“…The word “verboten” means forbidden and nothing cruel.”

Actually I wanted to address that as well but didn’t want to push my luck as my post was getting, um, long.

German is just another language and it’s words are commonly-used in among English sentences like “gesundheit” after a sneeze or “danke schoen” for thank you. As a matter of fact “gesundheit” is listed in the Encarta ENGLISH Dictionary for North America.

In Italian the word “vietare” and “interdire” both mean “to forbid”, then you conjugate it into I, we, you, they etc.

Forbidden can mean a few things: banned, barred, illegal, taboo, illicit. In this case I think we mean to say that using the word “midget” is taboo.

Capisce? Comprende?

I think you get it.

kg

Scotty as civilian: Good choice too. I get every time angry when the Berman-Trek (since the late two TNG seasons, entire DSN and VOY) use Starfleet as the US Navy in space. I allways thought Starfleet is much more as just a military organisation, because it is THE big science organisation as well.

Midget sidekick… Well, as long as it is Master Yoda I will have no problem with it. I can just hope Orci, Kurtzman and J.J. don’t use that sidekick-character for some stuipid or naive jokes about little people.

BTW:

#139
#140

As a German I just hope the two of you don’t think my language is the language of evil. The word “verboten” means forbidden and nothing cruel.

As for my use of the word “midget,” I want to apologize for using it. I guess it is not an issue I have reflected upon as I have other offensive labels. Given some thought I can see how it could be offensive.

I know your comment was addressed to #139 but felt this needed a response.

“(BTW we never had such weird discussions in TOS – that’s why I enjoyed it so much and I don’t like any of the new shows)”

That’s because no one HAD to discuss it. Everyone knew enough not to use questionable “terms”.

“To forbid words like ‘midget’ seems ridiculous to me. As a matter of fact it seems like forbidding toddlers to pee in the park.”

As for ridiculous, toddlers who pee in the park don’t know any better. We do. It’s kinda cute when a toddler does something like that. When an adult does it, it doesn’t quite have the same endearing feel to it, does it?

“Considerate, sensitive people usually have no problem with that…”

Ask one of those folk if they LIKE the word “midget” and you’ll very quickly see why it is not used in polite company. I did not know it was offensive to them but when I found out, I quit using the word. Voluntarily. How does it hurt us to use the proper term to address anyone? If you are a “considerate, sensitive person”, you will choose to, as the Doctor on Voyager says, “do no harm”. It isn’t very considerate if we flaunt our freedom by using words that can hurt, don’t you think?

“…and nobody has to tell them what is forbidden and what not.”

Exactly. They have learned.

“We shouldn’t forbid words to raise our young generation, we should educate them better and show them (by doing) how to be considerate, caring human beings.”

I never saw just ‘not’ swearing teach a child not to swear. They observe that some do and some don’t. Most times the knowledge comes from outside the home so we IN the home need to instruct the little ones while they do not know any better that those words can offend. The kids, unfortunately, sometimes pick them up from their own parents and are confused when they are “corrected”. When they’re adults, they then have to choose for themselves.

It is also discouraged in the work place. Try using it around your boss or, better still, towards a customer around your boss. “Considerate, caring human beings” refrain from using ANY word that hurts or offends another whether we think it’s ridiculous or not. It never hurt anyone to NOT use something questionable.

Each nationality has its customs. Each society has its customs. How does it hurt ANYONE to err on the side of caution when it comes to offense?

#139. (Daoud)

“ ‘midget’ is to little people what the ‘n’ word is to African-Americans”

If that is true, why would anyone refuse to stop doing it? If you look at it that way, maybe it will not seem so ridiculous.

kg

As far as the little person (I am sorry I used the term “midget” in my previous post #122) mentioned in the article, I hope this individual isn’t in the movie for comic effect. I hope they portray this character as a member of an alien race that just happens to be small in stature.

Sarah

That Engineer Scott’s best friend is an Ithenite is no problem. I can’t imagine anyone at Paramount actually releasing any sort of PR blurb about a “midget sidekick”. “Midget” is a verboten word, and no PR person would dare use it unless they want to lose their job immediately. It’s to little people what the ‘n’ word is to African-Americans.

I’m just hoping Chief Engineer Olsen’s nickname is “Welshy”…. Futurama in-jokes would be diiiiiiiivine.

I really hope that the humor in this new film doesn’t degenerate into something like this.