Calling someone a midget today is hardly a compliment

It's little person! On a recent episode of "30 Rock," Tina Fey's character says on her phone, "I just want to go home, watch the midget show and eat a block of cheese." Members of Little People of America who watched the show cringed, says the president of the organization's Bay Area chapter. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Comments

[oxhead]

I don't think it's wise for a little person to "cringe." He just might cringe himself to the vanishing point.

[z0l0ft]

That guy has a short temper.

But seriously, if he didn't have to pay rent, would you call his place a 'stay-free mini-pad?'

Oh, the humanity!

Don't forget to tip yer waitress.

[Acedia]

Anyone who would make fun of someone for being a little person is beneath contempt.

I mean what's the point in yelling that at them? What, you think they didn't notice they're short? You think they are the way they are by choice? You think you are somehow cooler by making fun of someone else?

People who are born in some way different than other people already have a tougher row to hoe, a heavier weight to bear. But inside, they're no different. To treat them otherwise is just ignorant and obnoxious.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

You know, I used to fear midgets (actually I'm afraid of all circus folk, particularly clowns, carnies, and midgets) because I was afraid of them running amok and slashing at my ankles with their little midget knives.

But then I saw this episode of "C.S.I." (the good one about Las Vegas, not the shitty ones) where a midget gets killed at a midget convention, and Grissom is watching this midget chick play the slots and she's using a stick to help her reach the lever and she sees him staring at her and he says, "I was just admiring your stick," and she replies, "I've got another one to help me wipe my tushie, you want to see that?" So now that I know midgets are running around with feces-encrusted sticks in their tiny little hands, I'm even more scared of them. Please, can't we just round them all up and put them back on a boat to Loompa Land or wherever it is they come from?

[frecklepants]

What do you call a psychic midget who escapes from prison?

A small medium at large.

[WZ]

I've read about midget being derogatory before, and I try not to use it at all.
I have a hard time using "little people" though, since that's how I tend to refer to my kids, and that doesn't seem like a necessarily positive thing, to call an adult by a name I use for my kids.
The good thing is, in my case, the ambivalence will likely end when my kids are no longer small enough to call little people.
But the point is I dislike referring to any group of people by a name they themselves find hurtful and damaging.

[vertically challenged]

Anyone remember the song "Short people Have No Reason"? I think it was a BIG hit in the late 70's. Heck, I used to date a midget once, I was nuts over her.

[cheesuschrist]

Being politicaly correct is way overboard theses days. Hey look up midget in the dictionary because dwarves are midgets. Get over it!!!! I have never heard a midget caller everyone else Big People so I will continue to use what the dictionary describes as the correct term. If midgets don't like it tough nuts. Hey I want to be called "Your Majesty" but that doesn't mean I am offended if you don't.

[Acedia]

Regarding the Randy Newman song "Short People"...it boggled my mind even then that people were so stupid that they thought the song really was about short people and not the stupidity of prejudice. Even as a teenager it was obvious to me.

But regarding the PC comment above, I detest it when people fall back on the old "we're all too politically correct" BS. It's not about politics, it's about politeness. It's about treating people with respect. It's about not pigeon-holing people with a demeaning name because of one element of who they are.

[Shaun G]

Looks like Ethan Crough's changed a bit in the past five years.

In 2002, he was the target of Little People of America's ire because he appeared in a Panasonic ad campaign that they said mocked little people.

Now he's a chapter president! LPA must not have much of a collective memory.

[Pustulio]

While I understand that the term "midget" is considered to be offensive, I just can't figure out why. I of course agree that mocking people for the way they were born is contemptible, but the instances cited in the article seem to have more to do with the behavior than the term. Yes, assholes use the term "midget", but not everyone who uses the term is automatically an asshole.

I can't quite bring myself to use terms like "dwarf" or "little person" because they seem to me like they'd be much more demeaning. The author complains about association of the term with freak shows, but then points out that "dwarf" was considered far more offensive but never explains why that association doesn't apply anymore. And frankly, the first thing that pops into my head when I hear "dwarf" is Sneezy and his six companions. Likewise the first thing I think of when I hear "little person" is leprechaun. I just can't see how these terms are preferable.

[Jack]

"I was nuts over her."

That was a good one.....

What I can't figure is what is the preferable term? According to the article, "midget" was once a prefered term among certain groups of less "than average heighted" people, but now it's a slur. When and how that happened is left completely unexplained.

