Isn’t it?
If it is, then several major UK press organs are conspiring on this, including the UK Telegraph....and the story is only a few hours old. :-)
Council bans term 'brainstorming' for 'thought showers' for fear of offending epileptics Mail Online
Charities reject council's 'over-cautious' ban on 'brainstorming' phrase » Communities » 24dash.com
Let's meet in my office...for a thought showering session KentOnline News
You also take stupidity very seriously.
Hm, sounds flaming gay!!
“AND if they do, it’s time for them to pick a new term instead of forcing everyone else to march to their tune/drummer.”
I agree, Let’s Roll, but read the article - the people representing the epileptics DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM with “brainstorming” - indeed, they come out and say they thing this whole thing’s silly.
The problem is with some leftist dipspit who wants to play fascist and make rule #129,202 how people are allowed to behave so we all end up on that big, flower-laden hill, holding hands and singing “I’d like to teach the world to sing...”
The inane phenomenon of our age: pre-emptive inoffensiveness.
No talking, lest you offend the dumb.
Thank you Hedley Lamarr.
Totally ridiculous.
What?
They're serious?
Someone .... please ..... flush.
Brain droppings ?
**Do epileptics actually use the phrase “brainstorm” in connection with their condition?**
Many epileptocs have seizures controlled by medication and are able to drive a vehicle, hold down a “city” job (LOL!) and participate fully in society.
This is a slap in the face to epileptics.
(They obviously did not do their homework.)
I’m an epileptic, and I think this is simply insane. I refer to it as “I have a faulty circut breaker in my head, and every so often, it pops.”
**No talking, lest you offend the dumb.**
Epileptics are not speechless. Many hold fulfilling positions in our government, as well in private business.
And, no, epileptics do not use the word “brainstorm” to describe their epileptic condition.
Think Tank is offensive to those that are now in or have been in the Drunk Tank. The proper PC term is now Amoeba Pond.
You can’t use that word, either. It’s offensive. Take a thought shower and come up with another.
I insist that the NBA drop the term “SLAM DUNK”. I live in a power chair and am insulted, nay dissed, when the term is used as I can not do a slam dunk.
Actually describing something as "a shower", "a right shower", "a proper shower", etc. is common Brit slang shorthand for "a shower of sh*t", with the meaning of "not considered useful or desired in any way".
As in: "Tunbridge Wells Borough Council are a right shower"
Of course you're making an excellent point and in fact I think that all activities, sporting or otherwise, which cannot be equally enjoyed by all, including the disabled, should be banned.
Here's a contact page for the NBA; I'm sure that they would be delighted to hear from you particularly if you cite this very progressive British Council as the impetus for your request:
One of the hazards of Governmental organizations...when utterly insane, hysterical and incompetent people are placed in managerial positions, the entire organization is forced to reflect their psychoses :-)
“Think Tank is offensive to those that are now in or have been in the Drunk Tank. The proper PC term is now Amoeba Pond.”
Dude, that’s awesome!
Lest communicating bear offense to someone, somewhere....
Has the world gone completely mad?
The epileptics don’t seem to be the ones having a fit.
Not only is this stupid, but you’re replacing a verb with a noun.
No we do not. We use the words seizure and episode.
Mind Farts?
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