Is GAF too strict?

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I don't like when British people call us yanks. I find it offensive. =(
 
Dead Man said:
You don't want to know what Australians call Americans then...
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I can't understand anything that comes out of their mouths anyway. =(

..which actually reminds me of a ton of funny miscommunication stories myself and others had with Australian co-workers over the years..not for this thread though. =P
 
I think the attitude towards words like cunt, bitch, twat, cock, etc etc don't reflect reality on GAF anymore. Not saying something like nigger or faggot is obviously absolutely correct, but GAF tends to over-analyse everything to the point where people read far more into words than anybody does in actual society. Go in to any bar and you'll hear the above words, thrown about casually, by men, women, gays, etc etc in good spirit and without anyone being offended. Cunt is really the only questionable one on the list and I get that Brits and Aussies say it much more liberally, but even then I think the rest of the world just needs to catch up with us. When as many as my female friends say cunt as male you know the word has lost all of it's edge and is just another word that has a general negative connotation.

Not being able to quote someone and call them one of the above words I understand for the purposes of good discussion, but I've seen people banned for calling fictional characters names, which is even worse than being banned for branding a celebrity a bitch etc. One GAFer was banned for jokingly saying Sebastian Vettel was a cunt in the F1 thread when he overtook his favourite driver. If that's not ridiculous I don't know what is.
 
Foliorum Viridum said:
I think the attitude towards words like cunt, bitch, twat, cock, etc etc don't reflect reality on GAF anymore. Not saying something like nigger or faggot is obviously absolutely correct, but GAF tends to over-analyse everything to the point where people read far more into words than anybody does in actual society. Go in to any bar and you'll hear the above words, thrown about casually, by men, women, gays, etc etc in good spirit and without anyone being offended. Cunt is really the only questionable one on the list and I get that Brits and Aussies say it much more liberally, but even then I think the rest of the world just needs to catch up with us. When as many as my female friends say cunt as male you know the word has lost all of it's edge and is just another word that has a general negative connotation.

Not being able to quote someone and call them one of the above words I understand for the purposes of good discussion, but I've seen people banned for calling fictional characters names, which is even worse than being banned for branding a celebrity a bitch etc. One GAFer was banned for jokingly saying Sebastian Vettel was a cunt in the F1 thread when he overtook his favourite driver. If that's not ridiculous I don't know what is.
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Maybe you are the ones who need to catch-up

Who knows
 
Foliorum Viridum said:
I think the attitude towards words like cunt, bitch, twat, cock, etc etc don't reflect reality on GAF anymore. Not saying something like nigger or faggot is obviously absolutely correct, but GAF tends to over-analyse everything to the point where people read far more into words than anybody does in actual society. Go in to any bar and you'll hear the above words, thrown about casually, by men, women, gays, etc etc in good spirit and without anyone being offended. Cunt is really the only questionable one on the list and I get that Brits and Aussies say it much more liberally, but even then I think the rest of the world just needs to catch up with us. When as many as my female friends say cunt as male you know the word has lost all of it's edge and is just another word that has a general negative connotation.

Not being able to quote someone and call them one of the above words I understand for the purposes of good discussion, but I've seen people banned for calling fictional characters names, which is even worse than being banned for branding a celebrity a bitch etc. One GAFer was banned for jokingly saying Sebastian Vettel was a cunt in the F1 thread when he overtook his favourite driver. If that's not ridiculous I don't know what is.
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Yeah I'll agree with this.

While they may have originated as primarily gender orientated insults, this is certainly not the case any more.

I'm not exactly desperate for people to start using those words every other post, but it'd suck to see someone banned like in the example given above because of a slip up or confusion over specific language.
 
Ravensmash said:
Yeah I'll agree with this.

While they may have originated as primarily gender orientated insults, this is certainly not the case any more.
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You don't think women take offense to being called any of those?
 
Australia at least has far more liberal and sophisticated usages of the C word. In fact it is commonly used as a compliment, “He is a mad C/sick C” (Aussie slang but could also be funny C, Clever C, the list goes on) and is not used to primarily describe women despite the factual meaning of the word still refers to the female genitalia.
 
Blackace said:
You don't think women take offense to being called any of those?
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Sure, I think men take offence to being called any of those too. But then any poster directing those words seriously at another user would be rightfully banned.

My point is that words like "c*nt" aren't aimed at specific genders nowadays in common usage - it's more typically a strong insult.

I mean, I've seen/heard those words that FV posted directed at people of either gender and used by either gender - while I'm sure that they once represented gender charged language, I really don't think that's the case any more.
 
Ravensmash said:
Sure, I think men take offence to being called any of those too. But then any poster directing those words seriously at another user would be rightfully banned.

My point is that words like "c*nt" aren't aimed at specific genders nowadays in common usage - it's more typically a strong insult.

