Serious Semantics Issue here...

[CanuckAmok]

I was reading the post regarding the "Special Olympics" being used in a cheap shot joke graphic, and I'm interested to see the difference of opinions from DUers about it. Generally it seems like we're a pretty sensitive bunch, and, while some of us do need to lighten up a bit some times, we're generally not out to offend anyone...

But then...

I go to the General Discussion Forum, and come across another post comparing some RW scumbag to a "whore" and a "Streetwalker".

I'm not kidding when I say that this constant throwing around of terms like "media whore" is a little offensive to me. I have friends who are/have been sex workers, and it's this kind of labelling which keeps these people marginalised and viewed with contempt.

Prostitution is a complex issue, but the simple matter is that whores are good people, fulfilling a valuable service. If society didn't want them, they wouldn't exist. What they do isn't fundamentally wrong; it's the morals and labels our society attaches to them which make them seem bad. I would hope that the progressive minds here at DU can stop verbally bringing sex workers down to the level of Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, et al.

Does anyone else see what I mean, or am I falling into the category of DUers who need to "lighten up"? I'm not trying to start a flame-war or PC hysteria, but this kind of labelling is something which I see often here, and which never gets commented on.

[Fixated]

1. ...

Are you talking about the "Arguing on the Internet is like running in the Special Olympics" graphic? Because I found that one damn hilarious.

[CanuckAmok]

2. Yeah, but I'm just using it as an example...

...because the comments were an interesting range of opinions about it's appropriateness.

Is "appropriateness" a word? I don't think it is. Sue me. :shrug: :hi:

[SOteric]

3. Hmmm. I very much see your point.

I don't actually use the term to which you refer when hurling epithets. I try not to hurl epithets, but now and again one of the good old standards makes it way out of my thoughts and into language.

Still, we denegrate by the negative associations. Fine if we genuinely mean the diminishment of specific individuals. But it behooves us at least to think about what we've said rather than to allow the expletives to flow while our minds are on autopilot.

[ForrestGump]

4. I'm staying out of this because

I'm anti-semantic.


After all, what's 'semantics' other than a sailor's external parasite (or facial spasm).