John Dean bitch-slapping Dumbya big time on Diane Rheim

just said Shrub can't testify alone because he doesn't understand his own white house policies.

that Cheney is the ACTUAL president.

said Bush is "shallow," that he simply repeats phrases over and over, that he is a symbolic head of state.

The overall message is that Shrub is an incurious, rude, arrogant dumbass.

Well, WE all knew that four years ago, but it's awesome to hear it said out loud on national radio.

I'm writing to thank Diane!

On edit: now Dean is adding that Shrub is a vicious, ruthless political operative who enjoys that side of things and uses Rove largely as a cover for his own machinations.

on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman. It was excellent! Worse than Watergate indeed!

The overall message is bigger than that. It's that Bush has done things that are CLEARLY impeachable offenses!

If only the mainstream media would take this and run with it...

But could you please find another phrase besides "bitch-slap". It is an offensive, sexist term. Thanks.

I couldn't help noticing that there was no criticism of Bush in your post, but criticism of the word "bitch."

I think that says volumes about the motivations at work here.

at least not nearly as much is the insistance on using a term like bitch when it's pretty well known there are people who will object to it.

makes me wonder why? such an 'in your face' thing to do to people who are on your side in 99% of the arguements.

if i wanted a serious and focused discussion of a topic, i sure as hell would use the word bitch in the title.

Thank you. You couldn't have proved my point more than by saying Bush behavior is less "surprising" than some liberal allies here at DU because they use a word that general society uses that a few people here happen to not to like.

and then defends it's use as "interesting, fun and lively", well then yes...in this respect, bush has a leg up on some DUers.

whether or not you think use of the word is trivial, the fact a lot of people object to the term ought to be enough of an incentive to not use it. That's just basic good manners and respect, nothing more, nothing less.

i'm thinking some may even sit around, bidding their time until they find an excuse to use it because it's so "interesting, fun and lively,

such a fun word..bitch. so full of empowerment when coupled with slap like it is here, in this context.

I find your name offensive....so when are you going to change it. I also find you highjacking threads with your tiresome screeds about the word "bitch" How bout this? Build a flipping bridge...

so in the words of those who defend bitch-slap, get over it.

I will always take offensive to that and other demeaning terms. As to my criticism of bush, I work daily as a precinct chair and am now a state delegate to help us get rid of this freak. I have been screaming about him since before he defeated Anne here in Texas. I rode in a bus for 24+ hours to march triumphantly in the sleet and cold to let the world know what I thought of his non election. My mind, body and spirit work minute by minute to rid our nation of this scourge. None of this changes the fact the the term used was sexist, demeaning, counterproductive and WRONG!

It is a turn of phrase..get used to it..Thanks.

When they are successful with legal action to remove certain words they disapprove of from the language, then people will stop using them.

but civilized people don't use them lightly as the poster did in his thread title.

I have the huge Encarta Dictionary... because it was on sale. (story for another time)

Anyway, the n-word has taboo and offensive all over the entry for the n-word. "Fag" has 3 completely different usages, of which one is offensive. The others are it's use in the UK for something boring or a cigarette, neither of the latter two considered offensive in the UK.

"Bitch" has 7 different usages and only ONE is considered offensive.

You guys need to sue the dictionary makers.

but find the term bitch-slap in the dictionary.

oh damn merriam-webster hasn't given us permission to be a lout on that one has it?

for speaking up on this. Funny that liberals would be so insensitive to so many people, even after being told repeatedly that a LOT of people on DU don't like the term. It's not like that's the only word in the language that can be used to say the same thing. And I'm sure I could think of lots of things to insert in

________-slapped


that would offend the people saying "get over it."

Only one usage of the term "bitch" of seven is given a notation of offensive. This wasn't the offensive one.

I suggest you direct your campaign against the word to dictonary editors.

are you saying that the term "bitch-slap" refers to hitting a dog? You're nuts. This is precisely the offensive usage of the term. In this phrase, the "bitch" referred to is a woman (specifically, a prostitute being hit by her pimp, if I remember the etamology).

