@gruber Using the word sclerotic as part of a slur is surely something to which you would not be proud to have attched your name? Please try to be better than those who resort to lazy use of ableist language.
@gruber Not at all. But when people are abusive to my wife because of how easy it is to ignore MS and other "invisible illnesses" I think it is important that we are careful and precise about how we use such language. I have even heard -- and agreed -- with your own such assessment about language and so am doing nothing more than holding you to your own standard.
@simonwoods I've got MS in the family and appreciate your concern. But I expect you know that 'sclerotic' is used pretty broadly. Maybe arteriosclerosis is the term that comes to most people's minds. It just means 'stiffening'. I'd feel free to use it metaphorically without any reference to physical disability. FWIW.
@JMaxB I wrote the previous then thought 'Is this turning into one of those online comment threads that we all came here to escape?' I'm afraid I may have contributed. If so, very sorry.
@JMaxB I am neither opposed to being proven wrong nor inclined to resort to mindless, emotionally-lead use of abusive comments. Your own reply was a worthy contribution. As such I don't think this is one of those threads at all.
@gruber I should have raised this issue via email or a full blog post, rather than throwing it at you as a comment. I'm sorry for doing so, especially with such shitty phrasing.
@JMaxB Thank you for helping me to think further about my choice to raise this issue in what is, I can now see, a crude manner.
