New (York Times) Speak

Inspired by the NYT’s reluctance to use the phrase “female genital mutilation” out of cultural sensitivity, Arthur Chrenkoff has a proposed style guide for the Gray Lady:

We couldn’t possibly have “culturally loaded” terms in case they “widen the chasm” between the supporters and opponents of certain practices – or right and wrong, as some unsophisticated commentators would call it. All cultures are, after all, equal, so we shouldn’t be judgmental.

Here are some of his proposed dictions:

Killing old and infirm – extreme palliative care

Torture – alternative investigation aid

Hat tip: Glenn Reynolds

8 comments… add one
  • Janis Gore Link

    Lawdy. The World Health Organization and the United Nations Population Fund use “female genital mutilation.”

    Who in the hell is the NYT being squeamish for? If you’re going that route, go medical. What would it be, Steve? Clitoral and/or labial resection?

  • Zachriel Link

    Dave Schuler: Torture – alternative investigation aid

    That one already has a standard euphemism, ‘enhanced interrogation’.

    Dave Schuler: Killing old and infirm – extreme palliative care

    Actually, that’s the standard of care in many countries. You can give large doses of painkillers that shorten life, as long as the goal is pain relief and not to directly cause death.

  • Modulo Myself Link

    As euphemisms go, ‘genital cutting’ doesn’t exactly fill me with a warm glow.

  • steve Link

    Poor attempt at humor. Just another example of right wing PC. You have to use the exact terms they want. (The example of killing old people is especially stupid. If he means murdering old people, it is murder. If he is referring to euthanasia, and since he is a conservative he probably opposes that and wants old people to suffer and die in pain for as long as possible, then maybe palliative care is a closer description.) Of course this coming from Reynolds, a fan of enhanced interrogation, or at least those who practice it, is actually humorous.

    Janis-The procedure is so varied there is no one term to cover it. It can be a symbolic cut, or it can involve removing all external genitalia and closing the vagina almost entirely. I had always assumed that the term cutting was used as a more all encompassing term. In some cultures they cut the hymen shortly after birth. That would not be considered mutilation by most people I don’t think, but it does involve cutting and doesn’t really seem like a needed procedure for a newborn.

    Steve

  • Janis Gore Link

    Yes, Steve, I found this story which lists the four categories identified by WHO at the end. I’d assume there would be a lot of variation of practice.

    CDCuses female genital cutting.

  • Guarneri Link

    “and since he is a conservative he probably opposes that and wants old people to suffer and die in pain for as long as possible”

    Anger management might help you. Might. Character is hard to change.

  • steve Link

    “Anger management might help you. Might. Character is hard to change.”

    You need reality therapy. It was your team that had the part taken out of the ACA that would have just paid docs to talk about end of life issues. You guys got it called death panels. So now, every time I have to torture some old person to death, I think of you guys and how you scored big political points at the cost of better care for people at the end of life. Oh, and I hope the name Terry Schiavo is familiar to you. Nothing like having big government interfering to prolong torture.

    However, what really sucks here is that we actually talking about this when people are dying because of GOP policies. Whether you call this cutting or mutilation it is still illegal. Calling it mutilation won’t change a thing, other than making conservatives happy because we are being PC on their terms. I really have to give them credit I guess. They keep this kind of absolute sh#t in the public mind, sucking people I expect to know better, like Dave, while keeping quiet the fact maternal mortality rates, that means people really dying, doubled after Texas did away with funding PP and made some other changes. The state now has the worst maternal mortality rate in the country, and probably the worst in the first world. Talk about that? Heck no. Let’s talk about BS that doesn’t matter. (Ok, working at a trauma center, and I mostly did hearts for a long time, I have had to go talk with families after patients die a few times. Personally, I think the death of a young mother is the worst. Yes, they all suck, but those really hurt since they affect so many people.)

    http://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2017/04/26/the-return-of-the-angry-granny-state/

    (Author is a self-identified libertarian. Certainly writes like one on prior posts, always claiming that free markets can solve everything.)

    Steve

  • Andy Link

    ” It was your team that had the part taken out of the ACA that would have just paid docs to talk about end of life issues. ”

    I look at that quite differently. IMO, I think that is an example of the perversion of the FFS piece-work system of doctor compensation.

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