Since when did 'Halfwit' become an Expletive?

[brigantia]

Hi there -

As someone born & bred in Yorkshire, many a thousand times in my countless social encounters I've uttered the occasional profanity, not always where I should. But I had an interview with a DSS doctor last week and had the interview terminated over my use of the word 'halfwit' - not to describe the person who was doing the interview, but over someone I met years ago! I said it quite jovially aswell. I was told it "was swearing" and "an expletive", and the doctor concerned began shouting at me and ended my interview less than halfway through. I tried to inform the doctor that 'halfwit' was not, nor ever had been an expletive (it suddenly felt like I was on a Fawlty Towers sketch!), but the person concerned got very emotional, reactionary and metaphorically stamped her feet like some irrational juvenile.

Now - correct me if I'm wrong (I got an A-level english many years ago, when the exams were difficult) but the word 'halfwit', according the OED, is simply "a stupid or foolish person." And, having a quick scan on-line, find it used everywhere - from courts to schools, from films to academia.

And with her proclamation, my interview was over. My benefit no doubt suspended - despite the fact that my examination was far from completed. And I learned a new expletive that day: 'halfwit'!

What utter twaddle! Since when did this word become a swear-word? Can anyone tell me? It aint ascribed as such in the OED - or have a bunch of reprobate linguists covertly altered the definition of our english language and only told it to the priviliged few? Where on earth will this politically-correct stupidity end? I have an interview terminated over the word 'halfwit'! The world's gone truly insane. Someone tell me where I can get off - pleeeeeeezzz......

Yours, annoyed -

Paul (evidently a halfwit cos I didn't know it was swearing) Bennett, Keighley

[WoodsterUK]

RE

Since you turned up for your appointment as agreed and as stated in you contract with the DWP, then you have fulfilled your part of the bargain. I would hazard a guess and say that the doctor needs to tweak the old interpersonal skills. If they try anything like suspend your benefit you can stand your ground on the basis that you can add that you now suffer from social anxiety caused by people that work for Authority.

You may want to avoid self harm in respect of becoming (anxious) by getting your doctor to tell the DWP/EU that you don’t need to prove you’re ill and that Authority (Soviet Uk) involvement makes you worse as it is a medical condition, although it has been given the soft title of "social shyness" (Arrr) this is to diminish its standing as a medical condition.

The DWP/EU say it’s about what you can do, not what you can’t do these days. Turning up and communicating with DWP/EU doctors means that you can do a lot in their eyes.

Turn up for appointments
Walk, Talk, Communicate
Understand what someone tells you and evidence it by acting out the instruction i.e. (Stand on one leg... (The client responded immediately)
and clarifying your capabilities with “small talk” (not in your case, as you bamboozled him/her) There’s more to the DWP/EU that people imagine and people around Keighley can imagine a lot. But that falls far short of the truth.

The moral is if you don’t go then I guess you’re too sick to go. Like your doctor said.

I would love to mention the benefits to some people in this system invented by the DWP/EU for the sick, Mmm No I’m out on that.

You can get a full print out of your meeting and what the doctor said by writing to the appropriate place in an appeal if it comes to that.

As for (half wit) yes your clearly entitled to your opinion of what is right or wrong and better for you to evidence and cite it from a know fact for them to chew on.
Even if you turned out to be wrong you would be still right in that a belief is a value and a value held by an individual should be respected by professionals at that level and challenged tentatively and appropriately.

Good luck.

(Not replying to a letter asking you to attend an interview with a EU Officer/Doctor will get you suspended.)

Never break a contract with the EU/DWP. Or you will be punished!

[brigantia]

Hi Woodster!

Many thanks for all that. Several things for me to chew on in there.

[brigantia]

Just a short update on what's happened to my situation: since using the word 'halfwit' to the DSS doctor (called Dr Brigitte Goretzky), my benefits have been completely suspended & I'm now getting no money whatsoever - for doing absolutely nothing wrong. But then I suppose that having epilepsy most of my life (I'm on 2 different types of medications) and being stone deaf in one ear is irrelevant to this woman. This awful Dr Goretzky has lied on the report she wrote about me and as a result I am now getting less than 1p a week! Zilch! Naff all! And thanks to her my housing benefit has been stopped; my council tax benefit stopped. Is this the action of a real doctor!? Aren't they supposed to help those of us who are ill? Are they not bound by summat called the Hippocratic Oath? This Dr Goretzky doesn't appear to have an ounce of care in her somewhat large frame. Not only do her actions leave me with no cash, this halfwit's actions may now leave me homeless.

Huge thanks Brigitte. D' y' fancy meeting up and lending me a tenner!? Oops - you don't have an ounce of care do you!?

Yours, very p****d off - Paul

PS - anyone else had this happen to them thanks to this lovely woman!?

[WoodsterUK]

You’re not alone and I’ve been working hard on this very thing.

I’ve kept voice record/ing of the complete “pathways to work” Process which is very damming and I would suspect that someone could be in trouble for many of the comments made to me and I don’t take prisoners.

As soon as the process is over I’ll be submitting the transcripts as feed back for them to comment on and possibly online, depending of the nice letter or phone call I usually end up with in many instances. Or it can get ugly and they will punish me some how in the vain hope that I’ll crack.

I’m still investigating them and their claims to help people and I’ve just this wk had my claim closed down because the claim took too long. Now I’ve been asked to do a rapid reclaim. I’ve refused and asked to appeal the claim being closed (very very damming stuff on the transcripts). I can honestly say that at this point in my investigation it clearly shows serious problems exist that will become overwhelming for the Jobcentre in the summer.

You are most seriously not alone.

You’re entitled to appeal and while this is in a state of appeal you will get the minimum the law says you can have. (Which is what they want?)

So you will get something.

I’d say you’re going to have it tough for awhile and it’s up to you what way you go.
I think personally if you’ve family to support I’d do the dance and get back in there and just try acting like they want you too.

I’ve been to the tribunals before after lengthy appeals; the stress will get hard on you and its mind numbing.

Good luck.

[devonshirelady]

Hope you get your money sorted - this doctor must be another half wit.,

DL