Who Finds What Word OFFENDING and Why?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

i hate being addressed as LADY: its classist, condescending and its male counterpart LORD is no longer used.

[Burma Jones]

1. Says You....

My Children refer to me as Lord, or was it droll, I'm not sure

[Sandpiper]

2. When an older person

Refers to me as son. Extremely condescending.

[Qanisqineq]

3. oh, me too

I was called "lady" here at DU a couple weeks ago. Sure, I was being a bitch, but that really annoyed me.

As for the word I find most offensive, it is probably "snatch". Use the "c" word or anything else and I am not offended, but that one is like fingernails across a blackboard for me.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. snatch: ugh

:puke:

[arcane1]

8. I would add "rack" to that list, too

hate it

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. me too...

big boobies , i like that :bounce: :bounce:

[arcane1]

10. lol

exactly, gotta refer to them in the plural or it just isn't the same :silly:

[HEFFA]

13. If they're big, they're NOT boobies....

Boobies are something that you find on young girls. Y'know, like they're still growing into boobs.

My personal favorites are:

Tits
Titters
Funbags
Breasticles

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. no no they are boobies

[arcane1]

20. I'd probably add a couple of those to the list too

your mileage may vary :)

[sam sarrha]

23. Well the boob that gave the Gestapo a hard on to censor all media to save

our souls, and without even investigating to see if it was an accident.. wasn't particularly remarkable, and at the distance viewed was indiscernible..

[Buns_of_Fire]

37. I learned from Steve Martin that the PROPER term for boobies is

"Golden Bozos" (this was the same time I learned from him that two wrongs don't make a right -- but three do)...

[TreasonousBastard]

60. Would you prefer "headlights?"

[EstimatedProphet]

21. I hate being called lady too

You'd think my beard would clue people in...:)
Seriously, I don't believe in being afraid of words, and outlawing them. I think the PC movement did itself in by trying to be thought police. I might agree with most or even all of what the PC crowd say, but the way they say it makes me quit agreeing.

[Nikia]

4. Bitch

Very sexist. It puts a woman down for asserting herself. There is no equivalent male word. I told my husband to never call me that. So far he hasn't although sometimes I am sure he's thought about it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. but what if you call yourself a bitch

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. but what if you call yourself a bitch

[Qanisqineq]

12. that one used to bother me, now I like it

because I only hear it when I am sticking up for myself. It empowers me.

It puts a woman down for asserting herself.

I agree, but I let any man that calls me a bitch know that "you say I'm a bitch like it's a bad thing"

[Nikia]

25. That's a good come back

I'll have to try that one out.

[Qanisqineq]

27. thanks, I didn't come up with it and

I don't remember where I got it from or exactly how the quote goes, but I used to have it taped to my computer at work.

[TreasonousBastard]

63. Dig through here...

they've got whole pages of great lines:

http://www.heartlessbitches.com/

[Cuban_Liberal]

19. There IS an equivalent male word.

"Prick".

[Rowdyboy]

26. "prick" is an excellent equivalent to bitch!

Good work! I knew there had to be one...

[Twillig]

30. Nah, it's 'asshole.' Prick is a step up from asshole. just like the

"C" word is a step up from 'bitch' I'd spell out the "C" word, but I don't wanna be a prick.

'Bitch' seems to be on the same level as 'asshole.' At least to me.

I've never seen a female referred to as an asshole. I'd like to see it applied equally as it isn't a matter of gender. We've all met assholes of both genders. Perhaps even been one from time to time..

[TreasonousBastard]

64. Close, but...

prick, dick, and other such epithets are relating specifically to the genitalia, and usually applied to more vile, mean sprited or obnoxious men.

Which is why (drumroll please) I think that calling an equally miserable woman a cunt is actually equal opportunity in action.

Now, if you believe one should never use epithets like these at all, and I agree they really shouldn't be used in polite conversation at thanksgiving dinner or Church socials, then there's no problem.

But, if one happily calls a man a prick, why not call a woman a cunt? There is absolutely no rational reason not to, and it is purely an emotional reaction to think it would be worse. Are women so weak that one lousy word will rip them to pieces? I hope not, and experience shows it is undoubtedly not so.

"Asshole," btw, should be used far more than it currently is. It is not gender or race specific, and there are just so many of them around.

Every one of these words, btw, can be properly applied to Anne Coulter.

[Donkeyboy75]

50. I think that bitch is the male's "asshole"

equivalent. I've always wondered why it is considered offensive...but I must admit that I have only really heard it used jokingly.

[TreasonousBastard]

62. I figure the male equivalent is "bastard"...

and I'm not sure there's all that much of a sexist angle to it.

