Steve Simmons said: > Now, of course, 'special' has slid down that slippery slope and there's probably some new term that people are trying to use to avoid a negative connotation for intelligence deficits. > AFIK, *every* term we have for the toilet (including toilet) was devised as a euphemism for a previous term, which was devised as a euphemism for the previous term . . . And so it goes. Now 'gay' meaning, "happy, carefree" is ruined forever. 'Special' has gotten all smarmy around the edges. Who the hell decided, while I'm on a rant, that "Customer" was a dirty word? A lot of stores now call me a 'guest.' I'll be a guest when they give me a hot meal and a place to sleep, not before. Do y'all realize that 'woman' is a dirty word? Try it. "See that woman over there?" "Ask the nice woman where they keep the shampoo in this store." "I need a woman to help me here." Just try using 'woman' in every context where the equivalent usage would be 'man' for a week and see if you can stick with it. Mia