But the pronouns we already have – “he” and “she” – have the same problem when it comes to other factors. For example, race. When you say “he”, I know you’re probably referring to a man, but there are times when I want to know what race that man is. Is he white? Black? South American? Indonesian? With a simple pronoun like “he”, nobody knows (without actually looking/asking)! It is my opinion that “he” and “she” are colorblind pronouns that suggest that one is too proper to have a race. We need race-specific pronouns!
My remark was directed towards Kamandi’s, “Uh-oh,” in regard to thegrimspectreofreddeath’s example of “fag” as a generic insult to men. Obviously, despite best efforts, my innate sexual orientation remains a slur to otherwise “normal” men. Hence, my “ya can’t win.”
I noticed that the latest D&D books arbitrarily pick he or she when referring to someone in an example and stick with it for the entire example. It’s perhaps the best compromise in regard to he/she matters; not exclusive to just writing he, but nothing stupid looking like s/he.
As for insults… aren’t they supposed to be insulting, you know, by definition?
Not that this has anything to do with deciding whether or not to use non-gender-specific profanity, but does anybody know if there is any current Official Rule of English on whether one refers to unknown gender as male or female?
When I was growing up, the rule was male, because (a) there were more men than women, and (b) men owned everything. Now that there are more women than men, the rule might have changed.
Just realised that the above is referring to unknown-number cases, such as “everyone”. But I’ve seen similar that suggest that “they” as a singular gender-neutral pronoun is acceptable in the English language.
I think I may have been the 300lb straw that broke the lisseners back for this pit thread.
In another thread, I referred to Salt N Pepa as loudmouth skanks. I was accused of having “other issues”.
:shrug:
I think they are loudmouth skanks. And that’s not a term I would throw around to every woman I didn’t like. Wanna see?
Some women singers I don’t particulary care for (and why):
Jewel? Bad poetry writing, mediocre singing, Can-opener-tooth having.
Courtney Love? Skanky.
Janis Joplin? Abrasive and overrated.
Alanis Morrissette? Eh, A few good songs but mostly overrated.
Wendy O williams? Too scary.
Mariah Carey? Skanky.
Ani DiFranco? Too much indie attitude that I can’t even get to her music. (I hear this may hhave changed recently but I havent bothered with her in 5 or 6 years)
Tori Amos? Too many issues.
See? There are lots of reasons for not liking certin female singers. If they are skanky, I’ll call them skanky. Or is that not allowed? If not, could someone forward me the latest patch to the PC Bible? Musta missed it somewhere…
Now, I assume I am going to get slammed for having just a list of women I don’t like, and not including men. That’s misogyny, dont you know.
My friend Steve learned that when you’re visiting Canada one should not stnad in the middle of the largest mall in the world and say “I’m gaggin’ for a fag” unless you want a great number of people looking in your direction.
The phrase has now slipped into my own vocabulary.
Hell, I’m gaggin for a fag right now… where’d I put that lighter?
BRAVO!
I think that’s the first Fishbone reference I’ve seen on this board. This is one of the most underrated, underappreciated bands of the last 20 years.