History of Feminism

gcomeau

(5,764 posts)

101. Curious

Tue Jan 27, 2015, 12:48 PM

Jan 2015

Is it the fact that it is derogatory and insulting that makes it unacceptable, or is there some additional trait to that specific word that makes it *especially* unacceptable? I'm aware of words that do have such associated additional baggage that places them in that especially unacceptable category (both those with a racial component and those with specific applications to a gender)... I've never seen how "bitch" qualified for that category however.

If the objection is entirely that it's derogatory and insulting...granted. But sometimes that's exactly what the subject matter calls for (I feel no need to moderate my language when speaking about the torture architects operating under the previous president for example). And if you're trying to insult someone you kind of have to use insulting terminology.

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(HOF THREAD!) SO is the word "BITCH" still acceptable on DU... [View all] yuiyoshida Jan 2015 OP

Admins need to step in. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #1

Nailed it. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #10

+1 840high Jan 2015 #18

Admins = Elvis A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2015 #36

I stand corrected - Skinner's working on the problem. A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2015 #37

... F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #44

+1... SidDithers Jan 2015 #55

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #42

I would vote #1 and #3 petronius Jan 2015 #2

It's always been this way Texasgal Jan 2015 #3

Completely depends on context. cheapdate Jan 2015 #4

You have the context here BainsBane Jan 2015 #12

I'm defending language. cheapdate Jan 2015 #13

We are talking about community standards, not a "ban" BainsBane Jan 2015 #16

Why would you bother to even pose a question cheapdate Jan 2015 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author caraher Jan 2015 #48

just to piss you off mercuryblues Jan 2015 #95

results are in Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2015 #54

Thanks for the info. cheapdate Jan 2015 #57

personally, I find the word ... acceptable on DU3 for only two reasons = Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2015 #58

The best and simplest explaination on this thread. marble falls Jan 2015 #88

All too often, context is merely an excuse. LanternWaste Jan 2015 #96

It's a useful word...if you want to be a misognyistic asshole YoungDemCA Jan 2015 #62

Good Lord. People use the word in casual, cheapdate Jan 2015 #63

Asshole is NOT gender specific. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #71

If you, or anyone else, wants to permanently banish the word cheapdate Jan 2015 #80

Let me say what you just said, slightly differently: F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #82

It's very different if someone is driving in traffic cheapdate Jan 2015 #83

I'm out of things to say. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #84

Yeah, I'm a "bigot". cheapdate Jan 2015 #85

Not at all, just a bit obtuse and argumentative. marble falls Jan 2015 #89

both words are used by yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #92

I voted #3. - nt KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #5

You can't if it's a female elected official. I got censured for that in the past. TheNutcracker Jan 2015 #6

HOw is it that it can go both ways...?? yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #8

If the N-word isn't acceptable the B-word shouldn't be either. alp227 Jan 2015 #7

A good question ... yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #9

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #11

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #41

Please provide a link yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #43

There actually was a cracker thread. marble falls Jan 2015 #90

Perhaps, but that guy was yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #91

Yes and he really needed to go. marble falls Jan 2015 #94

Bitch should only be used ChazII Jan 2015 #14

I've used the expression "life's a bitch." You sayin that's not acceptable? InAbLuEsTaTe Jan 2015 #29

I'd avoid it. F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #30

Read post #30 ChazII Jan 2015 #49

not thrilled with throwing the word around... BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2015 #15

Wow...I'm coming in late to this thread, but I have to tell you that I agree whathehell Feb 2015 #130

seriously. I fucking hate it so much. BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2015 #132

I know EXACTLY how you feel, and whathehell Feb 2015 #133

yes, I read it a long time ago! BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2015 #134

Not acceptable. Shame on juror2 and 7. 840high Jan 2015 #17

If I posted and called some RW male politician a Bitch ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #20

Flame bait. n/t ColesCountyDem Jan 2015 #21

Who are you to decide what is an acceptable thread in HOF? BainsBane Jan 2015 #32

A DU-er who's entitled to an opinion about a 'greatest' post, that's who. ColesCountyDem Jan 2015 #38

Welp... F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #45

"I hope you don't stick around long." A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2015 #60

This is more than a META posting yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #46

Well excuse us. sheshe2 Jan 2015 #81

Is flame bait better or worse than groveling for other people's money numerous times? LanternWaste Jan 2015 #97

Try ATA. A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2015 #123

I don't think he's gonna like the answer. JTFrog Jan 2015 #124

They should take getting blocked A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2015 #126

