The Use Of The Word "Whore" And "Bitch"

[DemocratSinceBirth]

A couple of weeks ago I started a thread with the title "Is The Use Of The Word Bitch Always Offensive?" One of the reasons I started the thread was because I didn't intentionally want to use language that was offensive to most DUers. I was told it was and have eliminated that word from my vocabulary when I post here.

Another reason I posed the question was because in response to a poster saying the GOOPERS want to run against Hillary Clinton I wanted to reply "Hillary Clinton will make Rudy Guliani her "bitch".
In colloquial parlance "bitch" has become a synonym for "humiliated" , "defeated", "embarrassed", or "vanquished" but the original meaning of the word was a female dog...

I will not use it here because it hurts people...


I understand the word "whore" has come to mean a person who compromises their belief for personal or pecuniary gain but the original meaning of the word was a woman who had sex with lots of men or had sex for money...

If one word is verboten among so called enlightened folks so is the other one and if one word is not verboten among so called enlightened folks neither are...

[mainegreen]

1. context, context, context.

Sure some people can't or wont see past the context, but certainly there are many, many words that a inappropriate in one context that are fine, if a bit exuberant, in others.

Of course some words are almost always inappropriate, but even these words in, special cases can be used; for example, in a discussion of historical perceptions.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Thank You

The name calling here is starting to sound like hate radio. I'm getting to the point where this place is no longer a discussion board but becoming a lynch mob. If a person has a problem with a candidate, state it on the merits of the issue, not with the use of such sliming...especially of other Democrats.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. I Don't Use The Word "Bitch" Here Anymore Out Of RESPECT

To me "bitch" is a synonym for "owned", nothing more , nothing less, but to some the etymology of the word makes it unusable and I RESPECT that.

Same for whore...

[KharmaTrain]

5. Offensive Is Offensive

I'm not a Clinton supporter...in fact, all of these mean-spirited attacks are me suspect of the agenda of those who use them (and their candidates they support). Right now I don't plan on voting for a Presidential candidate in the upcoming primary but will support whomever the party nominee is.

DU has become very mean spirited and about time for me to take a prolonged vacation from this place. There are few discussions in this place anymore...it's all rants and attacks...and now directed at other Democrats. I could accept this if this were a non-partisan board but the name on the masthead says "DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND"...and there should be some respect to those who are members of this party. Agree to disagree...take issue with a person's position, but offensive name calling is turning this place into a cesspool.

[shireen]

19. "DU has become very mean spirited"

please don't let a few loud rude people taint your impression of DU. Most of us don't use offensive language when describing Democratic candidates.

[durrrty libby]

4. I wonder if Isaiah Thomas will ever utter the word "bitch" again?

It may cost the Nicks organization how much? 11.6 million

I can only imagine the price, if "whore" had been thrown in the mix.

[Uben]

6. No profanity in thread titles

You see it everyday, somebody posts a thread title with the word "motherfucker" or "shit" or some other profane word. Now, I cuss as much as anyone, believe me, but I do not use profane language in thread titles in forums where women or young folks may be reading. Why? I leave my computer on 24/7, and of course, DU is my home page, and specifically, "the Latest threads" page.

I can't leave the LAtest Breaking page up all the time because of the profanity (I have children in the house). I would make a plea to the mods to adopt a policy of no profanity in thread titles, but I know it would fall on deaf ears. Too many seem to like to use profanity in the titles. I have no problem with profanity in posts, because I don't leave individual posts up on my computer screen all day.

I moderate a forum of my own, 8 yrs now, and I do not allow profanity in thread titles for the same reason. I'm no prude, but I don't think it is appropriate for kids to be exposed to profane language. I guess I am also a little "old school" when it comes to using profanity in front of women. I don't do it. But if I am out with the guys or even alone sometimes, Katy bar the door!


Thanks for listening.................rant off!

[Apollo11]

13. Depends on what you mean by "profanity"

To me words like "shit" and "asshole" are perfectly acceptable words.

But I would NEVER use an ugly word like "motherf****r" - which you just did!

[alarimer]

15. Women do not need to be protected from bad language

That is paternalistic, sexist bullshit.

[Thothmes]

7. Words

I refrain using either word when talking about people. Also do not have much use for name calling, which I view as infantile.

[CT_Progressive]

8. So, I can't say "mAnn Coulter is a whore and a bitch" anymore ? :(

Poo.

[proudleftists]

9. Bitch, Ho, & NI**** ARE HATE Words

Maybe as a near sixty year old Black Woman I am just a wee bit
sensitive about certain words, but I find Bitch and the others
that I have listed as hateful and every time I hear any of
them, in rap music, or in any other way I cringe. I think that
this LIBERAL site should refrain from using those vile ( mean
& hateful ) terms. Beyonce Welch - Proud African -
American Catholic & Liberal Lady

[CT_Progressive]

16. Yes, but I hate mAnn Coulter. So, does that make it ok ?

Just checking.

p.s. she really is a bitch and a whore.

[shireen]

20. Welcome to DU, proudleftists!!!

We're glad to have you here. :)
Your perspective will be very valuable, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts in future posts.

[johnnie]

10. It's better just to stay quiet

There are so many people here offended by everything that it is almost not worth posting. I have never had to worry about everything I say as much as I do here.

DU is a great place for news and things like that, but it has become a terrible place to discuss anything. I'm not bashing DU or the people, just offering my opinion.

[tomreedtoon]

11. Democrats, surrender your language weapons now!

The right wing is happy that you're handing over for destruction the very language weapons they're using against you - covertly or overtly - right now. You are as Sean Connery's character described in The Untouchables - "bringing a knife to a gunfight."

Actually, you're more like bringing a multi-page thesis to a gunfight. Oh, you'll win the moral battle, as you and American freedoms lie full of holes and bleeding on the sidewalk.

When are you folks going to realize that this coming election, and the last eight to sixteen years, haven't been a debate, they've been WAR? And that by playing this stupid "politically correct" game you're robbing yourselves of your most effective weapons?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. If You Read My Thread That Was My Argument For Using The Word "Bitch"

But folks still found it offensive...

Oh, f ---ing well...

[Apollo11]

18. It's a word that is implicitly demeaning to women

Because a bitch is a female canine - you can't escape the fact that the original meaning of the word is gender specific.

[shireen]

14. offensive words and their origins

So many of these "offensive" words have never really made much sense ....

whore = prostitute: I don't have anything against the profession if it's practised by willing adult participants with proper health safeguards.
bitch = female dog: I LOVE dogs!

You could go on and on ...
ass = Any of several hoofed mammals of the genus Equus
moron = person with a genetically determined mental age between 8 and 12
fuck = sex act

It's interesting how some of these words have evolved from their original meanings. Language and culture can be so strange and confusing. :)

[alarimer]

17. Some women deserve it

When some woman talking on a cell phone cuts me off in traffic or nearly cause an accident, she is a "bitch". I call men names too, not that any of them can hear me.