It just doesn't click to call a woman a miserable sonofabitch or bastard, and daughterofabitch is really stupid.

So, bitch works out fine.

After all, if you're called a bastard, bitch, asshole, or anything else, it's INTENDED to offend.

[HEFFA]

11. Honestly, I love words -- all words.

I would have to admit, however, that some words (the "N" word, the "C" word, etc.) do have the ability to offend people. And, don't get me wrong, I tend not to use those words. Of course, if I spent all of my time worrying about which words offended people, I'd never have time to talk. I mean, isn't the whole push towards non-offensive language the PC stuff that pisses everybody off?

I mean, do we really need to refer to a person who works as a dishwasher as a "ceramic cleansing engineer"? Fuck, man!

[Qanisqineq]

14. oops, I forgot about the "n" word

but it is as offensive, or more, than "snatch"

[neverborn]

16. The "C" word.

I'm constantly described as a militant feminist. This is probably true. "Snatch", "Pussy", as terms for the genitalia don't bother me. "Bitch", etc. as terms for a woman don't offend me.(Not immediately. Likely, if it's a guy saying it -- he's probably offending me.)

But there's no word like the "C" word -- when I hear it, no matter what the context, I HATE IT.

[Donkeyboy75]

51. Yes, "crap" has always offended me, too.

:)

[neverborn]

61. I clearly meant crap :P

=D

[Fuzz]

17. I find no word offensive by itself . . .

it's the intentions behind an uttered word that can offend me. Words by themselves are just that and any word, yes any word, can be said in proper context or in proper company without necessarily being offensive.

[Ladyhawk]

28. This is my stance.

It sometimes gets me in trouble with the fundy family. :)

[Fuzz]

33. I bet my family is more fundy than yours

hehe :)

my father is an ordained Assemblies of God minister who went to Ashcroft's dad's Bible school in Missouri.

That sure was a fun way to grow up!

[Ladyhawk]

65. Sounds like loads of fun! Your family may be more fundy than mine.

But I bet mine comes close. :D

I got it from three angles: home, church and school. We started out as Southern Baptists and it just degenerated from there. My mom was a member of the Moral Majority and now the KKKristian KKKoalition.

[Fuzz]

68. LOL. A tie is fine with me!

:)

[ConcernedCanuk]

35. aha ! - took 17 posts to find one to agree with

.
.
.

It's the tone of voice to me . .

If someone said " I think you are a pretty lady"

I see no offence in that,

but at the same time -

If someone says, "hey LADY, move your butt" - that indicates disdain for the other person . .

One of my brothers (he's gay, me not) doesn't mind if I call him a flaming queen, but - if a stranger called him that, - fists would fly -

so yup,

it's not the word, it's how it is used

To me anyways ,

So

the short answer to the original question

Wht WORD do I find offending?

By itself

. . NONE . .

[RandomKoolzip]

18. A lot of women think that the word "c*nt" is just unacceptable.....

In any situation. They really have an aversion to that word.....Probably because of the very harsh consonants. (the point of this phoneme is exactly its harshness) However, it's a fucking GREAT word for a man to use to put down another man. Just ask John Lennon.....

[Coventina]

40. Not me!

I'm full of cunt-y goodness!

If I accept that a word referring to my body is "dirty" then I can be coaxed into thinking my body is dirty. I refuse to let that happen!

Just my two cents....

[AntiCoup2K4]

22. "President Bush"

It doesn't matter how many times a day that lie is repeated, it still sounds like nails going down a chalkboard.

[Blue-Jay]

24. I only find racial slurs offensive.

Except for "Mick", of course.

Bloody Micks.

[bigwillq]

29. Words seldom offend me

They're just that-words-butthe intention in how they are used offends me often. There are too many words when used improperly that really offend me. It would take up to much space.

I don't mind if such words as 'fag' or 'homo' or 'cunts' or the like are used in conversation or in jokes but if someone uses them negatively that offends me.

[Paradise]

31. Maam!

Guess. :silly:

[m-jean03]

32. I am a small young woman

And I find it condescending when men call me "sweetie" and pat my head!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

34. lol

i am short too and i hate when men randomly call me "shortie" WTF's that about

[TreasonousBastard]

59. If you were a guy called Shortie...

you might have a REAL reason to be pissed.

[leanings]

36. Words themselves are NOT offensive.

It's the ideas and intentions behind them. Words are inanimate. They are simply tools used by the speaker to convey a thought or an emotion. If words themselves are inherently evil and offensive, how could Naked Lunch still be in publication? Or even Huck Finn?

