Polite Terms for Difficult Situations

[Mike047]

We try to cover things up by giving them 'nicer' names. It makes it easier, like 'passed away' instead of died.

 

So here are a few more:

 

* Motion Discomfort Receptacle - for sick bag

* Sanitary Landfill - for rubbish dump

* Paying a Visit - going to the toilet

* Aztec Two-Step - diarrhoea

* Ambient Replenishment Operative - shelf stacker

 

There are others, some very humorous, like:

 

* Vertically Challenged - short

* Follically Challenged - bald

 

Others were correct and long overdue updates on incorrect and unloving terms, like:

 

* Cerebral Palsy defining a health problem where people were called 'spastic'

* Downs Syndrome defining a health problem where people were called 'mongol'

* Special Educational Needs children, previously called 'retards'

 

No doubt other lands have others, too

 

 

[Pabo]

On 1/31/2024 at 3:09 AM, Mike047 said:

* Paying a Visit - going to the toilet

 

"Visiting Mary-Lou" is term I use, which actually I have a parody of the song "Hello Mary Lou" that at time sing when I do go to the loo.

 

Or I say with a Scottish accent - "Ey canna needa wee widdle stop"

 

Or "I have to drop a deposit"

 

 

 

 

[RMGreenwood]

On 1/30/2024 at 4:09 PM, Mike047 said:

* Aztec Two-Step - diarrhoea

I've never heard that one before. Do you know where it comes from or if there's an explanation at all?

 

Similar to:

On 1/30/2024 at 4:09 PM, Mike047 said:

* Paying a Visit - going to the toilet

I've also heard "spend a penny" and "to drop the kids off at the pool".

 

I saw some interesting engineering type ones on Instagram the other day, including "organic grounding event" - meaning someone got electrocuted, and "spontaneous kinetic disassembly" - it blew up.

[Mike047]

Rebecca, I think the Aztec two-step originally referred to diarrhoea affecting tourists in Mexico and South America who lack immunity to bacteria in the  local food and drinking water. The many colourful colloquialisms describing traveller's diarrhoea also include Delhi Belly, and Montezuma's Revenge.