You can't use the word SEX on the internet!!

[wednes]

A recent uncalled for flaming leads me to post the following poll. You're a bunch of smart cookies, so lend me your collective mice and get to clickin'

[Poll #731213]

Despite the assertion that I know nothing of fat people, the new chapter of Hazel's story will be up in a few hours at wednes_writes that you may all partake of her chubby goodness. Like the last chapter (which was a lot of fun, in my estimation) things continue to look up for Miss Dorsett, and I've thought up some good surprises for later.

Comments

[nokturnalia.livejournal.com]

I believe that language shapes reality, words have magickal abilities. I never use certain words in a degoratory way because it's against the kind of reality I want. For me cunt, retard and pussy for example never mean anything insulting and I do try to infect the people around me with the idea.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I have noticed your profound respect for language often, and I am continually impressed by your writing.

It's really annoying to see the pedestrian way people shy away from certain words as if they have the power to hurt us in and of themselves. Words are powerful, of course, but the power comes from the user and is not inherent to the word.

I was afraid of the word "fat" my whole life and it was a lot of work for me to get over that fear.

[lirrin.livejournal.com]

What you think and how you use language has a direct affect on how you view the world and act. I've had to work pretty hard to get my husband to stop using so many racial, ethnic, and religious slurs. He doesn't mean anything evil by them, he's used to it because his Dad is like that (older generation from South Dakota,) and he hangs around construction workers. He used to tell a lot of homophobic jokes, but my test was how he treated my gay friends. He HUGS them. He drove all the way to Seattle for a day trip for one of their birthdays. :)

But seriously, I am a HUGE believer in the right to use whatever fucking language you want. I'm just also a believer in labelling people "morons" for their choice of language. ;-) I'd rather hear general cussing than racial or sexual-orientation slurs, but I pay attention to the intent as well as the words. Not everyone does.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I see that we are in agreement on this (as I suspected). I'm truly baffled by the way people get so reactionary about certain words and refuse to rethink their stance. Holding onto the idea that some words are too awful to use ever is just (to use a peter griffin phrase) shallow and pedantic.

My pet example, of course, is the word FAT. I used to become really uncomfortable when anyone used that word anywhere near me because I took it as a veiled or impending insult. But it's just a damn word. And in my world a "fat ass jay" is not such a bad thing ;-}

[everythingtold.livejournal.com]

I forgot to clarify earlier, one of the answers I posted. I said that language should be controlled to not hurt a person's feelings not because I feel language should be censored, but because I like it when people are tactful. I'd say that you've never said anything that hurt my feelings and that you're not a jerk who goes around doing that on purpose. At least I don't think so :-) I don't know, it's more 'how' it's said than anything else. If my gyno looked at me and dead-seriously said, "You're having heavy bleeding from your cunt?" I'd probably laugh. If you said the n word because you were quoting someone or talking about the word itself - I wouldn't get offended ebcause it wouldn't be you calling a person that. I don't know. I didn't even make that more clear. Erg.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

That makes total sense, really.