{"id":1075204,"date":"2021-12-02T03:28:46","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T08:28:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1075204"},"modified":"2021-12-02T03:28:48","modified_gmt":"2021-12-02T08:28:48","slug":"canadian-broadcasting-corporation-warns-rethink-using-offensive-terms-like-brainstorm-blind-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/canadian-broadcasting-corporation-warns-rethink-using-offensive-terms-like-brainstorm-blind-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Warns: \u2018Rethink\u2019 Using \u2018Offensive\u2019 Terms Like \u2018Brainstorm,\u2019 \u2018Blind Spot\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcanadian-broadcasting-corporation-warns-rethink-using-offensive-terms-like-brainstorm-blind-spot%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1075204&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-1252494221-640x335-1.png\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\"><span>The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), with the help of \u201canti-racist and language experts,\u201d compiled a list of \u201coffensive\u201d terms, including \u201cblackmail,\u201d \u201cinner city,\u201d \u201cspooky,\u201d \u201ctribe,\u201d \u201csavage,\u201d \u201cblind spot,\u201d \u201ctone deaf,\u201d and even \u201cbrainstorm,\u201d warning readers to \u201cthink twice\u201d before using them, and claiming sensitivity was more valuable than free speech.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In an essay titled \u201cWords and phrases you may want to think twice about using,\u201d <em>CBC News<\/em> reporter Priscilla Ki Sun Hwang presented a list [in bold] of \u201cinsensitive\u201d words to be avoided.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p><span>\u201cHave you ever casually used the terms \u2018<\/span><b>spirit animal<\/b><span>,\u2019 \u2018<\/span><b>first-world problem<\/b><span>,\u2019 or \u2018<\/span><b>spooky<\/b><span>\u2019?\u201d the piece <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/ottawa\/words-and-phrases-commonly-used-offensive-english-language-1.6252274?cmp=rss\">begins<\/a>. \u201cIt might be time to rethink your use of these phrases and remove them from your daily lingo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"4.7368421052632\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Words and phrases you may want to think twice about using <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AfRMBT6IiB\">https:\/\/t.co\/AfRMBT6IiB<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ottnews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ottnews<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ottawa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ottawa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ra7hM2yMId\">pic.twitter.com\/ra7hM2yMId<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CBC Ottawa (@CBCOttawa) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CBCOttawa\/status\/1465253657709060097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 29, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>According to Ai Taniguchi, a linguist and associate language studies professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga, though having already used a term without knowledge of its origin \u201cdoesn\u2019t automatically make you a bad person,\u201d subsequent to discovering a word\u2019s \u201cracist, sexist or ableist etymology\u201d one has little defense.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p><span>\u201c\u2019I didn\u2019t know it was racist\u2019 does not eliminate the pain of the hearer,\u201d she said. \u201cAs language users, we have the social responsibility to monitor the impact our utterances have on others, especially when it involves a marginalized group.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>She also declared that sensitivity to others was more valuable than free speech.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cLanguage, communication, and free speech are valuable, but these things cannot come at the cost of endangering someone else\u2019s rights and pursuit of happiness,\u201d Taniguchi said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In addition, anti-racism trainer Jas Kalra demanded that if one is \u201ccall[ed] out\u201d for using a particular term, they must stop its use immediately.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIf somebody really calls us out on a particular word, we need to stop and say, \u2018It\u2019s not about me,&#8217;\u201d said Kalra, who coaches on inclusion and diversity.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p><span>Calling the terms \u201c<\/span><b>blackmail<\/b><span>,\u201d \u201c<\/span><b>blacklist<\/b><span>\u201d and \u201c<\/span><b>black sheep<\/b><span>\u201d all \u201cnegative terms,\u201d anti-racism trainer and educator Joseph Smith highlighted the \u201cnegative\u201d associations implied in their use.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201c[It] connotes evil, distrust, lack of intelligence, ignorance, a lack beauty \u2014 the absence of white,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p><span>\u201c[Black] became associated with a particular group of people, and that group of people received all that negative connotation,\u201d he added. \u201cThat\u2019s why we try to move away from these kinds of terms.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Pointing to the tech industry\u2019s distancing from terms such as \u201c<\/span><b>blacklist<\/b><span>\u201d and \u201c<\/span><b>whitelist<\/b><span>,\u201d Kalra claimed that such actions \u201cenhance\u201d words\u2019 meanings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIf we use the words \u2018allow-list\u2019 or \u2018deny-list\u2019 [instead] \u2026 it enhances the true understanding of that word,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p><span>The terms \u201c<\/span><b>ghetto<\/b><span>\u201d and \u201c<\/span><b>inner city<\/b><span>\u201d were also deemed offensive, according to Smith, as they connoted \u201cdangerous and risky\u201d places where people \u201cless refined\u201d and \u201cwho weren\u2019t up to date culturally, development-wise\u201d lived, in contrast to suburbs which have been depicted as \u201cpleasant, quiet and gentle areas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>According to Smith, the use of such terms \u201cimplies a negative connotation toward people of a certain socio-economic class (often associated with racialized groups) \u2014 typically those who have recently immigrated and often move to large metropolis areas and not suburbs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Noting