While I don't like the idea of calling a person by a term they find offensive, it would be helpful to have given us the prefered (and could we please not have it be 47 syllables long?) term for the group.

I can't keep up with all the group name changes. I referred to a mutual friend as "Oriental" a while back and caught hell for it. Apparently, somewhere between our childhood and yesterday, "Oriental" became a slur and I'm supposed to refer to him as "Asian". Even he was surprised. I don't think of him as "Asian" because he doesn't come from "Asia", he comes from two streets over in a house that looks like mine. I always thought that "Oriental" refered to his features rather than origin, just like I'm a "Caucasian" because I have light skin etc.. Now I learn that I've been insulting him for a while and neither of us knew it.

My Mother used the term "colored" for African-Americans until she died at 87 years old. It wasn't a slur from her. If anything, in her mind, it was an improvement over most of her generation that was still calling African-Americans "Negroes" or worse. I dated a girl from Africa and called her "black" just as she called herself, but it seems that even that term has fallen out of favor.

Someone needs to publish THE list. I'm tired and can't keep up anymore.

[ssw]

It's offensive because the word "midget" refers to something that's not complete.
A "midget" car or a "midget" house as opposed to the real thing.
I'm sorry you don't approve of the other words, but I'm sure the little people don't approve of a lot of things we do either.

[fermata]

Can we just take a moment to comment on the midgets-on-segways photo Jim chose to accompany this piece? It should send Howie right over the edge. They all seem to have a demonic look in their eyes, for sure.

[Jim Romenesko]

I have a friend who has a genuine fear of little people. After he told me about it (and I laughed), I read about someone else sharing this phobia and mentioning the name for it. I don't recall it now and a quickie search doesn't bring it up.

[vksjk]

People say the PC police are ever vigilant and on the prowl of late but I really haven't seen it or felt the brunt of it.

[ssw]

I had a friend who feared little people also. She also had a severe aversion to men wearing rugs. We always joked that a dwarf with a toupee would be her worst nightmare.

I'm going to create a "Members of people over six feet club" cause I enjoy being tall and looking down on midgets, dwarfs and little people. I think I'll start the first "Straight March" as well so I can yell. I'm not queer and I'm here to stay so get over it.

When is political correctness going to end? Midget is not offensive nor is dwarf or munchkin for that matter.

[pdg]

Who knew Segways came that little??!

[Pustulio]

"It's offensive because the word "midget" refers to something that's not complete."

Since when? I've always understood it to mean "smaller than normal" just like the people in question. A midget car is not a car that is still being built, it's just miniature.

I think the issue has more to do with the idea that "small" equals "inferior" in many people's minds. I have a feeling that if the historically used term had been "dwarf" or "mini" or micro" or whatever, *that* term would now be considered offensive.

[Evie]

Why can't we just call people by their names. If we don't know someone's name yet - perhaps a nice Excuse me sir.. or Pardon me ma'am would not be out of place? If you needed to refer to a stranger in a crowd - try the person in the red shirt, or the one with glasses. It seems like if we treated all other humans with some basic respect then we wouldn't have to worry about which shade of insult to use discussing them. So instead of my coworkers calling me "that fat obnoxious bitch with the glasses" I could be Evie, a whole person rather than a bunch of slurs all strung together.

[WZ]

The article clearly explained why midget is offensive, why not start there?
And really, what is the big deal? Why does it need to turn into a "I can call whomever I want whatever I want and you can't make me stop" load of overheated BS? What does it really cost you to use a little courtesy and refer to a person the way they prefer to be refered to? It's not different from calling a woman Ms or Mrs, you go by what she prefers as a simple courtesy.
It's bad enough that people seem bent on defending their right to use an offensive term - of course it is; it's worse they're defending an utter lack of manners. And worse yet when people take personal offense at being asked not to be rude and to treat other human beings with basic kindness and politeness.

[Cameltoes]

I am just waiting for someone to bust out with the race card. In any case, this is political correctness gone too far. They're midgets. They can choose to deal with it or end their miserable hypersensitive lives. I mean really, WHEN has the word midget been used in any derogatory way? This isn't the same as calling someone a nigg3r (which slave owners called their slaves). It's not the same as calling someone a gook or a slope.

[WZ]

Why not?