How can you make the case that this is not the offensive usage of the word? Even if there are six non-offensive usages, this clearly isn't one of them.

How come the term "George W. Bush" not considered offensive? I don't know. There just isn't agreement as a culture that "George W. Bush" is reasonable to consider insulting.

I perfectly refuted your assertion (posted several times) that the usage of "bitch-slap" wasn't the offensive usage, which it clearly is, and you respond with that?

As a fellow Danger Mouse fan, and (I assume, perhaps wrongly) a fellow hetero man- may I suggest that your whole life will get a lot better if you stop defending things that don't matter and start standing up for your sisters.

There is a group of people on this message board promoting a personal agenda that has noting to do with this discussion. That's what this is about.

The culture as a whole does not see these usages offensive.

"kike" or "spic" wasn't considered offensive by culture as a whole, you would have happily used those phrases any chance you got, huh?

God forbid you have a higher sense of justice and morality that the culture as a whole...

Seeing how many flames you correctness police officer can post on a thread was tedious the 200th time. Doing it more therefore will be more tedious.

everytime a knuckledragging moran with a freeper's soul wrapped in a liberal's skin uses the word bitch and i see it, i will exercise my freedom of speech to protest it.

You're wrong about this, and I don't care home many threats of rants on threads you make, I'll point out that you are wrong. Flooding threads with rants is neither good argumentation nor accurate.

The referece books say you are wrong.

I want to see this dictionary entry. You said six definitions are fine, on is offensive. Make good on you promiose and post it.

The offensive tem relates directly to a woman's temperament. It is not considered an offensive usage when it only relates to female as slang.

I believe this word has special meaning for you. Are jokes about this acceptable? Slurs about disabled people? You said anything in the dictionary is fair game.

*YAWN*

i have a five year old niece and i'm trying to create a world where she can be assertive and powerful and not be called a bitch for it.

as for other choices, attacks, exposes, ridicules, derides and that ole' DU favorite bashes, pop into mind as possible substitute but then again, they all have more than one syllable so that may be the issue here.

:)

you don't find that sexist or offensive?

wow.......

What BS ~ It is both and doesn't need to be bandied about here.

I'm a guy, not terribly "pc", but even I can see that bitch-slap is sexist. Fer pete's sake, it suggests that slapping your "bitch" is a specific type of action- deserving of its own name. If that's not entrenchment of violence against women, well then I don't know what is.

I really appreciate your saying this.

:toast: now only if more guys like you could see this...

I'll take their word on it.

"spic" and "wetback" just because those words didn't merit a "special consideration of its racist or sexist use" in the dictionary. :eyes:

The 201st time posted is more tedious than the 200th posted.

amazing and shows a lack of understanding on this subject.

Believe it or not, I consider the highly educated editors of the various highly regarded dictionaries of the English language to be more expert in matters of word usage than you.

You point to #121 as if the argument hasn't been disproved over and over again. The usage in question is not considered offensive by dictionaries.

you said one of your entries WAS an offensive usage. Post it.

The offensive usage relates directly to a woman's temperament. The slang usage as relating to female is not considered offensive.

Geez, just come over to #156 and we can work this out.

Where is my reading comprehension? I must be a total idiot.

...your own brains, why should anyone pay attention to anything else you have to say?

There are plenty of ways in the English language to say waht you wanted to say. Is it so tough to admit that that particular phrase may not have been the best one?

..the slap each other because they (women) don't punch with their fists....

I'm sorry but if some here get bent out of shape about the word bitch I wonder what would happen when someone uses REALLY big words....:eyes:

the pimp slaps the woman with an open hand so to not damage the merchandise and reduce her earning potential

your thinking of chick fight

Oh, and BULLSHIT back at ya.....

that there is one usage out of seven that IS offensive. Did that entry vanish from your dictionary in the last few minutes?

This was not the usage in question.

It CLEARLY refers to hitting a woman who is your property.

The term is not considered offensive in the dictionary.

you said one of the seven entries in your holy dictionary IS offensive, so have the guts to post it.

I can't help it if you have no patience to wait for it to be posted a couple of minutes.

