I see the Spastics Society in the UK has changed its name to Scope because of that connotation. [link]

So we know that "hysterical" also has yucky origins. Is it also not to be used?

You do know that spastic is currently a term that applies to CP, just not where you live, right? I think saying "retarded" has yucky origins, or "gay" to mean lame, and should we not use them?

I think the only reason it comes up as a question is because most of the posters here aren't British. It wasn't a question when I was at school in the UK. The decision was whether or not you cared about offending people by making the association (just like some people don't care about gay or retarded) not if the association was timely or valid.

It still applies in India as well.

I started off leaning toward it's fine, but then I think, "Would it make someone (anyone) cringe if they were sensitive about their condition?" and I don't want to make anyone feel that way.

Maybe not using slang for my private parts as a synonym for wimp cringeworthy, but probably best to avoid.

"gay" to mean lame

And then "lame" is problematic to some people. I try not to use it, but I'm not doing very well at it.

slang for my private parts as a synonym for wimp

Oh, man, that's another one I do that I'm really trying to stop saying.

I do think there is a real divide between the UK and US on this. But that said, since it clearly will read to some people as a slur, then I have no stake in claiming a right to use it. If I happen to without thinking about it and get called on it, it won't have been with intent, but it'll still be a fair cop.

I don't get mad about it. It's ingrained in people. I do point out that it's a pretty awesome thing, and people usually agree and then start to think about how they use it, and I'm ok with that.

See also Bitch & Animal-Pussy Manifesto [link]

This is part of why I like douche as a negative word! No bad connotations.

ION, my friend called to tell me the gender of her future baby, and I had to tell her that her husband already scooped her on Facebook! This modern world.

This is part of why I like douche as a negative word! No bad connotations.

Ha! Not so much in some circles.

yep. I'm with brenda. I'll have to pay attention to keep that out of my usage though, particularly with non-US audiences. I already jokingly say "bloody" this and "bloody" that...and I also need to be careful about that too.

I'm going to cause an international incident if I go to the UK any time soon.

Well, I mean that the origin is already a bad thing. (I'm going to say invented by men, but that might not be true, but definitely designed to fuck with women's bodies in ways that are unnecessary.)

Maybe I mean that the bad connotations are pure.