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It's a REALLY old term for "deaf-mute" which is also considered offensive by deaf people. It's hard to keep up with what every single group finds offensive nowadays, but "deaf and dumb" is pretty out there. Most people would know better. "Deaf-mute" I could understand someone slipping on.
I think firing the employee is overreacting though. Sensitivity training is the way to go here. Unfortunately, constant sensitivity training is a fact of life in our easily-offended, overly-litigious culture.
I'm old. I would have used the same term. No knowledge of a different one.
When a vacationing couple, who use sign language, finally received their lost luggage it had a note on it saying "Please text. Deaf and dumb". The couple is outraged calling the note outrageous and cruel and they want an apology. "Deaf and dumb. How much more insulting can you get?" says James' mom.
The airline has replied "“We apologize to [the couple]. It was clearly a very poor choice of words. We’re confident there was no ill will, but we’ll be looking into this further and will be following up with our team members at IAH and the contractor that provides our baggage delivery services.†- but that's not good enough for this couple. "That person needs to be fired," Kay Moehle (mom) said. "The dumb one is the one who write the note."
I'm on the airline's side. What's PC these days for "deaf and dumb"?
I started a thread without knowing this existed but the responses are a little different as is my question.
I watch, "Politically Incorrect," and am not know for being politically correct but here's the deal.
When I was born (mid 50s in the 1900s), deaf and dumb were commonly used. People were deaf
and could not verbally communicate. Earlier than that, people who were deaf were locked up in
insane asylums. So, people thought we were dumb.
I am not dumb. Deaf people are like hearing people some are smart and some aren't. I was in a forum where I clearly did not belong made up of mostly deaf/Deaf (capital D for born deaf, lower case for hearing loss at birth and sent to a school for a year for slow people, I heard some). The doctors didn't realize my problem was my lack of full hearing. I was given a hearing aid in 64 or 65 (9 or 10 years old) and my grades zoomed and teachers hugged me (I liked it) and I had problems with teachers and managers being bullies to me. That ain't dumb, folks. It's people not understanding and it's rampant out there.
The sign for many years was touching one's ear then touching one's mouth meaning deaf and mute. Then it became "ear" + closed.
Now, I am deaf but I'm part of the hearing world and will never move out of it. My speech throws people because I spent years working on not sounding deaf.
Scenario: Had to fly from Asheville to VT and it was a two grasshopper flight and timed tightly. My partner made it clear I needed someone at one change point to have someone there to get me to the next flight. My plane from here was late. I ran like a nut and no one was around. I looked at the front desk where I exited and read the airline person's lips. She was broadcasting my name (what does deaf mean...) and I nabbed her. I just thought it was ludicrous.
I'd just leave out the "dumb" part, OP. You'll be fine or you may find hearing people being called hearing and dumb by the Deaf/deaf community. I am just kidding with the last line.
Deaf-mute is also considered a derogatory term in the land of butt-hurt.
My partner was really angry when someone elsewhere here used it. But I'm the one with the issue . I was taken aback and understood the person who wrote it didn't know. It's an obsolete phrase and it can absolutely be taken negatively and as insulting.
We have to learn to get over being hurt by people not knowing about things they don't know about. That's what life is - learning and changing. If people can't do this, then we have a problem.
I usually tell people, "Call me anything you want because I won't hear you." But a written forum is a bit different.
My partner was really angry when someone elsewhere here used it. But I'm the one with the issue . I was taken aback and understood the person who wrote it didn't know. It's an obsolete phrase and it can absolutely be taken negatively and as insulting.
We have to learn to get over being hurt by people not knowing about things they don't know about. That's what life is - learning and changing. If people can't do this, then we have a problem.
I usually tell people, "Call me anything you want because I won't hear you." But a written forum is a bit different.
The only thing any of us control is our own reaction.
"I'm on the airline's side. What's PC these days for "deaf and dumb"?"
"Deaf and Stupid" After all, I'm sure that's what the employee who wrote the note really meant!
"My brother is deaf. Their community is hyper-sensitive. Not the best choice of words to call someone "dumb" when you mean they can't speak, but I don't think the intention of the employee was to insult so they shouldn't get fired."
Shame on the leaders of this community to advocate being such victims. How 'bout advocating a non sensitive reaction and just calmly educate and correct.
And shame to the couple for wanted to take away someone's livelihood... perhaps take a roof, food and medical care away from their family all because they had their feelings hurt! It was an obvious error from someone who didn't know better. They have no compassion, or common sense.
What a storm in a teacup!
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. I was taken aback and understood the person who wrote it didn't know. It's an obsolete phrase and it can absolutely be taken negatively and as insulting. 
It was an obvious error from someone who didn't know better. They have no compassion, or common sense. 
