Would it be considered offensive to refer to Rick Santorum as "Scrotorum?"

[Orrex]

Because anyone who's Googled "Santorum" knows how gross it is, I figured that a new term might be helpful.

[yurbud]

1. that would be the PG version of his actual name

[virtualobserver]

2. Scrotums might be offended

....at least mine is.

[clydefrand]

12. Well, only the 'scrotums' without balls, like

Santorum

[pinboy3niner]

3. Sounds good, but how do we let the fish know about it?

'Testicle Eating Fish' With Human-Like Teeth Caught In New Jersey
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026917918

[winter is coming]

4. No, I'm sure you'll be the hit of your fifth grade class. n/t

[Orrex]

6. What loftier goal could one possibly set?

[GoneOffShore]

8. Thanks for your concern.

[jberryhill]

5. I don't see why he deserves a title of such respect

[GoneOffShore]

7. I like it.

Or we could go with Scrotorotorum.

[RKP5637]

9. It would be an embarrassment to every dang hanging thing!

[Orrex]

10. Good point, but...

IMO you should have gone with "every dang hanging thang."

YMMV!

[RKP5637]

22. Yep!!! Much better!

[pinboy3niner]

11. You probably should image it on an ISIS flag and see what CNN thinks, first. nt

[Orrex]

13. I did, but they deleted their article.

[LWolf]

14. As long as you consider it appropriate

to express dislike or disagreement by name-calling and put-downs rather than reasons, "Scrotorum" works. I guess you'd have to have an issue with scrotums?

My middle school students aren't allowed to get away with it, but it's more prevalent in the adult world.

[Orrex]

15. Middle school kids aren't allowed to write about sex

But somehow adult writers are allowed to do so, and have done so for ages.

I guess you'd have to have an issue with scrotums?

Well, that's a facile, dismissive and incorrect assessment, but you're welcome to it. I don't have an issue with shit, per se, except that I wouldn't like to be called shit or to have my efforts dismissed as shit.

Not many people know this, but jokes about genitals and excrement have been used for centuries as ways to deride objectionable persons. I know that this is disappointing, but it's the truth.

For instance, in Arden of Faversham, with which I'm sure you're familar, there's a character by the name of Shakebag, widely understood to be a mocking reference to The Bard and also to a scrotum. See... "spear" is used as a naughty euphemism for "penis," so "bag" becomes an equally saucy euphemism for "scrotum."

Shocking, I know! What are we to make of this long-standing tradition of human expression?

[LWolf]

18. I thought we all knew that.

"jokes about genitals and excrement have been used for centuries as ways to deride objectionable persons."

I just have a different point of view about how to deal with "objectionable persons." It probably stems from my unceasing efforts to encourage empathy and tolerance among my students, and to teach them to express themselves with civility. I don't do that through "do as I say, not as I do," which you probably know does NOT resonate well with young people. What DOES make a difference, in the long term, are adults modeling the behaviors we wish to see.

I'm thinking about my classroom, and some of the young people with truly "objectionable" behaviors. Even if I thought it was the right thing to do, I wouldn't keep my job long if I addressed those behaviors by shaming, belittling, or verbal bullying.

It's true that those are, not just "juvenile" behaviors, but human behaviors. I'd like to see us evolve beyond them.

[Orrex]

19. Oh, please.

It probably stems from my unceasing efforts to encourage empathy and tolerance among my students, and to teach them to express themselves with civility.

That would, of course, decimate the entire genre of political satire dating at least as far back as Classical Greece and as recently as this morning's Doonesbury. Sure, such satire can be masked with an appearance of civility, but more often than not it's just distracting shine that conceals a razor's edge.

I don't presume to be a better writer than Shakespeare nor a wittier satirist than Swift, both of whom made use of bawdy imagery to great effect.

I don't do that through "do as I say, not as I do," which you probably know does NOT resonate well with young people. What DOES make a difference, in the long term, are adults modeling the behaviors we wish to see.

It's a shame that you're teaching them to fear words and honest expression, then. You'd be better off teaching them how to assess and engage in context-appropriate commentary, rather than pretending that these are so profoundly unaccceptable that we must "evolve beyond them."

I'm thinking about my classroom, and some of the young people with truly "objectionable" behaviors. Even if I thought it was the right thing to do, I wouldn't keep my job long if I addressed those behaviors by shaming, belittling, or verbal bullying.

Well, obviously that's a silly comparison. You are in a position of authority and power relative to these students, so it would be inappropriate to speak to them in that manner, just as it would be incorrect for parent to address their children as such.

Comparing an appropriate interaction with your students to an appropriate interaction with former US Senator and an influential figure in one of the nation's two leading political parties is simply foolish.

