# So "ammosexual" is a sexually offensive word now? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 3, 2022, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176 "2022-04-03T04:24:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/144 "2022-04-06T19:43:20Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Nor do I. But that’s not the point. I have yet to hear sound reasons for _banning_ its use. If we have a policy that proscribes sexualizing someone’s policy preferences (i.e. “you probably jerk off to this”), then doesn’t this apply to “ammosexual”? It seems like a reasonable interpretation of rules, and nothing whatsoever of value is lost in doing so. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/145 "2022-04-06T19:52:44Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > If your goal is to mock someone, you probably want to start your thread in the pit. > > Since when is it out of bounds to mock a public figure outside the Pit? I hope you’re not suggesting that mockery and satire as rhetorical devices to oppose stupidity can have no place in any serious discussion outside the Pit here. I notice you edited out the rest of my paragraph: > [@puzzlegal](#): > > At any rate, you shouldn’t be presenting it as if it’s a breaking news topic in MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/146 "2022-04-06T19:53:23Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > If we have a policy that proscribes sexualizing someone’s policy preferences (i.e. “you probably jerk off to this”), then it seems applicable to “ammosexual”. Even if we were to stipulate the moot point that this kind of satire is _really_ sexualizing someone’s beliefs, my understanding was that this proscription applies only when directed toward other specific Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/147 "2022-04-06T19:54:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I notice you edited out the rest of my paragraph: If your point is that this is inappropriate in a breaking new topic, then that should be your point, not an “at any rate” qualifier to a much broader proscription. I didn’t quote your qualifier because I don’t disagree with that part, or at least I don’t hold a strong opinion on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/148 "2022-04-06T19:57:47Z")
No public figures were mocked. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/149 "2022-04-06T20:01:34Z")
Sure, but I thought this discussion had moved on from the specific moderation here to the broader issue of what’s allowed. Mockery or satire can be directed at - specific Dopers - public figures or specific people in the news - certain beliefs or ideas or behaviors, which effectively mocks anyone who holds those ideas ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/150 "2022-04-06T20:05:21Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > If we have a policy that proscribes sexualizing someone’s policy preferences (i.e. “you probably jerk off to this”), then doesn’t this apply to “ammosexual”? Not quite. It is more like a feeling one gets that is roughly analogous to sexual arousal. The feeling you get from seeing/encountering a person the you find sexually attractive compares to the feeling an ammosexual would get from seeing/handling a fine weapon. It really has nothing to do with using the gun for a sex toy or jerking off to it, just that it reaches a person on a level parallel to sexuality. The biggest problem with the term is that it leads down the road to othering, which is mostly a thing we try to avoid here. Even in the Pit, we try to keep othering to at least a dull roar, but outside the Pit, broad-brushing people should be expected to rise to the note/warning level because it badly grots up the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/151 "2022-04-06T20:14:58Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > It really has nothing to do with using the gun for a sex toy or jerking off to it, just that it reaches a person on a level parallel to sexuality. A person can, for example, call a car “sexy” without literally wanting to have sex with it. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/152 "2022-04-06T20:22:18Z")
just exactly that ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/153 "2022-04-06T20:26:32Z")
But that doesn’t make us call them a “motorsexual”, does it? Where’s Jeremy Clarkson when you need him… (Though people will do the “penis substitute” gag for owners of some flashy cars…) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/154 "2022-04-06T20:37:59Z")
So, I’m not sure what you are looking for. I think that there are a great many conversations, not just “breaking news”, where you are poisoning the well and creating something that can’t rise above “rant” if you start by insulting people. I think everyone has agreed that “ammosexual” is insulting, and is intended to be insulting. I’m not saying that it’s never appropriate to use the word. I’m not claiming that there couldn’t be any MPSIMS threads where it might be appropriate (none come to mind, but I haven’t tried very hard.) I am claiming that using it is a bad idea in a lot of types of conversations. So yeah, I think you should avoid it more broadly than just “breaking news” threads. I am also confirming that there isn’t a board-wide ban on the word itself. Nor on insulting people who like guns. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/155 "2022-04-06T23:12:35Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > But that doesn’t make us call them a “motorsexual”, does it? I think if such a term existed (and I kind of dig it), I think it could apply to some people who just go crazy over cars. > [@JRDelirious](#): > > Where’s Jeremy Clarkson when you need him… Perhaps a great example. 🙂 Or Jay Leno. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/156 "2022-04-06T23:33:27Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I think if such a term existed (and I kind of dig it), I think it could apply to some people who just go crazy over cars. Like this guy? > **[Man Who Has Sex With His Car Says "It Was Love At First Sight"](https://altdriver.com/gearhead/sex-with-a-car/)** > > The world was introduced to some wild news back in 2012, when a guy named Nathaniel was featured on the season premiere of My Strange Addiction. In the episode, Nathaniel explained his lewd sexual attraction to his '90s Chevy Monte Carlo. This... ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176/157 "2022-04-06T23:34:24Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Like this guy? A bit too literal, hehe. 😆 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ammosexual-is-a-sexually-offensive-word-now/962176.md?page=7)