So apparently everyone is in an uproar over Aniston using the word retard.
Really?
This whole thing is so absurd. As if Aniston holds any malicious feelings towards people with disabilities.
I get that it offers various organizations who represent children with disabilities the opportunity to push the cause that they want to see the R-word gone from our modern day lexicon, but creating an uproar over Jennifer Aniston seems a bit harsh - especially given that she oozes decency and was clearly being self deprecating (see video below).
It's funny how no one ever goes after Howard Stern who actually uses people with mental disabilities in pretty horrible ways (see video below - warning: offensive language contained within).
Yet another example of how people will pick on folks that they know they will get a response from. No one goes after Stern because controversy only makes him more popular not less.
Instead they jump on someone like Aniston because they know doing so will generate media coverage.
Instead, advocacy groups should have responded in a clam, reasonable voice - using Aniston's slip up as an opportunity to highlight that even good, decent people are unaware of the stigma using the R-word creates for those with mental disability.
Chastising someone like Aniston, while it gets you some media play in the short term, actually hurts your cause because it makes you appear dogmatic. Instead of coming across as the 'voice of reason', an anger-filled response against Aniston makes organizations sound more like dogmatic zealots trying to impose their way on the world around them. Well intentioned bullies if you will.
On a topic like this they'd have achieved more mileage towards removing the R-word if they had responded calmly instead of with self-righteous indignation given most people would be sympathetic to their cause.
Really?
This whole thing is so absurd. As if Aniston holds any malicious feelings towards people with disabilities.
I get that it offers various organizations who represent children with disabilities the opportunity to push the cause that they want to see the R-word gone from our modern day lexicon, but creating an uproar over Jennifer Aniston seems a bit harsh - especially given that she oozes decency and was clearly being self deprecating (see video below).
It's funny how no one ever goes after Howard Stern who actually uses people with mental disabilities in pretty horrible ways (see video below - warning: offensive language contained within).
Yet another example of how people will pick on folks that they know they will get a response from. No one goes after Stern because controversy only makes him more popular not less.
Instead they jump on someone like Aniston because they know doing so will generate media coverage.
Instead, advocacy groups should have responded in a clam, reasonable voice - using Aniston's slip up as an opportunity to highlight that even good, decent people are unaware of the stigma using the R-word creates for those with mental disability.
Chastising someone like Aniston, while it gets you some media play in the short term, actually hurts your cause because it makes you appear dogmatic. Instead of coming across as the 'voice of reason', an anger-filled response against Aniston makes organizations sound more like dogmatic zealots trying to impose their way on the world around them. Well intentioned bullies if you will.
On a topic like this they'd have achieved more mileage towards removing the R-word if they had responded calmly instead of with self-righteous indignation given most people would be sympathetic to their cause.
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