[LWolf]

27. You seem determined not to get the point.

And to make unfounded assumptions/accusations.

I'm sorry about that.

I'll try to explain the point one more time, giving you the doubt, even though I don't think you want it:

The point is that, if we want a civil society, we behave with civility. If we don't want to mirror the worst in our society, we don't. If we don't like verbal bullying, we don't engage in it. If there are reasoned, legitimate reasons to object to something, we should offer up those reasons, rather than rushing to the lowest common denominator.

I'd love to talk about the power of words, and how we play with them and enjoy them in the classroom, and how a powerful use of words achieve goals more powerfully, including satire. Name calling isn't satire. It's just name calling.

[Orrex]

32. I get that it's a fancy way of telling me to adopt your particular system of values, or else.

The "or else," of course, is the none-too-subtle intimation that I am less sophisticated than you are.

I can live with that, because your brand of sophistication goes hand-in-hand with smug self-righteousness, and I'm very happy to leave that to you. I find your kind of passive/aggressive name-calling to be far more offensive than the derision of a public figure who's earned millions fighting against my system of values.

But it's important for you to stake a meaningless moralistic posture while wagging your prim finger at me, so be it.

[LWolf]

33. Nope.

I'm not asking you to adopt any set of values, or to do anything but follow your own path.

I just wanted you to acknowledge my point. That's all.

I'm sorry that you can't, and that your best response is to engage in more of the same.

[Orrex]

35. I understand your point, I acknowledge your point, and I disagree with your point.

And your posts are dripping with passive aggressiveness, exactly as I've described, nor am I the only one who's noticed it.

I accept that you won't believe this, but that's frankly immaterial.

[pinboy3niner]

45. Pay no attention to that poopoohead. nt

[Orrex]

47. You'd think I'd learn...

But no...

[HockeyMom]

16. I prefer "Pope Sanctimonious"

Former Catholic, 12 years Catholic school, and 4 years of Latin. Second? Richardus the Younger. Possibilities are endless.

[Orrex]

17. Too highbrow for me, alas

According to this thread, I'm just a fifth grader or a middle schooler!

[ladjf]

20. I don't like the term. It seems needlessly vulgar, not funny and rather meaningless. nt

[Orrex]

21. Vulgar? Sure! Needlessly? Well, that's less certain. Meaningless? Not really.

I've already explained the reasoning and its roots in literary tradition above, but if you don't care for the word then you're under no obligation, of course.

[ladjf]

25. I'm not losing any sleep over the term.

However, I feel that any nickname for a person should have an easily understood connection. I don't see that in the
word "Scrotorum". The "scrot" is clear enough. But, it's the "orum" that doesn't quite fit anything that I know of.

However, if it strikes you as funny, then by all means, go with it. I'm just an old curmudgeon.

[Rex]

23. This guy might be offended, but who can tell since he always has a smile on his face.

"Please children, do NOT touch Mr. Ballsack...he looks like he might be enjoying it...who can tell!?"

[pinboy3niner]

24. Senhor Testiculo is just another sack puppet

Meet Mr. Balls, Brazil’s Disturbing New Testicular Cancer Mascot
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023921229

[Rex]

26. I believe Hairy Ballsack is his full name.

[ann---]

28. Yes, I think so

[KT2000]

29. yes it is offensive

that would open the door to women candidates being called horrible names. Let's just not go there.

[El Supremo]

30. Scrotie would probably be offended.

http://www.risd.edu/About/News/Scrotie_Responds/

[Agnosticsherbet]

31. He is not a member here, so it's all good.

[JEB]

34. Any reference to him is offensive. eom

[Orrex]

36. ^^Thread win

[Snobblevitch]

37. Would it be ok to use a term for female

genitalia and modify it into a pejorative?

Go ahead, I dare you.

[Orrex]

40. Well, that wasn't my question, now was it?

By all means, feel free to start your own thread.

[Snobblevitch]

44. Anyone would have to be pretty stupid

if they got your question and my question confused. I'm sorry for the confusion. It's ok if you choose not to consider my question.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

38. I used to see people calling him "Rectorum"

That was some time ago.

[herding cats]

42. I saw that just a few years ago when he blamed GLBTs for the government shutdown.

[dumbcat]

39. It's OK to offend Republicans

isn't it?

[Iggo]

41. Frothy!

[herding cats]

43. He one of the most hateful, and nasty people in the GOP. Which says a lot about him.

I say, call him what your heart desires. At some point in his nasty little life he's done something to someone to earn it. What he hasn't earned is a modicum of respect from me.

[eridani]

46. No, but I think his Google frothy mix problem is more to the point n/t