Rules reminder about certain words

[OKNancy]

Please re-read our rules :

While specific words are not automatically forbidden, members should avoid using racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted terminology. This includes gender-specific terms such as "bitch," "cunt," "whore," "slut," or "pussy," and terms with homophobic derivation, such as "cocksucker," which are often inflammatory and inappropriate. One common exception is the use of the phrase "media whore," which is permitted

[MissB]

1. Thank you!

[Maddy McCall]

2. Thank you for the reminder.

I've seen a lot of "bad words" recently on DU.

[Zerex71]

3. Yes, instead of "asshole", use synonyms such as "Bush" or "Cheney" instead

Thank you very much.

[charlyvi]

4. But....but.....

How can we talk about Deadwood? ;-)

[MindPilot]

5. For Deadwood use the commonly accepted synonym

"Rush"

[charlyvi]

11. LOL!

but that only applies to c***s****r. What about the other words?

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MindPilot]

7. good point, how else can we describe

Jeff Gannon?

[Bucky]

10. Names, Chip! Give me names!!

[Chipper Chat]

12. Ha ha

Good try Bucky.

[BikeWriter]

8. Oh shit! Thanks for the reminder. (Recommended for Greatest Page.)

[Bucky]

9. What about "biyotch"? Or can I call Orin Hatch a "nipple faced cur"?

[BikeWriter]

13. Be careful how you use "nipple." I've been very attached to those...

[Kingshakabobo]

15. "nipple faced cur"?

OK, that was funny. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[ComerPerro]

14. I'm not saying this to be smartassed, but what about "douchebag"?

Its one of my favorite terms, I mean no sexism by it, and Jon Stewart uses it (quite appropriately) to describe Novak...

[BikeWriter]

18. Fuck no, Dude! That's sexist. Call them an enema bag instead. :-)

[ComerPerro]

20. Hmm.... Enema bag... It could have potential

But it doesn't have the same rhythm.

[BikeWriter]

24. It does lack rythm, but it's non-sexist too.

:)

[ComerPerro]

26. Non gender specific

What I was going to say was something like

"Douchebag flows better than enema bag" or "Douchebag rolls off the tongue better".

But, as you can see, there is no way I can say that without it sounding terribly perverse.

[BikeWriter]

32. Yes, that's true! George Carlin would like this topic. :-)

[MelissaB]

21. First LOL today. Thanks!

:rofl:

[BikeWriter]

25. You're very welcome. We aim to please. :-)

[OKNancy]

22. It's not listed in the rules

so I don't know. I guess the rulemakers, Skinner, EarlG, and Elad are the ones to contact about that word.

I don't like it fwiw.

[ComerPerro]

28. Thanks for the serious response

[asthmaticeog]

39. Douche is the french word for shower.

It indicates rinsing something, nothing more. It's not sexist. Go to the drugtore and find the enemas, and see how many of them are labelled "anal douche" or "rectal douche."

[BikeWriter]

51. Fuckin' A. Thanks for the information. :-)

[Misunderestimator]

16. Shouldn't this be posted in Feminist forum?

Just kidding :D

Seriously... the reminder is needed. Thanks. :thumbsup:

[TlalocW]

17. Can we take a hint from Lewis Black

When he talked about how the FCC was going to crack down on dirty words, and he said something along the lines of, "You'd have to be a cocky sucker to think you can pull one over on the FCC!"

TlalocW

[grace0418]

19. I've been calling John McCain a whore for some time.

Honestly, I can't think of a better description for him. He sells his political loyalty to the highest bidder.

[MrSlayer]

23. Political Correctness and censorship sucks.

I abide by the rules because I like this site but this really is silly and ridiculous.

[OKNancy]

27. Go here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/contact.html

I will add however, that what is political correctness to some is civility and respect to others.

[MrSlayer]

30. Nah, I'm not going to...um...cronically complain about it.

I just feel it's kind of silly, in what is essentially an adult forum, that you can't speak freely as an adult. It's not that big of a deal, I have my own forum that has no rules except for spamming, I can abide here fine under the rules and have free speech there. Thanks for answering though.

[acmejack]

34. concur eom

[tibbir]

29. Seems reasonable to me.

Media whore definitely needs to be ok though.

[matcom]

31. certain words are wrong unless....

said in a context we approve of. right.

noted.

[sonicx]

33. how about 'media bitch,' 'media slut,' 'media pussy,' 'media cunt'...

or 'media cocksucker'?

[bigwillq]

35. I think some of us have become too sensitive

I think it's a great idea for some people to use caution when talking about certain subjects and about certain people, which was stated so well by OkNancy--thanks for this post.

