What in the hell is wrong with people?

Some searches that landed on my site today:
“quinn bradlee retarded”
Quinn Bradlee is the son of Benjamin C. Bradlee, the vice-president of The Washington Post, and journalist Sally Quinn. He has velo-cardio-facial syndrome aka 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, the same disorder my own daughter has.
Dear morons: people with VCFS are not “retarded,” and Quinn Bradlee certainly isn’t, but I suspect that you might be.

Comments

What in the hell is wrong with people? — 7 Comments

  1. Who is moron?
    “Children with 22q11.2 … usually have a borderline IQ (55-85)… Cognitive functioning when processing information involving space and time show significant impairment and this generally slows the development of numerical and arithmetical knowledge and skills…”
    “Noteworthy is that these patients are a specifically high-risk group for developing schizophrenia. 30% have at least one incident of psychosis and about a quarter develop actual schizophrenia.”
    “Moron … was once applied to people with an IQ of 51-70, being superior in one degree to “imbecile” (IQ of 26-50) and superior in two degrees to “idiot” (IQ of 0-25). The word moron, along with others including “retarded”, “idiotic”, “imbecilic”, “stupid”, and “feeble-minded”, was formerly considered a valid descriptor in the psychological community…”
  2. I’m sure you meant “Who is a moron,” but you just answered your own question. People with VCFS sometimes have IQs which qualify them under the archaic definition of the word “retarded,” but it’s not guaranteed. To label someone with VCFS as “retarded” based only on that diagnosis is crass and prejudicial. And besides (since you’re so fond of Wikipedia): “A BBC survey in 2003 ranked retard as the most offensive disability-related word.” Welcome to the 21st century. We don’t say “retard” anymore in reference to people with disabilities, we say it to describe people who keyboard turn in World of Warcraft.
    I stand by my original assessment: anyone who calls VCFS people “retarded” based only on their chromosomes is a moron.
  3. English is not my native language and I live very far from the U.S. I did not expect that the word “retarded” could hurt anybody. Sorry. I am just a very boorish person. By myself I have a genetic disorder, a mild form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that explains my interest in other disorders. I have been officially diagnosed recently, in my early 30-s, following a self-diagnosis.
  4. I apologize idinahui; I did not know English was not your first language and I would not have been so sarcastic with you if I’d known that. I’ve studied five languages and I really think English is the hardest one. I’m just so used to people on the Internet being sarcastic with me, I assumed you were the same and fired back.
    Anyways, “moron,” “retarded,” “cretin,” etc. are all colloquial pejoratives now and not something we say to actually describe people with disabilities, whereas those words used to be okay as medical terms once upon a time. I guess “developmentally delayed” is the most acceptable expression now.
    I’ve never heard of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, I will have to read up on it. I sincerely wish you the best.
  5. The following comments were made at the old blog after I moved the site but before I closed all threads on the old site. They have been deleted there and reproduced here.
    ———————————————–
    On 2009/04/24 at 5:10 PM, Lori MiniPearl said:
    I don’t want to sound sarcastic, but Quinn was on Morning Joe this morning (April 24) and, if he is not mentally challenged, then he was downright offensive. He equated his disability with being “black…. or gay”. He came across as a coddled snob and I found it difficult to empathize with him. I’m not sure if I believe in the authenticity of his campaign…….
    ———————————————–
    On 2009/04/24 at 8:40 PM, Bridget Jack Meyers said:
    Lori: I’m aware that there’s been some publicity concerning Quinn Bradlee’s new book on this, but sadly I’ve done a bad job keeping up with VCFS blogging lately.
    I haven’t seen the interview in question, but assuming you’re reporting things accurately, two possibilities: his VCFS is indeed severe enough that he’s mentally challenged, or he is a snob. He wouldn’t be the first child of two wealthy, famous people to grow up a snob.
    The point of this post wasn’t really to object to the idea that some people with VCFS are developmentally delayed, because they can be. I just don’t like to see these people called retards.
  6. I have 22q and I am hardly affected by it. I am a normal person the only difference is my slight speech impediment. I am certainly not retarded and applying for college next year actually. I am doing veterinary science as my major. I am extremely offended if anyone calls me “retarded.” That word is offensive for people with mental retardation. Like really, cut it out.
  7. I do appreciate all the comments made. Each person with vcfs is still an individual. So, what do you suggest for a grown woman with this disorder who refuses to help herself in any way. She would rather veg, text on he cell phone, eat, and sleep. She wants people to take care of her and has 0 motivation. She refuses to learn how to use public transit and waits for someone to offer her a ride or calla a taxi. This is a young woman who seems to have great potential but is totally unmotivated. She is involved with an Org. called Stepping Forward. They help people with disabilities who WANT to work, learn, grow beyond their disability and be a total person. Well, this young lady waits, just waits for her weekly meeting with her sponsor and in between does NOTHING. Would you like her to come live with you? She is looking for a residence.
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