The offensive term is relatinbg to a woman's temperament.

It's not considered offensive to use just in relation to female as slang.

besides...all of my bitches are ho's...//sarcasm off

I'd like to see a poll on whether most DUers think the phrase "bitch-slap" originates with two women fighting, as you assert, or with a pimp smacking his prostitute, as I assert.

I'm as sure I'm right as you are, but it'll be real hard to find any solid etamology. At least with a poll we'll get the common understanding of the term, which is the relevant question, I guess.

I take liberals seriously.

the word bitch even though they know it's use offends other DUers.

i have never been able to figure out the true motivation for that.

When I shout them, those words are offensive. They have the power to strike at me, because I'm a woman, and seeing a word like "bitch" puts down my gender. They are the same as racial epithets to me.

It's old. It had an effect a few times, but no longer does the 200th time. You've run this rant into the ground Slinkerwink.

"interesting, fun and lively?

Slinkerwink now throwing that "glued" megecurse up on reflex. It was interesting the first few times. It's old the 200th time.

:shrug: it's not my fault that some people here can be blind to how words like "bitch" are a major slap in the face to women here who object to it.

Only 1 of 7 usages of the word "bitch" in my brand new Encarta Dictionary is considered offensive by them

I suggest you aim your anger where it might be more effective.

the word "bitchslap" used by the original poster. :eyes:

Live with that. This is your own personal sensitivities, not the cultures.

you said one of the seven entries in you dictionary is offensive. Bring it on, man.

when the word exposed is more accurate gets tedious too? especially for the 200th time?

If a term isn't considered offensive in English language dictionaries, I would suggest that the discussion is tedious.

Only a small group of people here on the DU board are promoting this. It is not how the culture as a whole feels about the usage of the term.

And hetero, too. Secondly, the only reason there are only five of six of us doing this right now is because we're the ones who happen to have time this fine Tuesday. I guarantee there are boatloads of lefties who find your line of reasoning wrong.

And I'll grant that there are boatloads who would agree with you. For fairness.

They say the term isn't offensive.

I'll stand with the standard reference accepted by society.

The Correctness Police stuff has gotten old when dictionaries aren't even accepted as a reference for word usage.

The dictonary does not consider this word usage to be offensive no matter how many way you try to fracture the argument.

You state that your precious dictionary lists 7 definitions and that one is deemed offensive. Do you have the guts to type out just what the offensive definition is, according to your sacred tome?

insulting a women's temperament

The usage in regards to female (slang) IS NOT considered offensive.

"acting like a bitch", that's offensive. But if I say a woman "is a bitch", that's not offensive?

Is that what your dictionary says?

If temperament is not part of the discussion, it's not considered offensive.

I can call my boss, mom, wife- all bitches as long as I am refering to their genders, not their temperments? And if they get offended, that's their probelm, because using the term to descibe a woman (as long as temperment is not part of the discussion) is empirically not offensive.

That's your assertion?

It's your call as to how able you are to use slang and talk informally with those you interact with.

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?ook=Dictionary&va=bitchslap&x=17&y=10

so how is it that you found 'bitchslap' to be declared not offensive?

Because YOU say so???

Riiiiiiiight....

2 : giving painful or unpleasant sensations : NAUSEOUS, OBNOXIOUS <offensive odor of garbage>
3 : causing displeasure or resentment


you really think the protesters here are not expressing displeasure or resentment at the use of the word? it seems clear that we find the word nauseous and obnoxious.

if you live by the dictionary you die by the dictionary. since i have proved that many of your compatriots are offended by the word, will you continue it's use? what other words do you intentionally use to offend people?

Female temperament is the offensive usage. Female (slang) usage that doesn't relate specifically to temperament is not offensive.

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

I'm sure if we thought maybe a second, we could find something to use in

_______-slapped

to push mouse7's and all the other "get over it" people's buttons.

But let's be big about this and not put each other down.

That term has negative and even dangerous connotations for a gender. There are many other terms that could be used that would not do this.

