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Sexist Language


loveliberate
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Hiya folks,

 

Over in the photos section, I noticed that a poster had "Cardio is for pussies" as their signature. I want to comment on that so I started this thread. I'd started to reply over on the other thread but got this response:

 

 

As you already have more than 200 posts you should know that highjacking topics is a nono. If you have a problem with someone`s signature you can send him/her a pm or open a new topic about it.

Usually highjacking posts are not deleted but maybe this time a moderator was attentive.

 

But away: In Germany pussy just means wimp. Maybe using the term is not p.c. but as I said. This is for another topic.

 

Here's my thoughts on this. I do "have a problem" with sexism/sexist language. I'm very familiar with how some folks use the word "pussy" as described above - it's used as an insult against men who look/act/speak effiminately / "like a female". It's not ok to use gender as an insult and there's nothing wrong with a man being "effiminate" or a woman being "masculine". I doubt that the person who has that signature was thinking about this or trying to be hurtful and I'm not trying to single them out, make them feel defensive, etc. How we use our words matters and can be really oppressive and hurtful. Please think about this.

Edited by loveliberate
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You are correct loveliberate! It is not always about how you mean a word but also how it might be understood. If a member of this community offends another with terms like this by mistake this should be made clear (via pm or new topic). I am sure no member wants to offend others but sometimes words are just used and understood differently.

Edited by flanders77
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Keeping out of the sexist language discussion - I'll comment from a capacity from someone that does a lot of cardio. It's not to quote for pussies/wimps or whatever you want to call it - it can be more hardcore than a lot of strength training. With cardio, none of that having a breather and a rest between sets biznizz, it's full out from start to finish. The endurance, stamina and fitness of some cardio athletes is remarkable.

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gotta agree Tarz!!!

I used to do some long distance running and it is truly a punishing workout. I have nothing but respect for endurance athletes.

 

I also agree with Love Liberate re: the use of the word pussies.

I understand what the word is intended to mean but it is IMO an offensive slang term (as Love Liberate stated.... targeting effeminate males)

 

I also noticed a thread with the phrase "f*cking dyke"

 

In a forum where we are all so very compassionate re: animals let's not forget to be compassionate about the human race.

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If noone offended anyone alot of the things we now believe are good wouldn't have happened. The French revoluton, gay parades, NRA, gun controllers, liberals and socialists are all offensive to some people. Every day I discriminate and offend people just by going out of bed and being me. This goes for everyone, all around the world, every day. Some of the most offensive people in history have built the foudation for all that the general population believes are of good value today.

 

Personally I think it flat out stupid to hate lesbians for being lesbians and I will argue for my point. Only by offending the dyke-haters can I be successful.

 

And just so you know, cardio rocks, weather your a pussy or not

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The phrase 'cardio is for pussies' is meant to mean 'cardio is for people who are too weak for weight-training' and it is also a joke. It has nothing to do with attacking women. Even if you take it literally (using the crude slang meaning of 'pussy'), then it means 'cardio is for women's genitals' which of course doesn't even make sense, so that's not what's meant anyway.

 

So ah, I'd say to just think about what is meant or ask the person what they mean rather than choosing to be offended. If someone genuinely attacks women or men as a whole, then that's crazy, for instance, saying 'cardio is for women, and weight-training is for men, because all women are weaker than men' - I would say that's offensive to women, and very stupid. But nothing of the sort has been said as far as I know?

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Oh, wow, thanks, loveliberate! You are absolutely correct that it is very sexist, very degrading, and disparaging to women -- same with words like "dyke," NO MATTER the intention. It's quite disturbing that it is allowed; however at least someone had the sense to delete "dyke" from the post headline, but it was not answered, explained as to its offensive use within the post.

 

Despite your love of guns, you are now one of my favorites

 

Thanks! Had I written what you did, it would have been a different outcome, I assure you

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I jumped in on the dyke post, because I thought it was an offensive missuse of the word and I really didn't like seeing it used....but this topic brings up an interesting realization for me. "Pussy" doesn't offend me in the least. Not one tiny bit...and I think the signature is funny.

(I'm a straight female btw...though I hope the female part is obvious from my pic )

Anyway, I suppose I don't have anything significant to add...just kind of musing to myself over the word. I've thoroughly reconsidered it and....nope, I still just don't see pussy as offensive. Maybe it's because I've actively witnessed discrimination and hatred towards people of various sexual persuasions, but as a female I've never experienced discrimination based on my sex. That's my best guess explanation anyway.

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I just had another thought. I DO find the c-nt word offensive. It seems far more vulgar and rude. So maybe it's vulgarity that actually offends me? But no, probably not, because I've been known to curse like a sailor...just not use the c-nt word. (Except in the case of one particularly heinous boss who I knew would be one the moment I met her and I was dead-on).

Ok, enough with the personal musing. Carry on all

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I noticed this particular signiture yesterday, and noted it because I thought it was surprising to see on this board, not because I thought it offensive. I have calle my BF a pussy before (actually, I said he was pussing out...but it is a derivation of the word) because he was making a lame excuse for not going to the gym. I have never heard it used in a way to allude to sexuality and in my mind, it is far removed from the female body part meaning too- I use it to indicate that he is being a wimp or a cry-baby.

 

With that said, I would never use that word with a stranger or even someone I knew well if I didn't think they would take it very well because it is a very strong word. I also wouldn't use it in public, just as I don't say the f-word in public even though I use it frequently privately.

 

I agree that the c word is a whole different story - it makes me cringe!

 

But as far as this instance, perhaps the word should not be used in the signiture, since there are many who are offended.