how the term \u201cspook\u201d had been used as a racist slur against black soldiers during World War II, Smith also claimed the term \u201c<\/span><b>spooky<\/b><span>\u201d was offensive \u201cbecause of who and to what it\u2019s applied to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThere\u2019s a history behind it and there\u2019s also all these connections that are made to other groups,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s almost like these terms have tentacles that spread and attach themselves to other things and infect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Another phrase listed was \u201c<\/span><b>sold down the river<\/b><span>,\u201d which generally connotes a betrayal committed for some personal benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe negative connotation is hearkening back to a time when enslaved African people would be literally sold down the [Mississippi] river for profit, and seen as chattel, objects that could be used or disposed of at the whims of their slave owners,\u201d Smith said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The phrase \u201c<\/span><b>grandfathered in<\/b><span>,\u201d which generally connotes when one is exempt from new rules, was also blacklisted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIt\u2019s also speaking to that patriarchy \u2026 a patriarchic family having supreme power over how things operate and manifest, and them possessing all the power and autonomy to make decisions and dictate the course of the future,\u201d said Smith.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIt\u2019s re-inscribing the idea of a male-dominated society or world,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Terms deemed offensive to Indigenous people were also included.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Metaphors such as \u201c<\/span><b>spirit animal<\/b><span>,\u201d \u201c<\/span><b>powwow<\/b><span>,\u201d and \u201c<\/span><b>tribe<\/b><span>\u201d were noted for their potential to offend Indigenous communities.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The essay noted that the \u201cspiritual connection and reverence for nature and ancestors is deeply rooted across Indigenous cultures\u201d while mere use of such phrases turns the concept \u201cinto a casual catchphrase.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201c[It\u2019s] a reminder that their past and culture have always been treated as insignificant by settlers,\u201d Taniguchi said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The colloquial phrase \u201c<\/span><b>lowest on the totem pole<\/b><span>,\u201d which generally connotes one in the least important position, was also singled out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Being \u201csacred items\u201d in Indigenous culture, Kalra claimed use of the term was \u201cculturally appropriating\u201d in addition to being \u201ccontextually wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cWhen you\u2019re culturally appropriating somebody\u2019s cultural symbols \u2026 you\u2019re saying that marginalized members of society are free for taking,\u201d she said.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Though, the essay admitted, the term \u201c<\/span><b>savage<\/b><span>\u201d generally carries a positive connotation, it, too, was deemed problematic due to colonizers viewing Indigenous and other people of color, as \u201csavage, brutal, unrefined, and uncultured in comparison to European settlers.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The essay then quotes Indigenous educator Douglas Stewart <\/span><span>as having <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/new-brunswick\/offensive-term-remove-urban-planet-1.5305540\"><span>said<\/span><\/a><span> that \u201cfor Indigenous people, [\u2018savage\u2019] is our N-word.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The terms \u201c<\/span><b>gypsy<\/b><span>\u201d \u2014 a reference to the Roma ethnic group \u2014 and its derivative \u201c<\/span><b>gypped<\/b><span>\u201d \u2014 used to connote a cheat or swindle \u2014 were also listed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe term perpetuates the stereotype that Roma are lower class, not mature or cultured, and foreigners,\u201d according to Smith.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cYou\u2019re othering somebody,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The phrase \u201c<\/span><b>first-world problem<\/b><span>,\u201d a reference to relatively trivial issues, was deemed potentially \u201cclassist.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cWhen we\u2019re saying first world, we\u2019re putting them at the top,\u201d Kalra said. \u201cWhat does it convey?\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cWhy do we have to use these prefixes, which kind of dehumanize some country or some human being or a group?\u201d she added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Terms like \u201c<\/span><b>blind spot<\/b><span>,\u201d \u201c<\/span><b>blindsided<\/b><span>,\u201d and \u201c<\/span><b>blind leading the blind<\/b><span>\u201d were also deemed \u201coffensive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI can see that being offensive to people who can\u2019t see,\u201d said Julie Cashman, co-chair of the Consumer Action Committee, which advocates for individuals with disabilities.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Even the term \u201c<\/span><b>brainstorm<\/b><span>\u201d was singled out for the potential to offend those with brain injuries and disorders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cMore important is the stigma that it will effectuate about \u2026&nbsp; disorders [like] epilepsy for example,\u201d Kalra added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201c<\/span><b>Dumb<\/b><span>,\u201d a term used to connote an inability to speak, and \u201c<\/span><b>lame<\/b><span>,\u201d which refers to an inability to walk, are described as \u201chighly offensive\u201d when describing those with disabilities, or when used casually, Cashman claims.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cPeople now are using lame as a slang, so they go around saying \u2018that\u2019s lame,\u2019\u201d she said.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI don\u2019t think they really understand what that means,\u201d she added, \u201cthey just think it\u2019s a cool term, but for me, when I hear that, I definitely know what that term means \u2026 it\u2019s something I wouldn\u2019t say.