...for reasons unknown to me -- other than refreshing your memory with more words you could add to your chain -- personally, I think it was an error by moderators, unless they can point out to me what specific rule I broke (I'd appreciate a reply here or in a PM, whichever) -- let me try this again.

Racial epithets don't offend me either. RacISM offends me. Though it may be true that racial epithets are most often, but not always, used in tandem with racism -- it isn't the words themselves that offend me, but the substance behind them. It isn't a certain sequence of syllables, but a certain sentiment. If the words are vehicles to express racism, then the racism is offensive; if not, then to call them offensive just because they are from your personal verbal hit-list is, I believe, not consistent with liberalism and free speech.

I actually think that the PC movement has set back the struggle for equality, not moved it forward. This whole idea that as long as we go through the motions and avoid certain phrases and certain mannerisms, we're in the clear, is ludicrous. All that does is push these things under the carpet where they are not as visible, but fester nevertheless. You know all those "BUT" people? "I'm not a racist/sexist/homophobe BUT..." (then insert: I'm not comfortable with homosexual or interracial marriages, I don't think women were made for certain jobs, etc). Well, they readily obey your verbal hygiene. Still they are offensive to me. And you know what else? Even though they're offensive to me, I would protect their right to hold those sentiments and freely express them. And then there will be a debate about them, as opposed to the endless status quo maintained by this PC aesthetic.

There are 7 usages for the word "bitch" and only one is considered offensive.

The one in discussion in this thread isn't the one considered offensive.

"bitchslap?"

You can't rant and incite and insult all you wish. I'll use the same reference book the rest of the culture uses on this subject.

it's not in my version although i'll take a stab at it:

bitch-slap
verb
origin: knukledraggers and sexist misogynists
meaning: 1.to slap a woman who you regard as your property 2. to slap a man as you would slap a woman who you regard as property


we gotta fight
for the right
to say biiiiitch-slap!

</sarcasm>

This isn't about a word. This is about being concerned about a word and comparatively unconcerned about Bush. It's a question about misplaced priorities.

all any poster has to do is use a different phrase and the focus would be entirely on bush's policies. but i guess some people don't have the vocabulary or word skills to pull that off.

or else they get their jollies by making light of women being beaten.

Obviously, some people posting here take a different position than yours. You are offended. But your response is offensive to me, because you are now implying that people who disagree on the use of the word "bitch" show a lack of vocabulary/word skills or enjoyment of violence against women.

Please do not characterize my thoughts. It is just possible that I disagree with you for what I consider a good reason, and that, even if I would prefer not to offend you, I cannot avoid doing so if I do not share your premises.

State what you feel, but don't stoop to smearing those of us who feel differently.

Try not using phrases that many people find offensive, just because some other people don't and you think you have to stand up for the rights of... of what? Of the phrase? I just don't get it. It is entirely appropriate for any person to ask you to stop using terminology that degrades thier race/gender/religion. You don't want to, fine. But don't pretend its because the phrase itself isn't offensive. The real reason the user doesn't care.

i can assume that people on a liberal message board are either:

insensitive, crude, endorsers of terms that references violence against women and defends it's use as being interesting, fun and lively.

or

that they have a poor command of the language and lack the necessary skills to come up with another term.



i prefer the second choice. a lack of word skills is easier to remedy than a lack of a liberal soul.

The quickest solution is for you to stop trying to control the actions of others an unnecessarily moralize like a right-winger.

That's pretty much it.

what the hell your definition of it is?

making light of women being beaten doesn't fit in my definition.

I can understand using a phrase that one doesn't realize is deragatory, but to adamantly defend your usage in the face of clear reasoning why it sucks? Bizarre, to say the least.

just emotional reaction.

I feel that particularly term can be offensive in some contexts but not in others. They are just words; they only have the emotional impact we assign to them.

If I was teaching kindergarten I would be concerned about hurting feelings, but I thought we were all adults in here.

about a phrase...

How pathetic......

No wonder liberals are laughed at...

Whilst we're concentrating on PC speech the reich-wing is busy looting the treasury, raping the environment (Ooops..can i say "rape"???:eyes:) and stripping us of our rights...

