rcj@burl.UUCP (Curtis Jackson) (08/22/85)
>I think this would be an interesting subject to discuss, but I think it would >be more appropriate to begin the discussions in net.med, and if interest is >high enough we could then create a subgroup. > >Depending on the particular person's situation, "disabled" is sometimes the >preferred euphemism. Perhaps we could call the group (if traffic warranted >its creation) net.med.disabled or something of the sort. I definitely agree that 'handicapped' has bad connotations and besides it is a bitch to type. I also think that 'disabled' and 'impaired' are nasty, but I can't think of a better name than 'disabled'. Will some people who have disabilities (pardon if that is offensive) please mail directly to me and give me your suggestions? I think we'd all appreciate your viewpoints since it will be a newsgroup concerning you, and I'll be happy to summarize. I am very much for the group if for no other reason than news/discussions on the progress of barrier-free design. Which brings me to my main point -- NO NET.MED.DISABLED FOR GENERIC DISABILITY DISCUSSIONS!!!!! There are many, many issues that affect disabled persons, and the majority of them are not medical but are simply concerned with getting by from day-to-day in our world (barrier-free design is my pet peeve). Besides, net.med is already choked -- when I first suggested it a couple of years ago it was for the purpose of posting new developments in the world of medicine. I am happy for its success, but flooding it with articles regarding barrier-free design, cultural stigma of disabled persons, etc. will only worsen an already loaded newsgroup. However, I realize the need to prevent cross-postings of medical issues to both net.disabled and net.med; so maybe we could create net.med.disabled STRICTLY FOR MEDICAL ISSUES INVOLVING DISABLED PERSONS, and use net.disabled for other issues. That way Joe can read just net.med, while Sue reads net.disabled and net.med.disabled, and Ralph can read all three. Feel free to respond to me VIA MAIL; I'll summarize when it slows to a trickle, -- The MAD Programmer -- 919-228-3313 (Cornet 291) alias: Curtis Jackson ...![ ihnp4 ulysses cbosgd mgnetp ]!burl!rcj ...![ ihnp4 cbosgd akgua masscomp ]!clyde!rcj