topic Re: Is this term okay now? in Community Chat

Is this term okay now?

hyacinth003 — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 03:03:50 GMT

I have posted on this topic before. For me, I asked about using "sucks." I remain uncomfortable with it and will not use it.

I read something today that has me asking another question. There is a local story about a woman who was asked to remove a Chicago Cubs "W" flag from her house. Someone said it looked tacky. Well, the disputes never end with Cubs and White Sox fans!

So there was a follow up story saying that the woman received a box of Cubs items to "****** off" her neighbors. That was the title of the story. This appeared in a local online (but large) publication. "Woman receives box of Cubs gear to ****** of her neighbors."

I don't know who decides, but that's now how I would have worded it. Old fashioned, I guess.

Hyacinth

Ha - the QVC censors censored my term!! That's funny!

Re: Is this term okay now?

happycat — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 03:11:32 GMT

Guess I am old fashioned too. I wouldn't have worded it that way either.

It kind of seems like people are just trying to push the limits these days. Everything changes, not always for the better I'm afraid.

Re: Is this term okay now?

Pook — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 09:56:59 GMT

Push the limits??!!! Thank goodness life has become more relaxed. Nothing wrong with either of the terms - it's being realistic!! There were times years ago when merely saying a woman was pregnant was a no! I choose not to live in the past which had so many silly restrictions on what is acceptable!!!!

Re: Is this term okay now?

CalminHeart — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 10:06:03 GMT

Really, who cares if a word a "current" term or not. Slang and such words are different in different parts of the country. Don't fret about something over which one has zero control. Life is too short.

Re: Is this term okay now?

SUHsE — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 10:09:19 GMT

To ****** off? Is that what you're saying?

Re: Is this term okay now?

SUHsE — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 10:11:10 GMT

OK I thought I had made it around the censors😉Silly me!

Re: Is this term okay now?

candys mine — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 10:23:30 GMT

So, apprently, according to the QVC censors "sucks" is OK.

Re: Is this term okay now?

Laura14 — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:19:19 GMT

I'm with you @hyacinth003.

Maybe it's a sign of getting older but there used to be a nice way to express yourself especially when you are in a professional capacity. It seems lost now in favor of "reality" and sensationalism to grab a reader's attention. Flash, or in some cases, trash over substance.

To me, if you express yourself well and you have something interesting to say, there is no need to play games. A sincere appreciation for your talent and/or quality of whatever you are trying to say or do will organically just be there.

Re: Is this term okay now?

Patriot3 — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:11:10 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
I'm with you @hyacinth003.

Maybe it's a sign of getting older but there used to be a nice way to express yourself especially when you are in a professional capacity. It seems lost now in favor of "reality" and sensationalism to grab a reader's attention. Flash, or in some cases, trash over substance.

To me, if you express yourself well and you have something interesting to say, there is no need to play games. A sincere appreciation for your talent and/or quality of whatever you are trying to say or do will organically just be there.

You are soooo right!

Re: Is this term okay now?

haddon9 — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:23:14 GMT

I always felt uncomfortable with the term "sucks". I think many just think it means something stinks or is lousy but origianlly it meant fellatio or oral $ex...not really a nice term. I still think of that when I hear it being used.

Re: Is this term okay now?

Shanus — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:56:25 GMT

@Pook wrote:
Push the limits??!!! Thank goodness life has become more relaxed. Nothing wrong with either of the terms - it's being realistic!! There were times years ago when merely saying a woman was pregnant was a no! I choose not to live in the past which had so many silly restrictions on what is acceptable!!!!

ITA. Lucy and Ricky slept in twin beds because of tv censorship. Times does march on.

Re: Is this term okay now?

Newgate — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:28:27 GMT

IMO both terms mentioned are crude and tacky!!

Re: Is this term okay now?

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:34:11 GMT

There is nothing wrong with the word sucks or p~i~s~s.

Both are acceptable and nd have more than one meaning.

Re: Is this term okay now?

noodleann — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:39:47 GMT

It is just as effective to say something "stinks" and you were "ticked off" as it is to use words that refer to a s**ual activity or urine.

Re: Is this term okay now?

reiki604 — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:40:19 GMT

Instead of getting all bent out of shape over simple words, I wish some would show the same outrage over hatred, racism, sexism and bigotry.

Re: Is this term okay now?

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:46:27 GMT

@noodleann wrote:
It is just as effective to say something "stinks" and you were "ticked off" as it is to use words that refer to a s**ual activity or urine.

As I said, both words have more than just one meaning, but if that's the first place that your mind goes to , that's on you.

Re: Is this term okay now?

Bri36 — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 16:51:57 GMT

I've never liked those terms. I'm not a prude. I just don't use vulgarity often.

They're not acceptable for a publication, IMO

Re: Is this term okay now?

Moonchilde — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:22:39 GMT

Don't use words that you find offensive (everyone's choice), but at the same time realize that words and phrases are going to be (and always have and always will be, throughout history) evolving both in their meaning and their general use, and that what's "acceptable" and in common use is going to change, like it or not.

Not using a word, or not "liking" it is every individual's prerogative. But proclaiming publicly that one "finds it offensive" and all their other reasons for disliking a word (or current habit, trend, fad or any other change effected by the passage of time and changing more and viewpoints demonstrates their lack of ability to move with society, adapt, and just live in today's world.

The world we live in isn't just about us, it's about going with the flow or standing out like a sore thumb. Saints presarve me from becoming that sore thumb as I age.

Re: Is this term okay now?

chrystaltree — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:33:21 GMT

We'll have to imagine what the censored word is, I don't use the word "sucks" and I never did. It's not because I am old fashioned and I don't care at all if other people use. I just think it's vulgar. Of course, I use terms that I'm sure other people think are course or vulgar. The world changes and I change right a long with it. Our culture and our language has become course and a bit vulgar and that is reflected in our speech. It's always been that way. I speak the way I choose to speak and let others do the same. There are real things to worry about and the use of "expeletives deleted" are not one of them for me.

Re: Is this term okay now?

hckynut — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:49:36 GMT

As and old man I have enough experiences of life for me to decide on my own what is legitimately offensive, and something someone, or many someone's, has decided it offends them.

Sure, there are times when certain words might be replaced with one with the same meaning, but! That will be my decision not that of someone that is offended if you say "good morning", when their's is not good. When you cannot use the last name of 2 former Presidents? Please!

Because some choose to be micro-sensitive to words will not change my way of choosing the words I use to express myself, or carry on a conversation with others. If something I say offends them? I say "speak up" and we can discuss it. If they won't speak up, why would I give a "you know what word I would use here"!

hckynut(john)