Also, why the hell must everyone freak out because a word used in SOME contexts can be construed as homophobic? Just because “pansy” can mean “gay” does not mean that it does in this context. Fuck, people. He didn’t mean it that way. Why is this so hard?
In your case, it was telling you that you’re not that smart.
Did King Julian say anything about “beating the pansy” out of anyone who had expressed that they didn’t like racist jokes? If not, then I’m not sure what his “use of it” is a reference to.
Shit and tarnation, look the word up in the fucking dictionary. It means effeminate or homosexual. That is what I said it means. When somebody in a movie I’ve never seen uses it, it means effeminate or homosexual. What is the problem here, indeed.
The irony here is that its one of the few plants will survive in the hands of pansy horticulturalist.
Concur that the OP is reading way too much into the post in question. I’m also fairly sure I’ve used “pansy” myself on this board to connote weakness or cowardice, not sexuality.
But THOSE intepretations of the word make no sense when applied to how he used the word and what he was talking about.
I guess its possible Chessic is actually a fag hating sexist, but thats NOT what he was gripping about. He was gripping about people that overreact to having their feelings hurt. You don’t need to be gay or a woman for that to apply. For that matter do we even know if Little Nemo is either of these?
This is true. Outside of the Pit, you’re real Charmin.
That’s the crux of the matter, and I don’t think you’re being totally honest about it. The thing is, using language implying femininity to insult somebody whose feelings are hurt makes perfect sense historically. That’s basically how you do that - you say stop being such a girl, don’t be a sissy, don’t be a pussy. Come on, cry, little girl, cry to your mommy. Is it your time of the month? Are you getting hysterical now? Are you getting your panties twisted?
Do you really think that calling somebody a pansy (which means effeminate man) because they’re acting offended is really some new usage of the word? You really aren’t aware of the massive trend in language toward using sexist language to describe “people that overreact to having their feelings hurt”?
You mean like drama queens?
Just man up man.
Bah. Language is complex. He’s already explained that he did not mean it that way, so you have no leg to stand on.
I brought up the OED, not because I was confused about the word’s definition (and indeed, the definition you found was precisely what we’re discussing) but because the full hard bound copy contains examples of the word as its used in print, which allows one to see how the word evolves over time. My point was that I don’t believe pansy has become so divorced from its meaning of homosexual (or homosexual-ishly effeminate) man that there would be example in print of with its sole new meaning.
Are women ever called pansies? Frightened children - or just, say, a boy child who want to play with dolls? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it applied to girls playing dolls. I can’t remember ever seeing it applied to women either. I’d be curious if there are examples of this. I’ve only ever encountered it in refering to men who are somehow acting non-manly.
<shrug> You’re male, RNATB, iirc? Next time you’re out on the town with your male chums, try referring to them as your ‘boyfriends.’ Explain that they are, literally, your friends-who-are-boys and just because it can mean something gay doesn’t mean that’s what you meant. See if you can slip in the phase ‘boy, I wish I had a faggot in my mouth right now.’ Let us know how that goes.
“These are my mates.”
Does that mean I mate with them?
That’s the new rule, right? After-the-fact rationalization defines what a statement means? You must love politics.
Anyway, here’s what he said:
He substituted pansy for BITCH. How complicated is this now?
What are you trying to argue? That pansy does mean effeminate or that it does mean gay? Because equating pansy with bitch argues for the former, but not the latter. “Your wife really made you her bitch, didn’t she?” is a totally congruent use of the word.
Not very. You’re playing language cop, and nobody cares.
I don’t think I’ve made much of a secret what I’m arguing, Bosstone.
Good one, Ogre.
Many, many examples. If you ever wander over to that bastion of homophobia and misogyny that is The Oxygen Boards you’ll find this:
Elsewhere on the internet we have this
and this
I’m not really busting your chops here, man (at least, not maliciously.) I have nothing against you. I’m working on very, very little sleep right now, so pardon me if I’ve come across as snarly. Some uses of language, such as certain coarser phrases, could certainly be construed in the most offensive possible sense. But I think it’s important to consider the intent as well as the actual usage, and if the intent is not there, meh, don’t sweat it so much.
*Won’t someone think about the flowers?! *There are millions of homeless pansies across the country waiting to be planted this Spring. They can’t wait forever. And yet we sit at our computers and offer no solution.
Now go to your local garden center and pick up some pansies, then take them home and whack them. Your weed whacker can also double as a pansy whacker. Plant any survivors along the borders of your driveway or around trees.
Be sure to add mulch.
At least he didn’t describe anyone as “faggy”
Ogre, I get where you’re coming from; I’m just firmly in the camp that says language’s effect on a reasonable listener is as important as intent, and I think the OP here made a reasonable inference considering the context. It doesn’t cost me much to say so if it seems like the OP isn’t getting much support otherwise.
But certainly no need for pardon or anything. I bet you aren’t sleeping – didn’t you have a kid, like, three days ago?