Just saw this thread. I have a neurological condition (multiple sclerosis) that makes me jerk and have spasms in my arms and legs.

I wasn't the least bit offended by Craig's comparison. And at least he used correct terminology rather than some of the horrible slang words that turn up!

That's me, though. Other disabled people might feel it was offensive. We're all different.

Craig engages his mouth before thinking .He aims to be controversial and shocking .It doesnt offend me I just find him tedious and attention seeking and so very very predictable .It might as well be a parody of himself at this stage .
Though I must say if I were a dancer I would object to his calling me Darling if I am honest .

I'm glad you said this as I was just about to say the same thing! MS makes me spasm like a marionette which can be embarrassing and cause people to look rather strangely at me. However, last night I wasn't offended by Craig's comment because I felt it was a straightforward simile. Possibly one that could offend, but then it's very difficult to be critical without offending anyone.

Again, as Funky Mango said, other disabled people might be offended. I just know I wasn't

Does Craig realise that four disorders of the central nervous system are: Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis. These conditions can cause jerking movements and spasms. Shameful comment Craig. I find no humour in your judgement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv4PZRKXQ8g

Iveta is kind, lovely, supple, and she happens to be twice ten-dance world champion. It would be hard for a 73-year-old or anybody to match her on fluidity.

"Jolts, jerks, spasms"? No sign of these as Johnny easily held a static pose at the end of the routine.

The beautiful RAD President took in all aspects of Johnny's dance then offered practical advice -- in latin to put bodyweight dynamically on the balls of the feet not statically on the heels. Johnny had directed his dance from the head and moved bodyweight from the waist in a dance where legs and hips should have been the engine room.

To help stir himself into hot cha cha beat unnatural to his placid self, Johnny sang along in silence, mouthing a series of geometrical shapes any choreographer would be proud of. Once Craig saw this he unlike 3 other judges was incapable of directing his gaze elsewhere. This judge was the same once he saw Matt di Angelo mouthing a silent count during an advanced quickstep with Flavia.

"A dishorder of the central nervous system?"

Yes Craig, that's what you've got.

So hang on.

You don't like Craig using that as an "insult" against Johnny (which it wasn't, but never mind), but you're perfectly happy to use it as an insult against him?

There's nothing wrong with having diseases of the CNS. If you want to insult someone, please don't use an illness / disability to do so.

And I still feel, as someone with multiple sclerosis, that this was a perfectly reasonable simile. Not offensive in the slightest. Stop looking for offence where there is none, just because you don't like Craig!

It is a competition. Craig is critical of poor performances but is also complimentary about good ones. That's his job.

The dancers are grown ups and they are all capable of receiving negative feedback (apart from Victoria)

Far too many people are given far too much praise for little talent. X-Factor proves it.

Johnny could not stop anxiously counting.
Craig could not stop speculating.

Storm in a teacup.

I would also then say the judges are all grown up and can critic without being hurtful . By all means point out faults but surely it can be done in an adult fashion

I have a neurological disorder where I make sudden strange movements, but to be honest his comment didn't bother me at all even though it was a little harsh.

I didn't find this offensive, although it was probably unnecessary.

It's hardly along the same lines as Jason telling Sharron Davies she looked like a turd going round the u-bend.

He has already done his thinking and has made notes which is more than the other judges do.

He is an excellent judge. He criticises poor performances and praises good ones.

Judges are there to JUDGE and that means pointing out faults as well as praising.

Did I not say by all means point out faults in my post ?

I dont care for his way of saying it . We all differ

Thanks guys for all these answers and different perspectives. I now don't know what I think but that's the good of getting different views. It takes away the easy answer.

I don't want to have to think badly of Craig -- he's funny and apparently kinder in truth than his public front -- so I'm glad his comment isn't universally offensive. It probably would have been different if he'd thrown out a slang word, though, again, I don't know that that in itself ought to be crucial. It's very easy for someone like him to skirt around being absolutely unacceptable whilst still causing maximum damage.

The turd comment to me wouldn't have been as bad but we all take against different things. .

His "public front" is what he's employed to do. He's the pantomime baddy of Strictly judging, like Cowell and Jason Gardiner in other shows.

The difference with slang words, to me, is that they're commonly used as insults rather than as simple descriptions. I've had "spaz" shouted at me in the street, not "person with a neurological condition".

That's far more offensive than Craig's comment last night.

Most people I know with neurological disorders are very aware of their condition - just because they don't draw attention to it themselves, doesn't mean they aren't aware of it.

Even if a neurological disorder affects a person's learning ability, as the condition is often a dominating factor in their lives, they are very aware of themselves and the nature of their condition, as well as how it might appear to other people.

Dangerous ground...dear God, what individual goes looking for offensive comments!!! Please don't take offence, but Craig was well out of line. It was distasteful and inappropriate to make that comment. IMO of course

Plenty of people do - In my last job, you weren't allowed to 'brainstorm' because the management had decided it was offensive to people with epilepsy. This is a common decision made by Training Managers. However, Epilepsy Action issued the following statement, suggesting that in a similar situation, people were looking for offence where none was there to be taken and managers were being offended on behalf of others who didn't ask them to do that!

http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/press/fac...ming-offensive

Thanks for that info and link, however I still took offence. Guess its all relative.

David Brent lives and breathes
But just because that's daft it doesn't mean Craig chose good ways to advise Johnny how to work on his Latin.

There are all kinds of phrases that are part of language, having a leg to stand on, blind as a bat, brainstorm, etc that are useful and inoffensive.

I can't still get beyond the feeling that Craig was using the condition as if it ought to be an insult. But honestly, the more I read this thread, the more confused I'm getting.

That's your right. I felt he used it as a similie instead, so viewers could visualise what he meant.

Haven't watched it yet.

My husband has Parkinson's and has a lot of twitchy, jerky movements. I doubt he'd be offended but it does sound as though Craig has overstepped the mark.

The advice to take a deep breath and stand back from the computer could benefit quite a number here...