However, I would never intentionally offend anyone but if you can't handle me using the word cunt or bitch or cocksucker, I'm sorry, but I feel it's time to lighten up. These words are nothing more than slang and shouldn't be used for one reason---they're improper English, not language but English.

I am a gay male and I'm not offended by cock sucker or faggot or the like. I know people's level of sensitivity are different but come on get a grip. There are times when these "words" are harsh and do offend--this is when we need to use caution.

But at other times, when joking around (which happens a lot in the Lounge) I don't feel we should have to use caution with certain words.

I would only call someone a bitch or cunt or cocksucker if I were friendly with them-as a joke. I would never call anyone those words if I weren't not friendly with them. That is the only case where I can see these words as offensive.

We need to walk that fine line. I know not everyone will agree with me but that's how I feel.

[proud patriot]

36. Thanks for the reminder OKNancy

:hi:

[Catch22Dem]

37. How in the world is "whore" gender specific

A man can be a whore just as easily as a woman. My god, have the admins not turned on cable news in a while? They're ALL whores!

ON EDIT: "they" being the media, not the admins, that is. :D

[Blue-Jay]

38. Seven words you can't use.

Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.

-George Carlin-

[HEyHEY]

40. How about "Prick" "cock" "dink"

OR I guess only female gender specific terms are bad.

[Blue-Jay]

41. Obviously.

[HEyHEY]

43. Natch, hypocrisy is still the norm

[Blue-Jay]

45. Shaddap, ya dink.

[name not needed]

46. eat it, cockmonger.

[Blue-Jay]

47. Hey! I've never mongered anythin in my life!

I'm not even sure that I know *how* to monger.

mongermongermongermonger....

[HEyHEY]

48. I wish you to dickheads would knock it off

[name not needed]

67. get off my lawn, needledick.

[tigereye]

89. so funny

and cognitive - dissonance inducing - to see the bear and the word dickhead in the same post...

but your point about trashy words about males vs words about females is well taken.

some would say, "we're all bozos on this bus."

[undeterred]

42. Wow, I feel like I'm back in junior high school.

[matcom]

44. you are.

make sure you ask for the hall pass BEFORE walking out to use the bathrooms

its a GIANT wooden key btw, so we ALL know where you are going

[Kathy in Cambridge]

50. And they know what you're thinking too!

:P

[matcom]

53. right

thinking of taking a SHIT and THANK GAWD everyone knows know that i'm holding my giant KEY :eyes:

[undeterred]

56. Well lucky you

I'm not allowed to take my purse so I'm carrying a GIANT SANITARY NAPKIN WITH WINGS! O8) O8)

[BlueIris]

49. Excellent. Thanks for the reminder. Great moderation.

It's so nice to be in a place where civility and respect reign supreme.

[retread]

52. How the hell is 'cocksucker' homophobic? Wait till I tell my wife! On

second thought maybe I won't say anything to her.

[BikeWriter]

55. Your post reminds me of one night when I refused to kiss my ex...

:shrug:

[retread]

60. Bad move! In that situation, if you want a repeat, you should learn to

suck it up!!!

[BikeWriter]

75. I was teasing her about it. She still had a sense of humor then..

:(

[bigwillq]

54. Sticks and stones....

:think:

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dolo amber]

58. I don't really understand

the "cocksucker = homophobic" thing...I mean, not to disclose too much here, but I was unaware the gay population had a monopoly on that activity... :shrug:

I'm just sayin'. :hi:

[matcom]

59. you are bbbbbbaaaaddddd

accept it. live with it. REPENT HEATHEN!!!

[dolo amber]

61. Hmpf

*I* would certainly never engage in such a filthy, base practice, I'm just defending my hetero sisters who may. :P

[retread]

62. I would love to leap to their defense also! n/t

[matcom]

63. liar! i have seen you nekkid!

remember that time behind the roller skating rink?

you want me to tell EVERYONE????

hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm????

[Radical Activist]

64. From my own experience anyway...

You're right. And its not something I consider to be an insult. In fact, its a quality I appreciate in a woman.

[retread]

66. Do you appreciate it enough to give her a thank you kiss?

*

[Magrittes Pipe]

77. Where are these women?

:o

[Redstone]

65. I'd never call a woman a bitch (in public), but the word

is OK as part of the phrase "son of a bitch," isn't it?

It had better be, or I won't be able to post here anymore.

Redstone

[retread]

68. Wait a minute!! How should I refer to my female dog on the pet owners

forum?

