Word Crimes

[Kevbo1987]

I had no idea that it was considered offensive. Al's apologetic tweet was the first I heard of it. As for people who consider the song bullying, they need to realize it's a joke. As we've discussed, it's not Al calling people a moron; it's the character in the song.

[mellow weasel]

If people get offended by Al's songs, I wonder how they react to the humour that is ACTUALLY offensive. Life must be a constant struggle for them

[tankgirl73]

I'm a word nerd and I'd never heard of 'spastic' used as an offensive term. It's obviously derogatory, but to me it's derogatory in the same sense as "stinky" or "ugly" or... "weird". Those are mean descriptors but not 'offensive'... 'offensive' would be the r-word or n-word. Or mudblood.

So I can completely forgive Al for not knowing that. I thought it was hilarious in the song.

[angela27]

Al's not British, last I checked. I mean, did anyone get freaked out about "fanny pack" in White and Nerdy? I've watched enough of Craig Ferguson that he gets no small amount of delight from being able to say the word fanny here in the US.

[Mystik Tomato]

I've seen a few people on tumblr offended by the song/video because they are English majors and see it as bullying.

Yeah, that's because it's Tumblr. They get offended by everything. Everything.

I'm with Grom here in that I was taken aback by it. Even though I wasn't offended or anything, I do think that Al is a class act for apologising.

[algonacchick]

I had seen some posts about "spastic" being offensive a few days before Al's apology tweet, both on twitter and facebook. Some of my non-Al fan friends told me about the different meaning of "spastic" in the UK and Australia. I wasn't aware of it, and I had a feeling Al wasn't, either. I'm seeing lots of praise on twitter for his apology. A number of people are calling him a class act. I agree. Sadly, I'm also seeing people reaching, and saying "dumb" and "moran" are offensive enough to upset them. I wasn't upset by those words, either.

[remmy]

Sadly, I'm also seeing people reaching, and saying "dumb" and "moran" are offensive enough to upset them. I wasn't upset by those words, either.

Wow, how obnoxious. I'm all for being sensitive and mindful of the words we use, but that's just taking it way too far!

[mrmeadows]

I'm as liberal as they come, but even I think people need to relax about stuff like this. People are too easily offended anymore, about any little thing. Not everything is meant as a slur, and that's clearly the case here.

As for the grammar experts whining about the song being "bullying"....spare me.

[Taniman]

The only real unfortunate thing the song did was have the word Spastic in it. He apologized. While it's too bad those who live in countries where the word is offensive may not enjoy it as much, he didn't kill anyone so everything is fine.

[Wizzerkat]

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