A word people use because they like deceiving themselves to believe we live in a
Utopia.
Mostly they're used by organizations and "considerate" people who
don't want to offend the "situationally disturbed" citizens.
George Carlin, a comedian, did a great schpiel about euphemisms once. (A few of the following examples are in his speech.)
You should read it. It may not "open your
eyes," but you'll realize how much we like to disguise our speech and
blind ourselves. Disguising a condition with nicer, longer words doesn't change the fact that you still have the condition. Sorry.
(Note: Not all examples {e.g.
black/white} are "conditions" or negative at all}
IMO, There's nothing wrong with most of the following conditions; they just warrant a euphemism because society can't accept reality. Many are unavoidable.
I just call '
em like I see em.
Nobody:
is old, they're elderly senior citizens.
is
gay, they're homosexual.
is poor, they're in poverty.
is
black, they're African American.
is white, they're Caucasian.
is fat, they're obese.
is a slut, they're promiscuous.
is crippled, they're handicapped.
is deaf, they're hearing impaired.
is blind, they're visually impaired.
is
retarded, they're mentally challenged.
is short, they're vertically challenged.
is
stupid, they're academically challenged.
I could go on.
