I am both a US citizen and a wheelchair user and I can see the irony in the
situation. I don't think that Spazz is slang throughout the USA. US spoken
English, slang and terminology does differ geographically as it does in the
UK, although maybe not in such an extreme way. Americans can be a little
insular and often see the internet as being there just for them and are not
always as sensitive or in touch with what goes on beyond their own boarders.
This is a generalisation of course and does not apply to all Americans. For
many years they have led the way in disability equality issues and I am sure
that any company wishing to sell wheelchairs would not set out to offend the
market they are trading in. I am sure that they have looked carefully at
their merchandising PR locally and perhaps coast to coast where the vast
amount of their market is and I believe if they felt their market could be
significantly expanded in the UK they would re-market the product under a
different name, perhaps they may call it "Crip" instead? And before you
begin to scream at me it was meant to be sarcasm.
Regards,
John Rainey
>From: Rick Townson <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Accessibuilt list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: John Rainey <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: May be off subject so please forgive me
>Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 09:50:49 +0100
>
>I am interested in an American perspective.
>
>I have just been the following link detailing a new wheelchair that has
>been released.
>
>http://www.planetmobility.com/store/wheelchairs/manual/colours/spazz/
>
>Does the word "Spazz" have the same connotations in the Us as it does in
>the UK. If this were a UK supplier or company I would appalled at the
>inappropriate name for a wheelchair.
>
>Has anyone any opinion on this subject.
>
>Again sorry if this is too off subject but am not aware of the appropriate
>one.
>
>Regards
>
>Rick Townson
>
>----------End of Message----------
>
>Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the
>distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
>
>http://www.inclusive-design.it
>
>Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
>http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
_________________________________________________________________
Stay in touch with absent friends - get MSN Messenger
http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger
----------End of Message----------
Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
http://www.inclusive-design.it
Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
|