Lets' keep our eyes on the prize, and grow a thicker skin....

Some people just need to get over themselves.....

and DYKE, and other sexist words that perpetuates SEXISM....:nopity:

They are simply words.

-methods of entrenching repression, altering people's perspective and generally affecting thought in the populace as a whole, then you aren't paying attention to the methods of the right wing.

Language is powerful.

not that I care what the Freepers say but my God they must have fun reading this sophomoric crap. As I said above...build a bridge. I'm a gay man and you can call me faggot, queer , cocksucker or whatever you want and it that's just fine. I am in fact all of the above however my selfimage is healthy and I don't let people using ugly word have power over me. The way "bitch slapped" was used in the thread title was amusing and well used as far as Im concerned and Im completely sick and tired of these jerks highjacking good threads to insert their own ridiculous agenda. If you're all so damned concerned start a thread with that as the subject and pursue it that way.

On edit...WOW I just discovered the IGNORE feature...I have lots of work to do...let's see...BEARSFARTINTHEWOODS....WOODSTOCK....etc. etc....when I'm dont maybe I can then see what the reason of this thread really is....

To each his or her own way of expressing him or herself...it's part of what keeps our language interesting, fun and lively.

Now, what are your comments on the substance of my post?

...that he/she ain't gonna be bitch-slapping you about the substance of your post.

i try to get excited about someone saying something that we all know already but it pales in significance to the loss of the soul of liberalism which is what i see when people insist on using a term that expressly translates into violence against women and then defends it's use as interesting, fun and lively.

You are on the verge of losing any credibility at all. Why do you insist upon offending so many people here? It serves no purpose that I can ascertain and could end up getting you placed on many ignore lists. In fact I think the rules are pretty plain about vulgar offensive language in posts and especially subject lines.

This is beyond ridiculous now! I stayed out of the other "bitch" threads but please, because someone uses the phrase "bitch-slap" they lose all credibility? OMFG!
There are plenty of things posted on this board that could be considered vulgar/offensive to people. Would you prefer that we go all Laura Bush/stepford wife and just not speak? We all talk differently. We were all raised differently. How the hell is the Democratic party supposed to become united when we can't even get past the reality that some of us that say the word bitch? Some of us take the lords name in vain...some of us use the word fuck often...It's a freaking word. I say Ann Coulter is a bitch...sorry but that is not calling slinkerwink one as well. :eyes: It was a sentence about Ann Coulter only.
This topic was supposed to be about John Dean...but instead we have to go through the whole tired bla-bla bla about this word or that word or this phrase being offensive crap! So once again Bush wins because some users decide a word pertains to them every time it is used and so the attention is taken off the fact that someone else has came out and said Bush is an idiot.
We are never going to get anywhere if people keep focusing on trivial little things like this instead of the issues....you know, unemployment, outsourcing, Iraq and getting that asshole out of our White House. (I am sure someone out there is also offended by the word asshole...oh well.)

And it wasn't just the word bitch that was used. It was Bitch-slapped. In the first place I don't go along with slapping anyone at any time and the second it is extremely demeaning of women in that it is acceptable that they should be slapped. What if the term was wife-slapped. Would that bother anyone? It is terribly offensive and I am amazed at so many so-called "Liberals" that condone such activity and terminoligy.

the meaning of the word liberal please?

And I consider this whole discussion trivial. This http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x467984 is not trivial. This discussion is.

I agree.
.

Also shows very little imagination. It's not hard to think of something more descriptive to use instead.

even do that. what a mess he is

I can't wait! I think this is yet another nail in the Bush coffin. Remember, John Dean was the BIG nail in Nixon's coffin too! I think that gives credibility to his words!!!!!

Of today's Amerika, I'm afraid! U.S. getting the government it now deserves?

:shrug:

:evilfrown:

This country is full of willfully ignorant fools, too many of which choose to vote.

get the same attention? He is very respected investigative journalist and editor.

but he was on one of the programs the other day really laying it on the line about these morons. Awesome.

