I've been doing a great deal of critical thinking about about people first labeling. I think that a "student with autism" rather than an "autistic student" is great. People shouldn't be labeled by things over which they have no control.
But what about things over which people should have control, but don't? I think it is time to take the idea of people first labeling to the next logical level. For instance, how do you suppose one feels when labeled with the oh-so-very-damning taboo title of "rapist?" Wouldn't said "rapist" be more likely to be able to successfully re-intigrate into society with a label like, "a man with difficulties controlling his violent sexual aggressions?"
So much less abrasive, that.
Or what about an alcoholic? Alcohol addiction is unfair; those colorful drinks really just suck people in. Praise the merciful heavens that we live in Utah, where in restaurants, cocktails are no longer allowed to be mixed in public view, thus robbing all nubile potential future "alcoholics" from ever being trapped by the wiles of self medication.
"Alcoholic" is a hurtful term. Why not give them a little self esteem boost, and call it what it is (or them what they are); "people with the inability to completely avoid harmful, addicting, mind-dumbing substances." Sounds nicer, doesn't it?
How about, "Dudes who love Natty Ice, affliction t-shirts,True Religion jeans , and whores," rather than douche bags?
Or, "girl babes dipped in liquid eye liner, with muffin tops erupting from Gen-X jeans," rather than Cholas?
Maybe "men/women who don't fear needles and enjoy chemically induced existential experiences and sleeping on bathroom floors," rather than junkies.
Perhaps, "Men who are religiously and doctrinally confused, who don't realize that strapping a bomb to one's chest will result in massive external (and internal) hemorrhaging," instead of terrorists?
I think it is time to take a big stance for political correctness. I just don't want to see ANY of the good people of planet earth offended by labels. EVER.
