Semantics'

Semantics'

5/11/1999

One fine day Forest R Sexton, told us:

FS> I don't have websters sitting in front of me but I refer to my
    prosthetic clientele primarily as patients if I am discussing them
    in a context where names are inappropriate.

Uhhh, excuse me. Where names are inappropriate? And you labeled the
thread quite correctly 'semantics'? Forgive me, but semantics is my
middle name. I used to try to teach it to students, when I was bored and
had nothing else to do...

FS> The term does not depersonalize or minimize my obligation toward
    them. Actually I believe that it may do just the opposite. It
    creates in my impression an obligation beyond that of just supplying
    a product.

Kim's initial point was that the term 'patient' implies passivity on the
part of the amputee and is therefore wrongly used (sadly, she opted to
attack or correct someone from Malaysia-forgetting different cultures
use language in different ways) by the professionals in the field.

What I find a tad disconcerting is that she rightly believes us (I am a
BK anputee) to be passive when if fact not all of us are. Most, sadly,
are, and so her arrow might be (and is) pointed in an appropriate
direction. The rhetoric used, well....

FS> It implies that my obligation extends beyond that of retailer into
    the realm of CARE provider where I am morally and ethically
    required to serve the PATIENT and not just the deficit.

Frankly, I do not give a damn. I come into your shop and I am not sick
and therefore, I am not a 'patient'in the sense that I am ill or needy
of a cure. I want a product, and that product is simple. A socket that
works. What foot you jam on the end is irrelevant. I'll make that foot
work. I am a gimp of 30 years (happy birthday to my stump) and I know
the difference. But, my concern is not with the old boys like me. Hell,
we'll have you for lunch.

The lists exist for new, scared outa-their-fuckin'-mind amps, who do not
have a clue. Who want not necessarily want to talk to you, but they do
want to talk to other amps, gimps, crips, people who, for whatever
reason, discover that one fine day, they have become a member of a club
that they did not wish to join. They are scared, they hurt, and there is
not a damned thing semantics will do for them.

FS> For those people who believe that we are simply just obligated to
    provide a product and ignore the care for the patient, I would ask
    you to consider that there is a great deal more to being a quality
    care provider.

Fine Forrest...but that is not addressing the issue. Hell, if you
professionals wanted to address the issue you would. What you often do
is not address the issues of concern to amputees: And this old boy is
happy to give it to you in three words: I promise, no rhetoric:

FS> I would also be very interested in info on amputee mailing lists if
    anyone can recommend where I could sign up?

Hahahahaha...depends if you want someone to tell you what you can
discuss, or if you opt to think for yourself. Look around. There is one.

Wayne Renardson (uhhhhh gimpy---a thinkin' crip)