(Untitled)

[esorlehcar]

I made a flocked post about this yesterday, when I was still at the spitting-with-rage point, but I've calmed down and I still think this is important enough to say publicly, so

Comments

[fleshflutter]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm watching some really intelligent, cutting satire that I'm just too dense to get. And then I realise that no, some people are just that awful. :(

[esorlehcar]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm watching some really intelligent, cutting satire that I'm just too dense to get

There are so many times I wish I could believe that.

[reikah]

Like I said last night, the sad thing is, I actually agree with the original point, that 'cunt' should be used more often to make it less... sacrilegious? But wow, acknowledge that it's a loaded word some people might object to, christ.

[esorlehcar]

I actually agree with the original point, that 'cunt' should be used more often to make it less... sacrilegious?

I think there's value in taking the word back, but continuing to use the word as insult isn't taking it back, it's perpetuating the problem. I'm not sure why "cunt" is considered the ultimate insult (though I don't think the idea that it's because people find female genitalia more offensive than male genitalia holds up, since "pussy" is a common insult not afforded the same status), but I don't think it particularly matters -- it doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that using a term for female genitalia as a pejorative makes it derogatory, gender-based slur, or that there are reasons for being disturbed or upset by it beyond being a "fucking moron" or a "retard."

[reikah]

You know, I've spent the last ten minutes googling the etymology of the word, and no two sources appear to agree. I had an english teacher in secondary school tell me it came from the word "queant," but since same teacher used to crack jokes constantly about the avian population of Hull, I'm not entirely sure he's to be trusted there. *facepalm*

[queen_kiwi]

The whole situation sucks, and I can't brain enough today to make a semi-intelligent response, so I offer cocoa and this gorgeous manip by lostt1 to hopefully help things. :)

[esorlehcar]

God, isn't that beautiful? I've had it open in a tab for, like, two weeks, and I'm using it as story inspiration. *sighs happily*

[queen_kiwi]

More fic? See icon.

[esorlehcar]

Queenie!

[aprilkat]

I'm sorry, but I can't even wrap my brain around that. And then the absolute vitriol and dismissal being poured out on people trying to make a valid point within the context of the meaning of the post!

[marinarusalka]

Uhm... wow. I went and looked at the threads in question, and it's like the racism bingo card has magically transformed into the misogyny bingo card.

I especiall love the "This word is only offensive in the US! It's totally harmless when people from other countries use it!" Like, didn't we just go through all that in the miscegenation debate?

[esorlehcar]

Yeah, the bit where they just kept hitting racism bingo squares (right down to the claim that it's stupid to get upset about something as unimportant as language) in an argument about why racially derogatory language is bad was fairly impressive, in a deeply depressing sort of way.