You started out with an interesting premise. Let me rephrase it for you: Is it ok to intentionaly set out to be a single parent? But we aren’t talking about that. We are talking about how you insist on referring to children as “bastards.”
We tried to let you know - politely - that bastard was not an appropriate word to refer to a child. Yet you persist.
Rather than hijack that thread further - and because I’m tempted to start using words appropriate for this forum - if you would further like to defend your use of the word bastard, please do so here.
The fact that VirgoWitch is so big on honor makes this all the more puzzling. Where I come from, anyone that picks on an innocent kid (and you most assuredly have) is dishonorable. Yes, yes…we all know that it used to be used as a descriptive word. And we know Shakespeare used is 90 times. Big fucking deal. The current connotation is insulting and belittling.
But I’m sure you’ll continue to behave in the mean, self-righteous way you did in the other thread. Only this time, I can give you the big FUCK YOU. So FUCK YOU.
Well, I’ve used the term “bastard” to refer to a child born outisde of wedlock before, and maybe will again, but you’re right, it has picked up a really perjorative meaning. What term should I use, though? “Illegitimate”? “Natural-born”?
Virgo, here’s a little test for you to see just how the public views the use of the word “bastard:” Find some news service (say, TIME magazine) that will publish a Letter to the Editor, and talk about Madonna’s child, who was born out of wedlock. Refer to the child as a bastard.
Heck, I’d offer my thoughts, but I guess I’m too much of a putz!
My wife’s dad had 2 kids by a woman other than my MIL. The younger uses the web Johnny Bastard. (Johnny is a pseudonym.) And now “Johnny” just had his 3d kid with his mate of several years, a woman he is not married to. What would be the honorable thing to call these kids? Bastards 2 times over? Silly me, I simply use their names.
Maybe the VW might start a new line of Shakesbeer endorsed bastid masks?
Sometimes US state laws (to distinguish from Pergobitch’s desire for international debate) make a distinction of “marital child” in assessing paternity. Primarily because there is a rebuttable presumption that a child conceived and born during a marriage is the husband’s child.
But as we tried to point out, once paternity is established, US state laws are pretty content to consider children simply that - children.
Hell, I can’t even work myself up to rant a nice insult for the honorable Miss Thing.
Well, obviously s/he’s got an axe to grind, but I just wanna say that I’ve seen a few other folks get off to a really bumpy “Hi, I’m here, and I’ve got an axe to grind, now that I found this wonderful free Internet forum” start in Great Debates, and they eventually settled down into decent posters, so…
See how it’s going this time next week.
Although I have to say that the early use of the Putz smilie does not forbode well…
Captain Amazing said, “Well, I’ve used the term “bastard” to refer to a child born outisde of wedlock before, and maybe will again, but you’re right, it has picked up a really perjorative meaning. What term should I use, though? “Illegitimate”? “Natural-born”?”
I think the term “baby” works well, or if you know the kid, you can call him by his given name.
The thing is, it disses the child and not the parents. Not that anyone should be dissed in this day and age. VirgoPutz, on the other hand, was just born to suck.
Yeah, DDG…although I gave her plenty of chances to back down. I always like to believe the best of people - so hopefully, she will calm down.
And Dinsdale, keep your opinions and professional expertise to yourself - you putz
And Captain Amazing:
Compare the following:
“My nephew is having a hard time in school. We wonder if it has something to do with the fact that my sister decided to raise him without a husband.”
and
“My nephew is having a hard time in school. We wonder if it has something to do with him being a bastard.”
You can always say the same thing without using the word bastard - and usually its more meaningful, since most people assume the word bastard means jerk.
Well, like I said, I wouldn’t use it to refer to anyone now…whether someone was born in or out of wedlock doesn’t really have any effect on them in modern American society (except maybe for social stigma.)
I judt don’t see a pit thread here. What I see is a “think of the children!” cry. It’s fucking pathetic.
This could have been easily settled in GD with out bringing a newbie to the pit. The thread itself is about loinguistics and its a shame to use the word bastard, yet y’all jump on her. From her OP:
**Oh heavens, she said “bastard”. I think I’m getting the vapors! :rolleyes:
She wants to discuss illegitimate children and the stigma attached to them through the use of the word “bastard” and societal attitudes in general. You say “don’t say that word”, then, y’all back her into a corner because her family uses it. This is the topic she wants to discuss, ya idiots! . She wants to discuss the word and it’s social stigma. Jesus H Christ, are you people thick?!
“Bastard” is part of the English language. It’s not a pleasant word, but it is there. Deal with it. Ignoring it is not going to make it go away.
>this time, I can give you the big FUCK YOU. So FUCK YOU.<
Tsk, tsk. What a sad, angry little soul. I’m hearing some deep, repressed issues. Keep working on that vocabulary and next week we’ll try some big two syllable words.
