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genuinegirly · 01-05-2008, 07:43 AM

This one's a tough one.

Not medical, but behavioral. So not something like postpartum depression, which is experienced by a very specific demographic of one gender, ie: some women who have recently given birth.

But rather something like... like totally... like... uh... duh! speaking like a valley girl?! :chomp on gum: There's something that's behavioral and gender specific. But not so much ethnically based. It's not sexist to say someone talks like a valley girl, but it is rude.

On a personal, daily basis, saying what is most polite is going to be the easiest way to deal with this one.

On a community level, the question of assigning the term as racist does not need to be addressed. Rather, finding if people are negatively affected by the name. Does it have the same effects as a slur... questions like this.

Mostly, it is the attitude of the person using the word, as Robot_Parade said, that makes the difference. Words are just noises unless we assign them further meaning.

To the Op - I think you're being too vague for us to give a specific response. Laying out a practical scenario for us, and utilizing a different term might help us understand what you're getting at. Also, do you want to be able to say to these people: "Hey man, you're being racist." The way you're presenting the issue, it sounds more as though it's a philosophical question.

01-05-2008, 07:43 AM	#11 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	This one's a tough one. Not medical, but behavioral. So not something like postpartum depression, which is experienced by a very specific demographic of one gender, ie: some women who have recently given birth. But rather something like... like totally... like... uh... duh! speaking like a valley girl?! :chomp on gum: There's something that's behavioral and gender specific. But not so much ethnically based. It's not sexist to say someone talks like a valley girl, but it is rude. On a personal, daily basis, saying what is most polite is going to be the easiest way to deal with this one. On a community level, the question of assigning the term as racist does not need to be addressed. Rather, finding if people are negatively affected by the name. Does it have the same effects as a slur... questions like this. Mostly, it is the attitude of the person using the word, as Robot_Parade said, that makes the difference. Words are just noises unless we assign them further meaning. To the Op - I think you're being too vague for us to give a specific response. Laying out a practical scenario for us, and utilizing a different term might help us understand what you're getting at. Also, do you want to be able to say to these people: "Hey man, you're being racist." The way you're presenting the issue, it sounds more as though it's a philosophical question. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy Last edited by genuinegirly; 01-05-2008 at 07:46 AM..