Dwarfism.

[sapelesam]

In the century of political correctness, could somebody tell me the how to describe a Dwarf.

[EDDIE51]

The correct term is 'PORG' (Person Of Restricted Growth)
Or 'VCI' (Vertically Challenged Individual) ;-)
'Short***' is no longer PC .

[jennyjoan]

I worked with a number of dwarfs in my day but could or would not refer to them as dwarfs - I think I used their own first name first or if it need be I would call them little person/people - think that's softer.

[Cloverjo]

I think some refer to themselves as "little people", but I don't know if that's univerally accepted.

[jno]

Eddie, I think Porg was round in the 1970s (didn't Tom Sharpe make mock of it in one of his books?) but I don't think it's the "correct term" any more, possibly because labelling people with abbreviations sounds too bureaucratic.

[Old_Geezer]

That's just those trying to prevent you getting their Lucky Charms.

[mikey4444]

It seems to be a complex medical disorder, mainly Achondroplasia :::

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarfism

We had one working for BT many years ago, and most people seems to refer to her as a small person, and I never saw any evidence that she objected to this phrase at all.

I think kindness is more appropriate than political correctness. In fact I would like to see the phrase political correctness not used anymore !

[mallyh]

my friend is a dwarf and doesn't mind being called a dwarf but hates midget .

[Jackdaw33]

Vertically challenged, or indeed anything 'challenged', is just plain silly.

[mikey4444]

I agree with Jack ( ! )

[EDDIE51]

My answers were 'tongue in cheek'
jno Yes 'PORG' was in a Tom Sharpe book not sure if he invented it or was just commenting on an actual 'PC' name.
Tom Sharpe is a favorite of mine, his books are the funniest I have ever read. 'Riotous Assembly' actually had me falling on the floor rolling around laughing. It took me about a week to read it as I had to keep stopping until I finished laughing.

[mikey4444]

Eddie...I agree about "Riotous Assembly" ....I too, was rolling around on the floor. I don't think I have ever read a funnier book.

[Jackdaw33]

As an ex-university guy Porterhouse Blues also had me in stitches.

[andy-hughes]

mallyh - //my friend is a dwarf and doesn't mind being called a dwarf but hates midget . //

A 'midget' is a person who is of restricted growth, but proportionately so, whereas a dwarf is someone who is specifically restricted in some areas, but normally sized in others.

Again, this is no longer seen as an acceptable term to use, but it helps when trying to define differences.

[EDDIE51]

^ I was living in Zambia (Northern Rhodesia) in 1976 when I first read it. I knew several white South Africans so the the descriptions of the characters seem particularly true. As I am sure you are aware Sharpe wrote the book as a challenge to the policy of apartheid, which resulted in him being expelled from South Africa. He then came to Cambridge just 12 miles from me and wrote the 'University' books and 'Wilt'.

[EDDIE51]

^ that was to mikey

[-Talbot-]

When referring to black people or say Asians ...Would saying things like


We had one working for BT many years ago ...


Be ok?

[jno]

if it's true, why not? Any incongruity woulde be explained by the fact that there are many more Asian and black people than there are dwarves so you're much less likely to find the opportunity to say it. But if there was really only one working for BT, that would be noteworthy.

[mikey4444]

Talbot....I have no idea what point you are trying but failing to make ?

[-Talbot-]

Well it sounds rude to me.

[tamborine]

On here we call them gnome, our ed is one.