silver

Link to misogyny and ignorance. Click with caution.

I made it halfway down the first page of comments and then gave up.


My reaction, helpfully summarized:
DEAR EVERYONE ON THE PLANET (minus those already armed with The Clues):

1. Words have meaning.

2. Words have two types of meanings: one is a dictionary (or scientific, or otherwise defined meaning). There is a second meaning, connotation. These are associations attached to words.

3. Generally connotations are the most important.

4. Pulling dictionary definitions when people are clearly talking about the connotations is neither helpful nor clever.

5. We are not separate from our history. Even if you think there's no misogyny in your world*, by using words that historically** carry misogynistic intent to describe someone you don't like, you are using the term in a way that is misogynistic. Even if you don't mean it. I'm sorry, this is the legacy we've been handed down with.

6. Live with the awareness that yes, while you wish you could totally throw around "whore" and "bitch" and all the rest without worrying about PC POLICE***, don't.

7. For the last time, the history is why words like "dick" do not garner such reactions. No, really. You're not pointing out anything that has not been brought up before in these conversations.

8. Please for the love of all that is holy stop telling anyone they're overreacting or oversensitive.

9. If you know nothing about this issue, I would advise your library or Google or another person who knows you well and this issue.

10. This applies wonderfully to just about any -ism you can think of; just change some of the words! 

Regards,
silverflight8

*OH MY GOD HAHAHAHAHA YOU MUST BE JOKING JUST GO AWAY
**They still do, by the way.
***Someone forgot to send me the uniform, obviously; I still don't have any weapons for these things...



tl;dr: *puts head on desk and thinks of happy thing*

Hey, you! Yeah, you! I have a present for you.

Do you know what I've got in my hand? It's the one of the breakthroughs of modern science. It's a period. A full stop. And look at it! Isn't it cute?

Normally, I'd sell it to you for--oh, maybe a dollar. But you know what? The Punctuation and Inc. are running a promotion. That's right, a promotion, so you can get them for a quarter. That's right, folks, twenty-five cents. Almost free.

No, it's okay, they won't hurt you! Here, I'll put one in your hand--and no, they don't bite. Really.

You know where these little things like to be? In writing. I mean, they simply love being in a writing--especially if it's famous! Or e posted on the Internet, even. Doesn't even need to be a professional author.

Oh, and one more thing, 'cuz I think you deserve to know. Did you know that the period has a whole family? No? Really? Oh, let me introduce them to you. Here's the question mark--isn't he adorable? All squiggly and questioning. And here's the comma--he's like the family dog, keeping the sheep together--that is, if you had sheep. And look here; I've got a rare species. It's called an apostrophe. They used to be quite common, you know. There aren't very many left--they're a pretty limited edition. And here's a set of brackets--very useful, I must say. If you look, you can see one of the dashes trying to run away. Hey, get back here!

So, if you want a sample of a Limited Edition of the Punctuation Marks Kit (R), visit the site www.savepunctuation.com NOW for the special offer! All fanfic writers get a discount!

With great affection,
The Punctuation and Inc. Employees