Dean spelled the situation we are in out loud on Keith Oberman last night - he sees where all this is going - and he is worried about what little "democracy" we have left - as he said - one more terrorist attack and we can kiss our Constitution and Bill of Rights goodbye. THIS is the issue - not the use of the word bitch-slap, fucking ridiculous.

trying to find the transcripts...

thanks!

Keith Oberman, it was good.

why did I think he was CNN? :shrug:

maybe if I watched occasionally I would know! :silly:

you may want to seperately post his statements re basically the fact that they plan for the US to be under martial law. Good luck.

after I read it I'll post the relevant parts, unless someone beats me to it

judgement that * is one also. As for the "incurious" part, that's trueas well.

He told the truth about the Accidental President. I loved the part where he said Bush* was ignorant. LOL!

You could have said that a thousand other ways than that. And those words would have packed just as strong a punch - but not offended so many people. Let's see, I'm sure I could find something to insert in the blanks of this statement that YOU would not like - but I won't use it. I wish you'd shown me the same courtesy.

_______-slapped

Let's see, what would DemLikr not like me to use in the blank? I bet lots.

This is why we Democrats can't ever seem to get it together and battle the common enemy: we're too busy battling one another over petty stuff like words someone might find offensive!

Now back to John Dean's book: He was interviewed last night (Monday) on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann (who gave the book a hearty endorsement-Thanks Keith!). He really laid it on the line about how the Bush administration has used "in the interest of national security" to take away our freedoms one by one. How they are far more corrupt than the Watergate folks ever dared to be and what we will very likely lose if Bush & Co. are re-elected--which he no doubt will be if we can't get our &^%$ together and focus on what's really important: Sending Shrub back home to Texas in November!

The transcripts of the interview should be up on the MSNBC website later this afternoon. Go to www.msnbc.com, then to MSNBC TV, then to Countdown. The link to the transcripts will be there. Read them and then go out and buy the book!

Remember, this man is yet another Republican coming forward with serious and well-thought out concerns of the Bush Administration. Sooner or later, this stuff has to start registering with the Repugs and the Independents out there that this administration is not to be trusted!

would you consider that a petty word? The fact is that "bitch-slapped" is like "faggot-slapped" to us.

I'm a female and it didn't and doesn't bother me in the least. I think our situation is dire enough that frankly we don't have time to worry about our delicate "sensibilities". As a woman, I use the term quite frequently, its just a phrase. As a matter of fact - I actually DID bitch-slap someone down last weekend, felt great.
Faggots usually call themselves that in jest - just get over it - and yes, let's get back on the topic.

not the term Bitch. I'm a woman btw, and I use the words Bitch, bitch-slapped, and bitching quite frequently. I do not find it offensive. What I do find offensive is that we're discussing this nonsense when we could be discussing something more important!

words by coopting them into a positive context, like african-americans owning the word "n*gger," and so forth. However, when a male of the dominant class uses the word "bitch" in any context, it is perpetuating sexism. Just like a white man would in using the word "n*gger" casually.

A majority of us on DU object to this term - as we have demonstrated in countless threads. Some have left over it's repeated allowance here. I'm considering it now myself. Don't worry, TNOE, maybe some day it will be just you and the insensitive guys here, and you can talk about "the subject" all you want.

As for me, I'm glad the decent guys spoke up for the majority of us women who object to this term.

n/t

...Unreal....Simply un-friggin' real....

and trust me, they hurt like hell.

in why not to use the term in question------IF
you want people to focus on the issue and not the
term. A perfect lesson perfectly unlearned.

government censorship right? What's the difference if BOTH impedes free speech??

It's called being considerate of each other.

It's NOT hard to do. REALLY.

between discussing the issue at hand, which
the thread-starter apparently wanted to discuss,
and discussing a term used in presenting the issue?
Just on a practical, pragmatic level, the use of
the term is self-defeating.
Again:
Perfect Lesson, Perfectly Unlearned.

thought the freepers broke in

responded to it. isn't that the definition of a hit and run disruption?

eom

See what we've attracted to DU?

Cool.

n/t

And you'll get a discussion about your topic.

