Language Matters

[omega minimo]

omega minimo
51. Why don't YOU
just apologize and get it over with :evilgrin:

"Changing the root issue is EVERYTHING but changing the language means NOTHING, its simply a way to make people feel like they are doing something to fight oppression when they are in fact doing nothing."

So you say.

"It was a good part people like my old co-workers, Teamsters who drink beer and say "balls", unlike religious right members. Are the Teamsters the problem? NO! Because they vote to support women's rights...And that's the ESSENTIAL thing you don't seem to understand, language is meaningless, action is everything."

I hear what you're saying about solidarity. But you could not be more wrong about language. Language matters. Maybe those guys who say "balls" don't say it in certain situations, eh?

For example, as I am reading along TG's interesting OP I don't expect to be smacked in the face with "balls" in the first reply. It's a small (or medium or large) matter to you-- however, as I said, it is a reminder of women's second class status and a reinforcement of the dominant power structure that will be just as entrenched, certain, self-righteous and stubborn as you are being about recognizing or even considering any of the points made here. THAT is the luxury of Male Privilege and being on the right side of the dominant paradigm-- the luxury of saying "I/We don't care about this and YOU shouldn't either-- you should see it My/Our way and quit bothering Me/Us with your paltry, pathetic perspective." No clue about the fact that women's status was mentioned in the OP and maybe "lack of balls" is not the best choice of terms?

Here's the thing. That ball-smack in the eyeballs seems so clueless about what the problems and solutions really are, that I lose interest in reading any further. So what, you say?

Well here's the other thing:

"The terms "moron" and "idiot" were once medical terms used to describe the mentally disabled people. Then they became insults, and there was slow, then retarded, and now that's an insult, and mentally disabled is used...but changing the name never addressed the issue of lack of respect for these people, only helping their rights does, that's all that matters. "Chics" who can vote are better off than "Womyn" who can't, a "black dude" with a house is better off than an "African American" living on the street, and a "handicapped guy" with a wheel chair ramp is better than a "differently-abled person" without one."

Notice that your examples of "black dude" and "African American" avoided the "tar baby" of "ni****r". And if the use of sexist lingo on DU was recognized as disrespectful as any RACIAL offense would be, and you were called on it, I'll bet you would back up and adjust to the reality of the person (possibly a man) out of simple respect. That fact that women are EVEN LESS THAN and deserving of no consideration is THE PROBLEM.

I know, I know, supposedly "balls" is no big deal. Thing is, AS I SAID TWENTY TIMES, the RELEVANCE to sexsim mentioned in the OP is RELEVANT. And if you choose to educate yourself, consider others or look honestly at the history of the "Abrahamic Triangle" that would be good.

"Changing the root issue is EVERYTHING but changing the language means NOTHING, its simply a way to make people feel like they are doing something to fight oppression when they are in fact doing nothing."

That's completely false. You might also look into how root meaning is embedded in language.

"Somebody posts about oppression of women, then somebody posts a supportive post talking about actions he thinks need to be taken within religions to bring about a solution..."

That was a challenge, not support.

"And you attack him for not using PC enough language in expressing his support of women's rights..."

No I didn't. I said it is offensive and arrogant for men to set a high bar at "genital mutilation" and tell women that if their comments don't meet that male-approved standard they should sit down and shut up or go fix everybody a snack.

"What you end up doing is alienating everyone............................meanwhile, huge forces which are largely controlling the country are taking ACTION (not language) to diminish those said rights...Yet you are expending your energy here, fighting over a nonsense issue. That IS the problem."

Why is is your right to alienate those who find "balls" crude, ignorant and inappropriate in a specific thread, while you accuse those who understand that LANGUAGE MATTERS of "alienating everyone"? Who is "everyone"? "Everyone" who has balls? "Everyone" who thinks it's no big deal? "Everyone" who skims right past TallahassieGranny's comment about the (shitty, abused, historic and rooted in Abrahamic religion) status of women?

Regarding your examples of language that doesn't matter: I OP titled recently with the term "wheelchair-bound." I meant it descriptively and could have been a belligerent dickhead and argued that I meant it a certain way, when a couple people commented that it was offensive. I don't know all the rationale and I don't need to. I respect the people who are really bothered by that-- I don't buy the "PC" thing because that is just a bullshit line cooked up by people who don't want to respect others. There are enough words in the language to "express strongly" without offending people intentionally.

Language matters.

I am not trying to convince you. You've shown your unwillingness to consider the points being raised and certainty that your right to alienate "everyone" outweighs mine.

Unless that thing about racist language got through to you.

Anyway, check out the history and embedded language of the "Abrahamic triangle." You might be surprised.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=82799&mesg_id=83145