Do DUer's who can't speak, insulted by the word "Dumb" ?

[BlueJazz]

I TRY to keep from using the word...even though I might forget sometimes.

I suppose if I were Blind (or handicapped some other way) I would not take very kindly to a
word that describes my .... "being" ??... and ALSO means an Idiot or Stupid...

Enlighten me... :)

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I think you are referring to the term

deaf and dumb? Which means that the person who is 'dumb' is mute, not hard of hearing.

[Hawkeye-X]

3. You do realize that many deaf people don't speak - by their choice

I have known thousands of deaf people that do not speak - that does not make them mute. They just produce noise (much like my wife)

Hawkeye-X

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Oh, I know. I was just making the point that

the term 'dumb' when ignorantly applied to those who can't hear, actually meant, for all intents and purposes, those who couldn't or didn't speak.


And, I can't recall anyone using the term deaf and dumb. It seems very outdated to use as a prejorative.

[BlueJazz]

5. Oh...Geez..Of course...and I went to College ????

[Hawkeye-X]

2. It's an insult.

I don't like the word Dumb.

It's just like calling African Americans the n word.

It's the same for us deafies.

Otherwise, check out our little subgroup (click on my sig)

Hawkeye-X

[Midlodemocrat]

8. I never knew that.

I say 'dumb' all the time, but never in reference to someone who is hard of hearing or doesn't speak. I never think in those terms.

So, if I were to say that 'such and such idea is really dumb', that is insulting? Because obviously, I never intended it that way.

[Drum]

4. I thought the term "dumb" referred to speech...

not hearing. "Deaf and dumb" means cannot-hear & cannot-talk, doesn't it? I both hear and speak, so not weighing in on the effect of those terms, just commenting on the words themselves.
:shrug:

[BlueJazz]

6. Fixed it....I'M the one that's Handicapped!...ahhh!

[Muttocracy]

9. well, you were asking for enlightenment, so you shouldn't feel too bad

Better to ask questions, and I'm interested in the responses too - since "dumb" is such a commonly used word.

There's an animal rescue group called the Dumb Friends League or something - old name dating from use of dumb to mean those who can't speak, i.e., animals can't speak up for themselves very well.