[matcom]

69. only depending on their "mood"

you have to be a mind-reader. WORK on that! "son of a bitch is ONLY allowed on Tuesdays and ODD Fridays.

don't you KNOW the RULES man???? x(

get it RIGHT!

[Blue-Jay]

70. "SOB" is OK because you're not referring to a woman as a "bitch".

At least, that's my working theory.

[MrSlayer]

73. Sure you are. You're calling the person's mom a *i***.

You son of a ***c*! See. The insult is usually directed toward a person but can also be used as a general oath. In that case it is not "harming" a woman.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

71. I swear a lot but generally don't use the above words

I am offended by racist, sexist, and homophobic terms. I am not offended by swearing.

[khashka]

72. A bit arbitrary still?

I deny your gender specificity:

I am a man and I use whore to describe myself during a certain period when I worked as a whore. I will not use any other word.

Bitch is less and less gender specific.

Cunt I will agree to disagree on. It's the nuclear weapon of gender warfare/ I see it as a strong word that describes any woman who won't take take shit from a man. In fact all your gender specific words are total and absolute bullshit. They are words that men use to keep women "in their place". By keeping the taboo, we keep that same meaning. I'm tired of it.

As a gay man, I shouldn't say cocksucker? Well, I am one and damn proud of it. How about faggot? Queer? Butt pirate? Pillow biter? How about my dyke sisters? Can't say rug muncher?

It isn't the words it's the context. Trying to regulate context is a motherfucking goddamn son of a bitching bastard cunt of a whore job to do. I know. Been there done that and it's tough.

But your standards are so fucked in the head I don't know where to begin.

"whore" - gender specific, anti-woman - bullshit. I was a whore. A male whore for men for money. Women didn't even come into it.

"cocksucker" - homophobic - really? I've met a lot of really cool obliging women for whom cocksucker is an accurate description. And that's homophobic?

Fuck I hate this shit and I started out wanting to argue but be nice. Sorry OKNancy, you didn't deserve that little rant, I think you are doing a good job (all of you except one who I will not mention).

But for god's sake guys....

Khash.

[OKNancy]

82. Wow, NO I don't deserve it

Thoses are the rules of DU!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

After I had to delete about six or seven post calling Nancy Grace a few choice words, I thought it would be a good reminder.

Once again, if the rules of DU bother you, maybe you should contact the administrators. Personally I like them. I can go all over the net and find places with no restrictions. Those places are usually chaos.
I like the restrictions here because it helps to keep things somewhat civil.

[Mythsaje]

86. About.com's Civil Liberties boards are actually pretty decent

despite the fact that the moderator generally refuses to censor ANY sort of language. It's not chaos and even people with radically different views can speak honestly and openly with one another about a number of subjects.

It's not the language as much as it's the people.

That said, I very rarely use any of the terms proscribed by the rules. Weird, that.

I like coming up with interesting alternatives anyway.

[khashka]

87. You didn't deserve it and it wasn't personal

I think most - the majority - of moderators do a fine job. I'd count you among them.

I think the admins are decent people. But they have made their decisions and I am ignored when I contact them. OK, all right, I understand that.

But I am an adult and it chafes to be restricted in my speech and ideas. It borders on censorship. Anybody who does find me offensive (and some have and then later become friends) is free to speak or not speak to me as they see fit.

I'll say this - on occassion I have been deliberately offensive. And I've never been banned. So you guys aren't totally nazis :) But it's a matter of principle really.

Khash.

[enigami]

74. Very Subjective

Don't You Think, Eh?

[Politicub]

76. What about mangina?

:rofl:

[BikeWriter]

78. Oh, fuck. That sounds nasty!

:(

[Politicub]

80. Nasty

And forbidden!

[BikeWriter]

83. No shit!

[OKNancy]

79. Interesting thread

It is very obvious to me that
1. a lot of you have never bothered to read the rules for posting on DemocraticUnderground
http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

Most of these rules have been here for a while. The language rules have been there for months.

2. Some don't understand that I don't make the rules, I'm just the moderator so complaining about them to me is useless.

3. Some people will complain about anything.

[BlueIris]

88. I was just thinking those same things. nt.

[AntiCoup2K4]

81. "Pussy" is not neccessarily a gender specific term.

Used in a sentence: Joe Biden is a gutless DLC pussy. Now I could just as easily have said Mary Landrieu is a gutless DLC pussy. The same is true in both cases, but neither is a reference to gender.

[Kraklen]

84. Sure it is.

It's implying that Joe Biden is a coward, and that women are naturally cowards.

[Evergreen Emerald]

85. What about Skunt?

It is a combo of two words that should not be said in mixed company...and yet looks a bit like skunk (because of the K in place of the C).