Offensive language?

[helvella]

Theresa May lacks 'enthusiasm' for Brexit and her plans for a customs partnership are 'completely cretinous', says Jacob Rees-Mogg

Daily Telegraph headline

You wouldn't expect a senior politician to say "mongoloid", "spastic" or any of many other disease-based illnesses in that way. That way of speaking was rightly seen as less than wholly acceptable language. Why does he think that "cretin" (and related words) is acceptable? I certainly do not.

I am aware that many consider it not to be offensive. Deeming it just a generic word of derision. Yes, well, I think that is how many of those other words were treated in my childhood. If that is the case, I think it needs to change.

[Please do not go down the path of party political point-making. I am happy to make the same point about language no matter the speaker.]

[Fruitandnutcase]

Strange and unusual choice of word isn’t it.

[DellFinium]

I agree, helvella, but it's symptomatic of the further degeneration of political discourse in this generation's politicians. Where's the statespersonship of yore?

[Aurealis]

Yes it’s offensive!

[amala57]

As far as I am concerned he is a dangerous twit. Not at all suprised he uses such offensive language.

[greygoose]

It is just possible that he didn't know the true meaning of the word, and just thought it was another word for stupid. I heard a story yesterday about a man that didn't know Scarlet was a colour, he thought it was just a beautiful name for a beautiful woman (Scarlet Johansson).

[SilverAvocado in reply to greygoose]

Hehe!

I thought the same. I don't think the true meaning of the word 'cretin' is that well known.

Maybe part of thyroid issues not being considered very serious

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SilverAvocado]

For someone who manages to spout in Latin at the drop of a hat, or should I write ad stilla hat a, ignorance of meaning seems a woefully inadequate "excuse".

[SilverAvocado in reply to helvella]

Hehe! Not to stray into politics, but I don't think understanding the word would stop him using it

Just that public opinion would really stomp him if he used one of the many similar words that are now strongly tabboo and not acceptable. This is one he can still get away with using!

[TSH110 in reply to helvella]

I’’d be surprised if he did not know it’s real meaning

[Angel_of_the_North]

All politicians are, by definition, offensive (lying weasels). But I also doubt he meant it like that and he is of the generation when it was a generally used word for very stupid. I might object to be called a kike, but generally I get fed up with all the PC-ness these days.

[TSH110 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

My bipolar partner likes to be called a nut! He is totally un pc but never swears

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to TSH110]

A late friend of mine with spina bifida used to use the nickname "Reg the veg" ...

[TSH110 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Lol! We had a chap at our running club who caught and lost his arm on a tube train before they were made safer his nickname was Joe the one armed bandit and was accused of getting good times because he had an unfair weight advantage!! He said he used his teeth for a Lot of tasks like tying his shoe laces - super flexible too. 😎

[TSH110]

Good point - it is not acceptable language in this day and age.

[Babette]

JR-M is a very intelligent person and I'm certain knew exactly what he was saying! Yes, it's offensive.

[Paula101]

I wonder if JRM has family members with thyroid problems? If he does, he won't be popular according to the English Oxford Living Dictionaries:-

I kid you not, this is definition 2 of 2:-

Medicine dated :- physically deformed and having learning difficulties as a result of congenital thyroid deficiency

"Go figure" as our American friends would say.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Paula101]

The majority of dictionary entries I found annote their entries with "offensive" when used as described.

[Paula101 in reply to helvella]

Yes, definition 1 of 2 did say it's offensive.

The twit knew exactly what he was saying.