[Emily]

Yeah, I was once told by a very superior female acquaintance that carpets are Oriental, PEOPLE are Asian. And bitches are bitches. Why is it okay to be offensive when "correcting" someone else? It isn't like you have a right to just go around correcting everyone around you. If she had been ASIAN, then I guess she could have called me on it, and I would have been like ....oh..okay. Sorry. Because I didn't know that the term had gone out of style. JEEZ. I just wish people (of all sizes and races and ethnicities) would get over themselves. Give it a break and shut up for awhile.

[Emily]

I think I need more "diversity training".

[phantom]

When I was in high school, I had an mg midget, burgandy with a black rag top one of the sweetest little rides I ever had. As for wanting to be called little people, I seem to recall a movie starring Sean Connery,called Darby O'Gill an the little people, and they were all, well, little people, so if someone wants to known as whatever, what does it matter what they want to be known as

[Katy]

My mother-in-law is Vietnamese and she calls herself "Oriental". She and her friends says it's not a slur, despite what the politically correct crowd says.

Why do people have to get so upset about being called things. I've been called "honkey" and "whitey" all my life. Yet, if I call a gay person "homosexual", they get all mad. If we can't call them Little People, what do we call them? My son has a series of toys called "Little People". It seems that the only safe thing to joke about is blonde women.

[Jazz]

I like midget. Think I'll continue to use it.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

As a fan of "Deadwood" I know the proper term isn't Asian or Oriental. It's Chink or Celestial.

[WZ]

Katy, if you would read the article, you'd see Little People IS the preferred term.

[AJ]

I am sure that honestly speaking..no title is needed.....not unless retard is a allowable definition for those who must label all persons. See the fact that you arent articulate enough to explain a person with out disparagement proves alot.....rediculous!

midget is a bad word now because it means that a part of their body is smaller then the rest - like having smaller legs in proportion to the rest of the frame.

dwarf shouldn't be insulting to them.

people make fun of me for having big feet since i am a woman - whoop de do! i don't let it get me down...

LP's are cool!

[WZ]

AJ, using the word retard as a label is using my son's medical condition as an insult. :) He's retarded, he's not a jerk. There is a vast difference.

[TomW]

A part of the American culture is that you look for ways to be offended and then people will have to apologize to you. Its what we are all about. Little people. OK thats fair but don't freak out and give people time to adjust. In my case I am pretty much offended that left handed males with male pattern baldness are not treated with more respect in the entertainment industry. Every cast should have at least one of us in the ensemble, its downright racism if its not done. How can people be so cruel? We need an organization, dammit. There are apologies out there just waiting for us to collect.

[ProfDon]

For forty years (roughly) I've been insisting that my students avoid dealing with themselves or others as a 'category' and focus instead on their own and others' individuality. Evie put it nicely...why do we have to have a 'group name' for anyone?

As for the Little People Of America...who gave them the right to speak for all people born with dwarfism? I'm a retired person but that doesn't mean AARP "speaks for me". I'm an astrologer but that doesn't give the AFA the right to label me as they choose.

[Cameltoes]

"Why not?"

I dont know if you asked me this question or someone else. In any case, it's not the same because the word "midget" was never used as a slur against anyone whereas nigg3r, spic, kike, gook, etc were. Big difference.

"Yeah, I was once told by a very superior female acquaintance that carpets are Oriental, PEOPLE are Asian."

What's funny is that Asian seems to only be directed towards the people with slanted eyes. People from India, Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia are all excluded because they don't have slanted eyes.
Oriental simple means "eastern". I bet Chinese people will get all riled up when you call them "oriental" but have no qualms whatsoever about calling white people "white devils". Same goes for Hmong who call black people "black things" or "monkey men", or how about when Mexicans refer to any slanted eye person as "Chino" and every Middle Eastern person (regardless of origin) as "Hindu". I guess political correctness only applies to white people.

"In my case I am pretty much offended that left handed males with male pattern baldness are not treated with more respect in the entertainment industry."

I'm left handed and bald :o)

[cheesuschrist]

Whoaaaa! Bald. A person is not bald. They are Folical Challenged!! Or Denuded lets get politically correct.

[Village Idiot]

Notice the google ads below the article? The one with the heading "Midget"?!? And the link was to...Littlepeoplemeet.com, where you can find 1000's of pics of small singles, apparently.