People spend way too much time getting wrapped up in stupid things like words. I'll bet you that in recent years far more columns and airtime in the media have been devoted to the use of the word nigger than to the ideas that the Klan represents. Which is the actual threat? Words never lynched anyone; it's the ideas behind the way words are used that give them power.

[bigwillq]

38. True True True

Said basically the same thing in my post a few above. Glad we're thinking on the same level!

[JVS]

39. The current counterpart to Lady is Gentleman

Which is still in use.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. i am ok with GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

its the young lady or ladies of the house etc

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[slinkerwink]

43. bitch, cunt, slut, faggot, dyke, retard, titties, and any racial epithets

[La Lioness Priyanka]

44. ugh: titties are gross

i like bitch, fag and dyke as ingroup honorifics

[Blue-Jay]

45. Titties are GROSS?!?

I suppose we'll politely disagree. I like me some titties.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

46. the word is...boobies are lovely

[slinkerwink]

49. I like boobies too.....*winks*

[slinkerwink]

48. I think that word is vulgar and it's often used to objectify women

by reducing them to nothing more than a pair of "titties"

[Blue-Jay]

52. "Titties" is not vulgar.

"Vulgar" is referring to someone's bust as a "snack tray" or a "rack" (as if it's fit to be mounted to the wall of someone's den).

Titties is titties. It's just an evolution of the actual term "teets". It's just a matter of semantics, I suppose.

[Zomby Woof]

54. you know what is funny?

Semantically, qualitatively, and just about every which way, there is NO DIFFERENCE between the words "titties" and "boobies". They are SLANG.

Silly too, and I am not sure I have even used either in a conversation since I was very very young and didn't know better.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

55. yes i am aware i will point out that i said the word was gross

not that it offended me...it just sounds icky...its LADY that offends me...you can say titties all you like..but you will never get to touch mine :P

[Zomby Woof]

57. I understand

I knew you meant you didn't like it on an aesthetic level, and I understand fully. Big difference between a dislike due to taste (no pun intended) and a dislike due to parsing semantics on vulgarity vs. objectification because of personal baggage or such.

That being said, I have ONLY used the word to mock itself, and those who think there is something inherently sexist about what is essentially a stupid slang word.

(You have been threadjacked by the best, consider yourself cliqued, lol) :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

53. people don't know the difference...

Between vulgar slang and a derogatory term. "Titties" is vulgar slang. So is "cock", "pecker", and "schlong", but since those are about the male organ, that makes it okay to use *cough*. It doesn't become derogatory until you assign negative characteristics to a specific person's breasts (or other body parts), which I don't do either here or there.

In real life, I think the word "titties" is rather silly and kind of rednecky, but for those who are ironically-challenged (or humor-impaired), I use it because I am quite amused that anyone can be offended by it. It makes for good satire, but actually isn't in my own vernacular. The scientific "breasts" does just fine.

Have some beer. :beer:

[slinkerwink]

47. it's okay for minorities to "own" those words

it's a way of erasing the damage of that word being used against them.

[Dr Fate]

56. None of them.

Certain types of thinking & certainly acts have offended me.

Words are words.

[Zomby Woof]

58. there ya go

Words have power, and they can convey strong ideas. Once those ideas or actions are put into place, THEN they must be combatted. But it is up to us to dismiss or employ the relative power of each word as they are enacted, and well, just have a thick skin dammit. :-)

To paraphrase Jefferson, words must be free to be expressed so they can be free to be combatted. Otherwise, we're just succumbing to fascisty thought police behavior. No wonder the left is derided sometimes.

[SoCalDem]

66. I find NO words offending.

I always consider the source, and go on my way..

I always told my sons as they were growing up, that there were so many really awesome words in our (and others') language, that the overuse of "dirty" or "curse" words, actually has an opposite effect.. It makes the user appear silly (apparently they are not smart enough to look up the really perfect word for the situation), or the words themselves lose their "punch" when sprinkled too lavishly into everyday speech..

Kids often get into the habit of using "bad" words, to appear "grown-up" and just end up looking unintelligent..

I also reminded them that some words DO offend people, and that different generations look at different words as being "bad".. (I once was slapped across the face for saying "crud")...and that they should always imagine themselves being quoted on the front page of the newspapers...and to think about what everyone they know would think of their words... teachers..grandparents..parents..friends..bosses...

I know they use "the words", but they never used them around us or any of our friends (that I know of)..


Back to the point.. I guess I am un-offendable :)

[Skittles]

67. people who insinutate "BALLS" are necessary for courage

are unbelievably sexist and outdated.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

70. good point

[Skeptical Democrat]

69. I find the "c" word offensive.

I can't even say it. It's always used as an offensive term to women.