Throw around slurs, and you'll get objections.

If you need some hints about words to replace:

{insert ethinic, gender, racial, sexual-oriented group}-slapped

Then I'll be glad to provide, oh, say 100 alternatives.

It seems everyone just wants to discuss a term. :eyes:

On edit: Oh 2 replies in an hour

Here:http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1353602

was interesting and important in our battle against *bush and company. I found and still find your use of "that" term sexist, degrading and HARMFUL to women and thereby to us all. I wanted you to know this. I really have a difficult time with someone defending an obvious, if nothing else, very contentious term that lessens the important information that was being imparted. Here to me is a good test of what one is saying or doing: "Is this a term you would want to teach your youngster to use?"

makes me feel like I'm listening to Bill O'Reilly and/or Sean Hannity - seems like "fake" outrage to me. Maybe some of these posters have other issues that I don't. I'm a woman and I can take it when and if someone calls me a bitch - maybe its deserved, maybe it isn't and when I do the same to another woman. Good thing you all probably missed Jon Stewart last night to hear what he called Juror #4 - lighten up - the world is not going to go to hell in a handbasket because we cuss or use certain words to describe someone or something but what I CAN guarantee you is - the world is definitely going to hell in a handbasket because of Bush* and his administration, 9/11, the Iraq war, Afghanistan, the poppy's, the looting of the Treasury and SS, etc. I guess we can all discuss our likes and dislikes when we're in the concentration camps - we'll have time for this discussion then I'm sure - and meanwhile the righteous religious right will have taken over the country and it will be illegal to use these terms - then perhaps that will make you happy.

P.S. - I've always avoided the "bitch" threads because I only have so much time to lurk and post and refuse to waste my time normally on nonsensical bullshit. (no offense to bulls).

makes me feel like I'm listening to Bill O'Reilly and/or Sean Hannity.

A large number of women (and some great men) on DU find this term offensive. They don't find ALL terms offensive. Just a very small number of terms that have negative connotations about a gender and in this case, trivialize violence toward women. No, I know you don't think so. You think it's a cool term and wouldn't mind if it was put in big letters in signs all across the interstate system. But the fact is a lot of us on DU - and I'm finding out just how many - find a small number of terms offensive toward genders, races, ethnic groups, and homosexuals. So for us to ask that this small number of terms please not be used is quite reasonable.

I know that there is a term I could use that you would find offensive. I KNOW IT. I don't know you well enough, but if I pay attention to you, I'm sure I could find this term out. But would I use it? NO. NO. NO. It's just basic respect. I don't know you, but if I have 1,000 alternative words at my disposal, I'm sure going to use them instead of deliberately offending you.

Sean Hannity act. Get all bent out of shape when someone doesn't agree with them or doesn't see things they same way they do - they disrupt, change the subject and fein outrage.

Actually - I have already "raised" my child who is 21, engaged, working 2 jobs and going to nursing school - she has amazingly excelled in our liberal home environment. And you know what - most words I heard of first were from her - hey mom, ever hear of a "skank", ever hear this or that - and I'd be like no, WHAT does that mean - and she'd tell me and we'd laugh. Again, using the term "what will we teach the children" sounds very Repug to me - and again, very O'Reily.

Maybe its because I was never a prostitute who worked for pimps so I was never bitch-slapped down by one, maybe if I had walked in that person's shoes I might find it offensive but then I'd have to figure I saw so much rotten shit that the least of my worries would be if anyone used that term. To ask "anyone or any group" to NOT do something is not your place - people on this board (speking for myself) are tired of all the bullshit that is now America and as I've said - we've got much bigger issues. This sounds like more right-wing Christian bullshit to me - political correctness and Praise Halleuigh and pass the ammunition.

No, honestly, there is NOTHING you could call me that I could possibly take offense to. I have too much respect for myself, I'm too proud of my accomplishments and I'm way too damn smart to be offended by anything anyone could possibly say. I've been on right-wing boards and was called "commie", drug smoking hippie, crackhead, etc. Words cannot and do not hurt me, impossible.

this has turned into one big flame fest