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I know there can be some issues like this, but I feel that we have one of the friendliest, welcoming and accepting forums I've seen....which is exactly how I had hoped it would be from the beginning. I think it is pretty rare to find a group of so many people that is free from name-calling, intense negative arguments, and negative feelings in general. So I thank all of you for that.

 

Also, thanks loveliberate for bringing up issues like this that spark helpful discussion and debate.

 

I just really respect the way everyone here is so appreciative and respectful of everyone else. It speaks volumes about the sort of group we've formed here.

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In addition to what Robert said, I will add, in response to Flanders' comment about "inattentive mods", that the reason why hijackiing is not usually corrected by the mods here is because we are not sticklers here about thread hijacking - it is NOT because we are being "inattentive." And anybody who posts here frequently would know this (i.e. that there is a VERY high tolerance at VB&F for thread hijacking. Heck, even the mods and admin do it!).

 

The comment "cardio is for pussies" really goes to show you how ignorant of fitness the subscriber to that is. Rob is anything but a "pussy", neither is Tarz and a lot of other guys here that are smart enough to realize that when you want be shredded and achieve single digit body fat levels, cardio is as essential as weight lifting. If a guy really thinks that doing cardio makes a man a whimp, well, all I could say is 'get a clue' and learn something about fitness! I will also note that that attitide toward cardio reminds me of the ignorant omni attitude of "veganism is for whimps."

 

 

Keeping out of the sexist language discussion - I'll comment from a capacity from someone that does a lot of cardio. It's not to quote for pussies/wimps or whatever you want to call it - it can be more hardcore than a lot of strength training. With cardio, none of that having a breather and a rest between sets biznizz, it's full out from start to finish. The endurance, stamina and fitness of some cardio athletes is remarkable.

 

ya exactly. Whoever it is/was that had this signature I GUARANTEE doesnt have abs as scrumptuous as yours in your avatar tarz. I think guys who say cardio is for whimps are probably trying to make themselves feel better about the likelihood of them failing miserably at a cardiovascularly challenging activity. It isn't very "manly" or 'sexy' when your man needs a freakin' oxygen mask after a few minutes of rough "in the sack" activity -

 

Cardiovascular endurance and fitness is one of the ultimate turn ons in this girl's opinion.

 

Lastly and very briefly, it is common sense to realize that starting a thread on a public forum and calling it "f*ckin dyke" is ****NOT ******** cool, and likely to offend somebody else, irrespective of whether you personally find it offensive or not. So this is your friendly moderator reminding you to please be a little less self-indulgent and a little more considerate of others' feelings here!

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I'm the sure the guy realizes the value in cardio exercise....I'm really quite certain the signature is a joke, especially given the goofy muscled out pic it's placed under. Makes me think of Arnold Schwarzenegger making a girly man joke. Somewhat crude I can agree with, but I really just can't see the offensiveness in it.

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Makes me think of Arnold Schwarzenegger making a girly man joke. Somewhat crude I can agree with, but I really just can't see the offensiveness in it.

 

That's what it makes me think of too. It also makes me think of Hans and Frans from Saturday Night Live. I can picture them telling some guy running on a treadmill that he is a wussie. ... I'm Hans, and I'm Frans and we are here to pump you up!

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it is very sexist, very degrading, and disparaging to women -- same with words like "dyke," NO MATTER the intention.

 

 

Derek The Dry Stone Dyke sez :

 

http://vegansrock.hiya-host.com/Astrocat_stuff/drystonedyke.JPG ~ I take offence at the above comment.

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I have no problem with referring to the private parts of a woman as her pussy. However, it is exactly because of this close connection of the word to women, that when the word is used as a way to put down someone, it perpetrates the association of adjectives, such as weak, helpless, powerless, with women.

 

 

Nat said:

It isn't very "manly" or 'sexy' when your man needs a freakin' oxygen mask after a few minutes of rough "in the sack" activity -

 

LOL -- you crack me up!

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To be honest with you now that I'm not lifting and doing almost only cardio I do feel pretty wimpy(not femanine but wimpy). Maybe I wouldn't use the terrible "P" word but I feel like I'm half the man I used to be(actually 2/3 but who's counting). It doesn't bother me that much other than when I need to take three trips to carry something that would have taken one in the past...and for the most part its kinda funny. I know if the old me fought the new me I would surely last 2 seconds(at most)...oh the running away thing couldn't work because I was probably a little faster when I was 300lbs...just not as much endurance(and having endurance wouldn't help me if I was getting chased by someone faster). So I'd choose another "P" word to describe myself but I just can't think of one now...other than potter which I'm happy to admit is a pretty wimpy but fun way to live. I won't be offended...when you see someone that looks like a wimp call him or her a POTTER they won't get it so it won't hurt so bad!

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So I'd choose another "P" word to describe myself but I just can't think of one now...other than potter which I'm happy to admit is a pretty wimpy but fun way to live. I won't be offended...when you see someone that looks like a wimp call him or her a POTTER they won't get it so it won't hurt so bad!

 

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As a cat myself, i find it mortifyingly offensive that anyone would use "pussy" as a form of put-down.

 

This is because, as surely anyone can tell, cats are cool, groovy, assertive and sussed creatures.

 

It makes sense to describe female genitals as a pussy, since both are cute, furry, lovely, and spend a lot of time peeing in discreet places.

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As a cat myself, i find it mortifyingly offensive that anyone would use "pussy" as a form of put-down.

 

This is because, as surely anyone can tell, cats are cool, groovy, assertive and sussed creatures.

 

It makes sense to describe female genitals as a pussy, since both are cute, furry, lovely, and spend a lot of time peeing in discreet places.

 

 

Best post ever!

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