Indeed. n/t JTFrog Jan 2015 #127

This message was self-deleted by its author JTFrog Jan 2015 #125

Bullshit. This is a feminist group and we CAN discuss gender slurs.. whathehell Feb 2015 #131

Voted #2 sarcastically. Here's the icon just in case that's not clear why I voted that way: freshwest Jan 2015 #22

Is it ok if I call myself a bitch? I'm proud of it! mackerel Jan 2015 #23

Why are you proud of it? fbc Jan 2015 #24

It's just slang where I live. It's just another word to play with and the craic is mad! mackerel Jan 2015 #26

Of course it's ok ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #33

I oppose the use of vulgar language on DU because it reduces the level of conversation from JDPriestly Jan 2015 #25

You first :P mackerel Jan 2015 #27

My problem with the B word and other similar epithets is that they don't really mean anything JDPriestly Jan 2015 #35

I'd like to see how many DUers are upset with the word. I don't use it (anymore) because it... BlueJazz Jan 2015 #28

If I used a word that offended someone BainsBane Jan 2015 #34

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #40

You said > BlueJazz Jan 2015 #47

All of those meanings convey a view of women as inferior BainsBane Jan 2015 #56

I understand. Color me enlightened. BlueJazz Jan 2015 #59

Can you please label this as a HOF thread? BainsBane Jan 2015 #31

fixed. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #39

of course it is sexist, and being used on a progressive democratic board with a lot of justification seabeyond Jan 2015 #50

Many of these people are not allies, not progressives, and oftentimes, not Democrats YoungDemCA Jan 2015 #61

Sadly I am begining to see this yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #72

+1 F4lconF16 Jan 2015 #87

So is calling Dems "pussies" ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #51

yes. everyone is aware enough to know, when they make the choice to use these words, they are seabeyond Jan 2015 #52

Sexists hiding inside bigots ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #53

Sea, can't we start some kind of post in GD yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #65

yui, we have had OP after OP in GD. in Meta. in ATA. i know for a fact there was one in ATA seabeyond Jan 2015 #66

God, thats terrible... yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #68

i pretty much quit talking. i fave finally about gotten all my hide off. prior to that, i was kicked seabeyond Jan 2015 #69

I don't understand, how this can happen here.. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #70

+1 Precisely. nt BainsBane Jan 2015 #86

here is hte hide i am talking about that luminous brought to HOF. the OP was hidden. what she was seabeyond Jan 2015 #67

why was there no alert on that posting? yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #64

There was-- it failed ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #73

That totally sucks. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #74

It is sad ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #75

not to mention xenophobia.... yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #77

they gained control on du3, since it was set up for their success. but... thru out the net our seabeyond Jan 2015 #76

I don't know if it will help but yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #78

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #93

DU used to REGULARLY and WITHOUT EXCEPTION lock posts that used the word Miles Archer Jan 2015 #79

Can Derek and Romaine use it on the radio? FrodosPet Jan 2015 #98

Because they use it doesn't make it right. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #99

the poster has plenty of posts in this thread, to educate him about the harm, in the use of the word seabeyond Jan 2015 #100

You are incorrect FrodosPet Jan 2015 #102

what is being called out has nothing to do with any type of friendly social greeting. seabeyond Jan 2015 #103

Yes, please stop alienating all of the people who use "Bitch" as a friendly social greeting. A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2015 #104

I was going to say... yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #105

They'll become alienated once-friendly social greeting terrorists. A-Schwarzenegger Jan 2015 #107

Curious gcomeau Jan 2015 #101

You do understand that insulting someone yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #106

And where exactly on the forum... gcomeau Jan 2015 #108

where DO you engage yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #109

I don't. gcomeau Jan 2015 #111

blocked.... boston bean Jan 2015 #112

wow I can't even believe that was said.. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #113

That is one of the strangest justifications for calling a woman a bitch I've ever heard ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #114

The logic is quite clear BainsBane Jan 2015 #122

and this is the attitude you suggest for a progressive, liberal, Democratic Web Site? Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2015 #115

Very interesting I'd say. ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #116

curious, even Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2015 #117

Even once one parses out the varied implications, and comes to a solid conclusion ismnotwasm Jan 2015 #118

yes, very odd ... I know I have come to a very solid conclusion Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2015 #119

should this be its own thread? yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #120

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #110

not a big fan of it, because it seems very gender-specific Skittles Jan 2015 #121

Never was liberal N proud Jan 2015 #128

Agreed..and will say more.. yuiyoshida Jan 2015 #129