I mean, I've seen/heard those words that FV posted directed at people of either gender and used by either gender - while I'm sure that they once represented gender charged language, I really don't think that's the case any more.
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If aimed at a woman it is without a doubt a gender related.. Just like ni@@er is a racial insult.. Easier to ban it and call the guy something else
 
Blackace said:
If aimed at a woman it is without a doubt a gender related.. Just like ni@@er is a racial insult.. Easier to ban it and call the guy something else
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The N word has a singular meaning while the C word has multiple meanings. People don't use the N word for describing an egregious individual without reference to gender, for example. I'm struggling to think of a use of the N word that is detached from race entirely.
 
Blackace said:
If aimed at a woman it is without a doubt a gender related.. Just like ni@@er is a racial insult.. Easier to ban it and call the guy something else
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No, not really. Or at least, not necessarily. Just like it's not gender related when you call someone a dick, man or women. It's curse word that already lost it's meaning.
 
Arksy said:
The N word has a singular meaning while the C word has multiple meanings. People don't use the N word for describing an egregious individual without reference to gender, for example.
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Can't say I agree with... Just like bitch can be used to talk about a man but it is basically insult by calling the a woman..

People use it, but that has not changed the meaning of the word..
 
Blackace said:
Can't say I agree with... Just like bitch can be used to talk about a man but it is basically insult by calling the a woman..

People use it, but that has not changed the meaning of the word..
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Surely meaning would be defined by how people are using it today, in a modern context?
 
Blackace said:
Can't say I agree with... Just like bitch can be used to talk about a man but it is basically insult by calling the a woman..

People use it, but that has not changed the meaning of the word..
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But it has changed the meaning of the word. Calling someone a dick doesn't mean that they're a penis, but rather that they're being boorish or obnoxious. It's the same with the C word. This is distinct from the N word which is only ever used to refer to race and while there are some instances where it's used as a positive it's still only applicable to members of a certain race. I mean if there are instances of the N word being used without any reference to race I'll happily concede but I just don't see it being the case, as opposed to bitch, dick, C, etc. (N word never really used in the Australian lexicon and am therefore not THAT familiar with its usage apart from what I see in American media).
 
Ravensmash said:
Surely meaning would be defined by how people are using it today, in a modern context?
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People still view the C word as one f the worst words you can call a woman.. So in modern context it hasn't really changed.
 
Blackace said:
People still view the C word as one f the worst words you can call a woman.. So in modern context it hasn't really changed.
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But people view the C word as one of the worst words you can call anyone. Maybe it's just where I am, but I really don't see it used a gendered insult very often at all.

In fact, it's much more common to hear/see it being directed at men. To me it is defined as a highly unpleasant person, regardless of gender - maybe that's different in other countries.
 
Arksy said:
But it has changed the meaning of the word. Calling someone a dick doesn't mean that they're a penis, but rather that they're being boorish or obnoxious. It's the same with the C word. This is distinct from the N word which is only ever used to refer to race and while there are some instances where it's used as a positive it's still only applicable to members of a certain race. I mean if there are instances of the N word being used without any reference to race I'll happily concede but I just don't see it being the case, as opposed to bitch, dick, C, etc. (N word never really used in the Australian lexicon and am therefore not THAT familiar with its usage apart from what I see in American media).
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White people use the N word now and days in the same ways blacks do with each other..
But I assure you it hasn't changed the word.. Just like the C word is the ultimate insult for a woman still...
 
Ravensmash said:
But people view the C word as one of the worst words you can call anyone. Maybe it's just where I am, but I really don't see it used a gendered insult very often at all.

In fact, it's much more common to hear/see it being directed at men.
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As an Australian, and one who doesn't swear much, the fact that people in the US react as they do to the C word just strikes me as bizzare. For the reasons given above.
 
Ravensmash said:
But people view the C word as one of the worst words you can call anyone. Maybe it's just where I am, but I really don't see it used a gendered insult very often at all.

In fact, it's much more common to hear/see it being directed at men.
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Because it is more socially acceptable to call a man that than a woman?
 
Arksy said:
As an Australian, and one who doesn't swear much, the fact that people in the US react as they do to the C word just strikes me as bizzare. For the reasons given above.
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Personally I am not insulted by the word... But I fully understand the reason why it is banned and stand with it..
 
Blackace said:
Because it is more socially acceptable to call a man that than a woman?
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No, because the meaning in modern usage isn't gender specific nor have I ever seen it as gender related, at least where I am. Much like calling someone a dick or a twat refers to them being an idiot or unpleasant person.

Out of interest, are you American? Perhaps the word has a significantly different meaning/usage in American English than it does in British or Australian language/slang. Heck, an extremely common slang term for cigarette here in the UK is defined as something completely different in the USA, despite the fact that there is no homophobic connotation to its usage when used here whatsoever.
 
Blackace said:
White people use the N word now and days in the same ways blacks do with each other..
But I assure you it hasn't changed the word.. Just like the C word is the ultimate insult for a woman still...
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Not in the UK/Europe it isn't. Women and Man use it equally and are equally offended by it (which is, not much at all).