Remember "Dwarf Tossing?" Nobody kidnapped the "dwarves" and tossed them against their will. I guess some women don't like other women acting in porn for the same reason some L.P. don't like dwarf tossing, yet some choose to for their own reasons.

I'm getting mixed messages here...

Anyhow, the human mind is one thing really, a pattern-recognition device. It's what we do: categorize things that fit into patterns. If a lot of people share a distinctive characteristic, we naturally assign a label to refer to the group that shares it. It's a matter of convenience and efficiency. Not to say that convenience and efficiency aren't sometimes cruel, of course, but it's how we're hard-wired.

When discussing issues that confront a class of individuals, blanket generalizations are necessary otherwise the discussion would be tedious in the extreme. When encountering someone one-on-one who may fit into some arbitrary category, it's socially preferable and just plain nicer to refer to them by their name instead of their category, as was mentioned above.

PS: L.P.= Little People (they need a title with fewer syllables...)

[WZ]

"I dont know if you asked me this question or someone else. In any case, it's not the same because the word "midget" was never used as a slur against anyone whereas nigg3r, spic, kike, gook, etc were. Big difference."

Yep, I was asking you, thank you for explaining your reasoning. I do think you make valid points.
However, to me, if someone feels hurt by a certain phrase as applied to a group they are part of (that they can't change, especially - physical differences types of things) then I think it's just courtesy to at least try to do things the way that eases that discomfort.
I realize that sounds "PC" but it's not. It's like someone asking you to please call them Thomas and not Tommy - you're only going to call them Tommy if you're TRYING to make them uncomfortable after that.

(The words "retarded" and "retard" and my deeply held objection to them have nothing to do with PC either, it has to do with the moment my son realized that people were taking a word that applied to him and using it in a hateful way, to him and to other people. It really, really stunned and hurt him. So obviously I also get rather upset when people insist it's no big deal to use retard as an insult because if you can tell it's an insult, you're not retarded. What a bunch of BS - and hateful ignorant BS as well.)

[Cameltoes]

"Yep, I was asking you, thank you for explaining your reasoning. I do think you make valid points.
However, to me, if someone feels hurt by a certain phrase as applied to a group they are part of (that they can't change, especially - physical differences types of things) then I think it's just courtesy to at least try to do things the way that eases that discomfort.
I realize that sounds "PC" but it's not. It's like someone asking you to please call them Thomas and not Tommy - you're only going to call them Tommy if you're TRYING to make them uncomfortable after that."

What you say does make sense. It's unfortunate that people will one day be OK with a word then the next day feel uncomfortable with a word for no apparent reason. Not only is "little people" lengthy to say (just like African American), it's really unnecessary. I feel that somewhere along the line, someone who wasn't a midget told a midget that he should be offended, and he believed it.

[V]

Oh for the glory of bob. If somebody is yelling things at people out their car windows, they are clearly trying to be hurtful. If someone accidentally uses a term that other people find offensive, it's a totally different situation. Everyone can just be 'that guy' or 'that girl' and then no one will be offended, right?...except the person from FL who wants the gender reassignment, I guess...can't please everyone!

[WZ]

No way, we're reasonably discussing somewhat opposing viewpoints.
That makes my day. :)

[V]

lol, well, that is the fun of it, even if you do get slammed for your written idiosyncrasies occasionally...ahem. If everyone agreed here, where would the interest in reading the comments be? :D

I just have this problem with the whole labelling thing. I know lots of people from widely varied groups, and I just basically get to know everyone's names. Even though i have terrible name recall, I never forget a face, and asking someone to remind you of their name is a great deal more fruitful than saying "hey, you, that's right,the balding left handed guy".

[Uncle Kracker]

Midget, midget, midget......LOL

[ssarkies]

People are way too sensitive. People are way to eager to correct other people, if you know what they mean when they say something isn't that enough?!

What is with all this anger??

Move on, live your life and be happy damn it! :-)

[tommo]

I don't see how 'little person' is better than midget personally. As a non-little person it actually sounds much more offensive to me, midget has no negative connotations to me personally but calling someone a little person seems more demeaning.

In my opinion what people in these communities should do is just invent completely new words for their description rather than all of the hyphenated phrases noone will use. If the same community publicized that all midgets should now be called meldian (made up word), I'd be much more likely to use that... Every PC term becomes a slur eventually as it goes to accepted->misued->abused->slur status... so you might as well just make up new words and stop with all the hyphens.