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201c<\/span><b>Tone-deaf<\/b><span>,\u201d which describes one unable to distinguish musical pitch, and colloquially to describe one who is out of touch, \u201cmay not be a kind term to those who have hearing impairments,\u201d the essay states.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Cashman suggests using \u201cmusically disinclined\u201d or simply \u201cinsensitive,\u201d instead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The \u201cexperts\u201d also took issue with the term \u201c<\/span><b>crippled<\/b><span>,\u201d which connotes one unable to walk normally, or something severely damaged.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIt\u2019s ableist,\u201d said H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Courchesne, coordinator of planning and funding for ABLE2, a group supporting those with disabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIt\u2019s the pejorative connotation to it. You\u2019re not as good as me, you\u2019ll never be as good as me,\u201d she explained.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI\u2019ve seen [\u2018crippled\u2019] being used in the Bible,\u201d Cashman said. \u201cI think that\u2019s very offensive.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>She suggested the use of \u201cdisability\u201d or \u201cmobility issue\u201d in its place.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In response, many mocked the CBC\u2019s new listing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A <\/span><i><span>Toronto Sun<\/span><\/i> <a href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/opinion\/columnists\/lilley-cbcs-list-of-words-we-cant-say-is-sophomoric-outrageous-and-wrong\"><span>piece<\/span><\/a><span> called the list of banned words \u201csophomoric, outrageous and wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Canada\u2019s <\/span><i><span>National Post<\/span><\/i><span> featured an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/opinion\/jesse-kline-cbcs-18-words-you-cant-say-is-the-dumbest-thing-ive-ever-heard\"><span>essay<\/span><\/a><span> calling the CBC\u2019s 18 banned words \u201cthe dumbest thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cEven terms that were once staples of the left-wing lexicon are now lingua non grata,\u201d it declared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>On social media, too, users took issue with the attempt at censorship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThis is ridiculous. Context must be taken into account,\u201d <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/blowinbyu\/status\/1465517256381767681?s=20\"><span>wrote<\/span><\/a><span> one Twitter user. \u201cIf we were to ban all words that may offend someone then our language is lost.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cCanada has gone crazy,\u201d <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CynthiaRoxane\/status\/1465742486236717059?s=20\"><span>wrote<\/span><\/a><span> another user.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cNobody should use words like \u2018rational\u2019, \u2018credible\u2019 or \u2018repeatable\u2019 in reference to the CBC,\u201d <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MikeSileika\/status\/1465549273550888961?s=20\"><span>quipped<\/span><\/a><span> another user.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>This was not the first time that those on the left have sought to \u201ccancel\u201d common words.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In June, the Prevention, Advocacy &amp; Resource Center (PARC) at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/tech\/2021\/06\/23\/brandeis-u-releases-oppressive-language-list-so-students-dont-say-naughty-words-like-policeman\/\"><span>released<\/span><\/a><span> an \u201cOppressive Language List\u201d urging students to refrain from saying certain words and phrases deemed offensive.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The list includes \u201cpoliceman\u201d as well as \u201ccrazy\u201d and \u201cwalk-in,\u201d and even calls on students to stop saying \u201ctrigger warning,\u201d a leftist favorite on campus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cPARC recognizes that language is a powerful tool used to perpetrate and perpetuate oppression,\u201d states PARC on the school\u2019s website. \u201cAs a community, we strive to remove oppressive language from our everyday use. This list is meant to be a tool to share information and suggestions about potentially oppressive language.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Last month, students at the University of Florida <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/11\/25\/watch-university-students-learn-black-friday-has-nothing-to-do-with-race-so-no-longer-problematic\/\"><span>expressed<\/span><\/a><span> their belief that the term \u201cBlack Friday\u201d should be changed before learning it had nothing to do with race.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Last year, the \u201cWords Matter Task Force\u201d at the University of Michigan <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/education\/2020\/12\/20\/university-michigan-pc-police-ban-picnic-other-offensive-words\/\"><span>compiled<\/span><\/a><span> a list of dozens of offensive words and phrases \u2014 including \u201cpicnic\u201d and \u201cdummy\u201d \u2014 for elimination from the university vocabulary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The task force had already identified some three dozen potentially offensive words and phrases such as \u201cbrown bag,\u201d \u201cdisabled,\u201d \u201coff the reservation,\u201d \u201cstraw man,\u201d and \u201csanity check,\u201d all of which had been deemed non-PC.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\" readability=\"22.755555555556\">\n<p><i><em>Follow Joshua Klein on Twitter&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/joshuaklein_\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@JoshuaKlein.<\/a><\/em><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), with the help of \u201canti-racist and language experts,\u201d compiled a list of \u201coffensive\u201d terms, including \u201cblackmail,\u201d \u201cinner city,\u201d \u201cspooky,\u201d \u201ctribe,\u201d \u201csavage,\u201d \u201cblind spot,\u201d \u201ctone deaf,\u201d &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1075204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1075204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1075204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1075204\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1075204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1075204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1075204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}