I remember a woman gaffer (can't remember who?) on the Football thread where this whole thing started where she said she was more insulted by that fact that Mumei thought the word was insulting her genre then by the word itself. Which is pretty much how I'd feel if dick was suddenly treated as a derogatory term towards man.

That and I'd laugh at it afterwards.
 
Ravensmash said:
No, because the meaning in modern usage isn't gender specific nor have I ever seen it as gender related, at least where I am. Much like calling someone a dick or a twat refers to them being an idiot or unpleasant person.

Out of interest, are you American? Perhaps the word has a significantly different meaning/usage in American English than it does in British or Australian language/slang.
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I am American, but have not lived in America in about a decade.
 
I appreciate the word has different context, but we are on a primarily American board, and hence those are the rules that will be most often employed, and even if not, respecting the sensitivities of other posters is never a bad thing.

I may call my best friend a cunt, but I'll not be using it on GAF. Simple courtesy for weaker stomachs, if nothing else ;)

And historically, different names for the same genitalia have had different meanings. You all know that. It's why being the big dick is good, but being a giant cock is bad.
 
Metalmurphy said:
Not in the UK/Europe it isn't. Women and Man use it equally and are equally offended by it (which is, not much at all).

I remember a woman gaffer (can't remember who?) on the Football thread where this whole thing started where she said she was more insulted by that fact that Mumei thought the word was insulting her genre then by the word itself. Which is pretty much how I'd feel if dick was suddenly treated as a derogatory term towards man.

That and I'd laugh at it afterwards.
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It could vary wildly by location, as I don't pretend to be a worldly traveler, but at the very least, in the states, it's about as bad as it gets. Not that I just want to defer to pop culture and call it a day, but there was an episode of 30 Rock that dealt with Tina Fey lamenting that there was no equivalently bad word to call a male staffer that had called her that.

As for just laughing at slurs, that just gets to the old "sticks and stones" business. Sure, advocating thick skin isn't inherently bad -- maybe people would be better off if they could just laugh off every insult -- but that doesn't change the fact that words have meaning and intent behind them.
 
If you let yourself become insulted by a word alone, regardless of what word, you have already lost.

And yes, it is my opinion most people who take offense at things do so out of their own free will. It's a choice they make. And when they willingly choose victimhood, they lose.

But then again that might just be an opinion forced upon me; being a straight Swedish white guy i'm not really allowed to be offended by anything much. But I'm rather offensive than offended so i guess i'm cool with that.
 
Dead Man said:
I appreciate the word has different context, but we are on a primarily American board, and hence those are the rules that will be most often employed, and even if not, respecting the sensitivities of other posters is never a bad thing.

I may call my best friend a cunt, but I'll not be using it on GAF. Simple courtesy for weaker stomachs, if nothing else ;)

And historically, different names for the same genitalia have had different meanings. You all know that. It's why being the big dick is good, but being a giant cock is bad.
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Pretty much.. I don't think anyone's ability to communicate has been compromised. Some language I used at home or with friends I don't use here, nor in different places.
 
jorma said:
If you let yourself become insulted by a word alone, regardless of what word, you have already lost.

And yes, it is my opinion most people who take offense at things do so out of their own free will. It's a choice they make. And when they willingly choose victimhood, they lose.

But then again that might just be an opinion forced upon me; being a straight Swedish white guy i'm not really allowed to be offended by anything much. But I'm rather offensive than offended so i guess i'm cool with that.
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Sigh.. All we need is the bootstraps speech for this thread to be complete..
 
jorma said:
*shrug*
i honestly cannot fathom how someone could let themselves be insulted by just a word
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I am not even going to get into it.. Really I am not.

But yes words have power..
 
jorma said:
*shrug*
i honestly cannot fathom how someone could let themselves be insulted by just a word
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It's often not just about the word though. There's more at play than just tossing the word out carelessly at a group and watching as they get offended. There's history to the word. There's often a context to its usage. It's not as though the word itself -- in a vacuum -- induces outrage.
 
I love when Blackace posts.. only mod that doesn't need paragraphs and a thesaurus to get a simple point across..


jorma said:
they have the power you let them have, is my entire point.
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While I feel you on this.. I really do.. it's just futile to try and argue it. It's how the world is brainwashed. If I told my son from a young age that apple meant fuck and fuck meant apple, he'd be asking for a fuck when he's hungry and telling people to apple themselves when angry. Sounds ridiculous right? So is assigning some kind of vulgarity value to words like shit or cunt.. but.. this is our world.. here ya go..
 
jorma said:
*shrug*
i honestly cannot fathom how someone could let themselves be insulted by just a word
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You can not take personal offence, and still be fucking offended. I don't care if someone calls me a faggot, but if anyone calls another gaffer a faggot or uses gay as a slur I will be pissed the fuck off.

worldrevolution said:
I love when Blackace posts.. only mod that doesn't need paragraphs and a thesaurus to get a simple point across..
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Can be intimidating when you are on the receiving end though. Go look at some of the Aussie blackface threads which led to the ridiculous KFC racism non event. All water now, but that KFC thread got fiery.
 
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