Talk:Madlyn Rhue

While Ms Rhue and Mr Montalban clearly had health problems, the phrasing here concerning their use of wheelchairs is very bad. See Communicating with and about People with Disabilities about half way down the page. Other style guides have much the same advice.

"Try to avoid words and descriptions that have become outdated, inappropriate and do not put the person first:

"Afflicted" is a negative term suggesting hopelessness.

''"Confined to a wheelchair." People are not imprisoned in wheelchairs. Individuals use wheelchairs to move about.''

"Crippled" implies someone who is pitiful and unable to do anything."

--129.198.241.62 01:53, 2 March 2007 (UTC)


 * Crippled implies one who is pitiful? That's pretty harsh; I don't think we'll accept that definition here. Oh, wait, that's an interpretation. In any case, the word is never used in the article. Also, while affliction may suggest hopelessness, it isn't defined as such; that word isn't used in the article, either. Lastly, nothing in the article states they are prisoners in the wheelchair, but their bodies are – like it or not – confined to a wheelchair, at least for the most parts of their life. Nonetheless, if you know a better, less "offensive" way to state it, by all means. --From Andoria with Love 02:01, 2 March 2007 (UTC)