Soon after my Parkinson’s diagnosis, I went online searching for blogs to read. I quickly found Allison Smith’s “The Perky Parkie,” an often-humorous look at one woman’s life with the disease.
It was my first encounter with “Parkie” and its variations.
Being new to the Parkinson’s community, “Parkie” struck me as a convenient piece of shorthand to describe those of us who had the condition. I began using the term without thinking much about it.
So I was startled the other day to receive this comment from a Shakin’ Street subscriber:
I’m enjoying your blog. I just wish you would not use the term ‘Parkies’. People with other diseases don’t nickname their disease. These diseases are too serious for cutesy nicknames – in my opinion. I don’t introduce myself as a ‘Parkie’. I say I have Parkinson’s Disease. Serious name for a serious disease.
It had not occurred to me that anyone might have a problem with the term. But I hadn’t bothered to ask.
I wanted to know more. I Googled “Is Parkie an offensive term for Parkinsons?” and started clicking links.
Parkinson’s News Today published an audio report on the subject — What Do You Think of the Term Parkie? — in 2021. Unfortunatly, the audio clip is no longer online, but 69 comments remain.
Opinions were pretty evenly split in these comments. Some commenters didn’t take a side, but of the ones who did, 24 found “Parkie” offensive and 20 either actively used it or weren’t bothered.
Allison Smith wrote “To Parkie or Not to Parkie” in 2018. Most commenters supported the expression… but Perky Parkie readers could be more likely than average to support it.
I landed on Andi Brown’s “Parky Conversations” podcast. I found a symptom-tracking smartphone app called Parky. I discovered that the World Parkinson’s Coalition’s mascot is named Parky The Raccoon.
I also learned that people diagnosed with the condition formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome sometimes call each other “Aspies.” There is a similar difference of opinion surrounding that term.
”It’s not what you say — it’s what people hear.” — Frank Lunz
When “Parkies” is used, some people hear a respectable, if lighthearted, description.
Others hear a demeaning slur.
So where does this leave the Shakin’ Street blog? I have come to two conclusions:
1. “Parkies” isn’t the N-word. Decent people use it without any intended offense, and many aren’t offended. I have every right to use “Parkies” in my blog if I want to.
2. I’ve decided I don’t want to.
“If you win, what’s the prize?” — Jim Doyle
I write this blog for a community grappling with a debilitating illness. Each reader deals with the challenge in their own way.
I win very little by using the expression. Each time I hurt a member of the Parkinson’s community — whether I intend to or not — we all lose.
A retired school administrator I know used to tell his kids, “Use another word!” I plan to take his advice.
I won’t sanitize previous posts. But going forward, Shakin’ Street will be a No “Parkie” Zone.
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Bonus for Those Who Read to the Bottom
Last weekend I drove from Portland to Vancouver BC to see Bruce Springsteen. It was a terrific show — thanks to blog readers Kevin, Michele, MJ, Rita, Terry, Tim, and Vickie for sharing the experience with me.
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Pearl Jam covers The Who at Madison Square Garden. How much fun must it have been to be in that building seeing that band play that song?
Shakin' Street -- A Parkinson's Blog 
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