Does “Eadric the Cripple” sound discriminatory? Well, in medieval England, it really wasn’t. The original Old English version of the nickname “the cripple” attached to Eadric’s name was just a way for the medieval English to distinguish different Eadrics from one another. In this case, the nickname refers to the specific medical condition that this Eadric had. If we look at Old English nicknames, none of them use the term in an “offensive and generalising” manner, suggesting that the Dark Ages view on impairment was better than we thought. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
