Friday, May 20, 2005

Complaining of sexism?

“Remember that postcard Grandpa sent us from Florida of that alligator biting that woman's bottom? That's right, we all thought it was hilarious. But it turns out we were wrong. That alligator was sexually harassing that woman.” Homer Jay Simpson.

It seems there are many complaints of sexism with regards to the words used to describe Ms. Stronach’s departure from the CPC’s for a Liberal cabinet post.

Words are used to communicate a message. Lets see what the words used actually mean!

www.dictionary.com is your friend.

pros·ti·tute
1. One who solicits and accepts payment for sex acts.
2. One who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose.

whore
1. A prostitute.
2. A person considered sexually promiscuous.
3. A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain.

dip·stick
1. A graduated rod for measuring the depth or amount of liquid in a container, as of oil in a crankcase.
2. Slang. A person regarded as foolish or contemptible.

Hmmm … most of these definitions seem to characterize many people’s opinions of the actions of Ms. Stronach actions and do not imply any kind of sexism.

It seems that they are choosing to be offended rather than to understand the message!

Remember what your parents always taught you :

Sticks and Stones may break my bones,
but names will never hurt me.

9 Comments:

At 21/5/05, Blogger alsocanadian said...

Hey, Pale! Longtime no post, thought you died!
Like the new look, and you're a Bleedin Torie now! Means ya gotta post more than once a month ;)

 
At 21/5/05, Blogger alsocanadian said...

LittlelPete, you're right about that one. Thats nasty! You can tell his mom never reads his blog! She'd kick his ass!

 
At 21/5/05, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Small "l" - Did I mention those words in my post? Did you even read my post? You seemed to be fixated on one meaning of the word "whore"? Why is that? You seem to be painting me and others with a pretty wide paint brush.

How capital "L" Liberal of you.

At least you found thesaurus.com so it's not a total loss!

 
At 21/5/05, Blogger Canadianna said...

Peter with a small "l" seems to like the 'c' word. He used it on my blog, too. My daughter saw it. Asked me what it was. I told her is a word people use when they try to minimize the opinions of women and I noted the only place I've seen it is when I see Peter"l"'s name.
Apparently, differences of opinion are not allowed in the (l)iberal worldview.
What a shock.

 
At 22/5/05, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Looks like Mr. peter with a small "l" has "left town for good" and has shut down his blog.

So much for Liberal integrity - I guess he does not want to stand behind his comments.

Dan

 
At 22/5/05, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Didn't all those small 'l' guys in the progressive bloggers call you guys the blogging whories? I wonder if those posts are still around? Hmmmmm......

Tom

 
At 22/5/05, Blogger Canadianna said...

The things you forget. It was just so expected that I never even thought to take offense.
Cheers.

 
At 23/5/05, Blogger alsocanadian said...

Good answer to your daughter C-anna.
I probly woulda said: It's how people from England pronounce "Can't".

 
At 25/5/05, Blogger deaner said...

"...calling her names is costing the Conservatives polling points and revealing core character traits."

Yes - which Joe Volpe calling members of the CPC (and by implication, their supporters) racists and 'members of the new Klan' didn't, somehow.

Look, if we all went through life searching for reasons to be offended, no doubt we could come up with a few; but what's the point. There are probably classier ways of pointing out that Belinda is a lightweight than calling her a "dipstick" - but that term does capture her essential lack of gravitas. Similarly, calling her a whore is a lot faster, more accurate, and more concise than lumbering on about how "she compromised her principles for personal gain, and betrayed people who trusted her." If it elicits a visceral reaction - fine; that was probably the point, wasn't it?

It seems the fundamental rule adopted by the perpertually offended is that Liberal insults are merely strongly-expressed but inherently justifiable opinions, but Tory insults are disgusting, misogynist, sexist invective that has no place in civilized society, just like the contemptible neanderthals who utter them. Get over yourselves, willya?

Cheers,

Dean

 

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