From cff6acd3dbb70fe04ef58171bc3444dc5d4558aa Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Graham Charles Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2021 12:53:00 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] idiot: initial commit --- 11ty/definitions/idiot.md | 18 +++++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 17 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/11ty/definitions/idiot.md b/11ty/definitions/idiot.md index d31719f92..2e87bf614 100644 --- a/11ty/definitions/idiot.md +++ b/11ty/definitions/idiot.md @@ -1,8 +1,24 @@ --- title: Idiot slug: idiot -defined: false +defined: true +speech: noun +excerpt: previously a psychiatric term for someone with a profound intellectual disability; typically used as a generic exclamation of frustration at the actions of another person flag: level: avoid text: 'Ableist language' +reading: + - text: 'The Clinical History of "Moron," "Idiot," and "Imbecile"' + href: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/moron-idiot-imbecile-offensive-history --- +Since medieval times, the word "idiot" was used to describe an ignorant person, and from the 14th century specifically someone with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). + +In the early 20th century, the term was adopted by the legal and psychiatric communities to refer to an intellectual disability resulting in function equivalent to a neurotypical two-year old according to contemporary intelligence scales. Like those intelligence measurement systems, the term itself has been replaced in technical settings by more specific medical language. + +## Issues + +In modern times, "idiot" is rarely used to describe someone with an ID/D, but rather someone who is acting in a manner the speaker finds thoughtless or selfish. Nevertheless, ableist language perpetuates entrenched, dehumanising attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities. + +## Alternatives + +Since "idiot" is frequently an exclamation of frustration, use a term that describes the frustrating *action* rather than suggesting an ID/D suffered by the *actor*: "I hated it when that driver cut me off in traffic." \ No newline at end of file