girlsarestrong:

orunitia:

girlsarestrong:

orunitia:

orunitia:

bubonickitten:

whatsajuthika:

circlethecat:

• never
• never
• also never

It’s also not okay to use the word “rape” for shock factor, or as a poor synonym for something completely unrelated. Get a vocabulary and some sensitivity.

please don’t make rape jokes around…

I get that and all, but my point is that the word rape is not restrictive to a purely sexual tense.
I sympathise with victims, I truly do, and I’m not expecting them to change their view of the word. All I’m saying is that you cannot claim someone is a monster and insensitive when somebody uses the word ‘rape’ it’s it’s correct meaning.
I do not apply this to the term ‘frape’. That has no meaning, and does not deserve defending because THAT is using rape incorrectly and insensitively.
However, when I refer to politicians raping the common man of his rights, I do not expect to be shouted down like some rapist myself, or as if I have made some kind of witty synonym. I have applied a word to a context to which it fits.
All I mean, is before you start handing out the monster card, THINK about it first.
It does not belittle the experiences of a rape victim to use the word rape in another context, simply because they have no connection with eachother.
Raping of political rights, and sexual rape, although the same in lexicality, are completely different in a contextual sense.
Okay, I would say there are plenty of seemingly derogative words I use everyday in a non-derogative context.
E.g When going out for a cigarette, I have a tendency to say “I’m going for a fag”
Now, I know that may not have the same impact, and I’m not trying to compare the two significant meanings of the words, but I’m just pointing out we do it every day.
I completely understand everything you’re saying, and I see where it comes from. However, with regards to triggering, I can’t say I’ve experienced that, so cannot say what effect that has.
All I will say is, if you want some consideration, then please don’t be the first to jump down anothers throat when a word is used in a different(not incorrect) context. You then begin to alienate and dehumanise those who may very well support the struggle.
I’ve probably missed something out there, ah well.

My point isn’t that it’s incorrect in a dictionary prescriptivist sense, because like you said you can open a dictionary and see ‘plundering’ listed as a synonym. The point is that the word used to describe possibly the most traumatic thing that can happen to a person is tossed around freely in a different context - that says a LOT about our society and how it treats rape, whether you are using the meaning out of the dictionary or you’re simply stealing the word to describe a facebook hacking. 

You’re saying it doesn’t belittle the experience of rape survivors and yet if you were to ask most survivors or even ask rape crisis/survivor advocacy groups they would tell you that, yes, they do feel like it belittles the trauma they endured. Not every survivor may feel that way but there are plenty that do, enough to warrant examining the language we use to avoid inflicting further harm on people who are already doing a good job by just trying to survive. Listen to them. Look around you and think ‘is there anyone here who might have been raped? Might I hurt someone by saying this’? If you’re in a room with more than 4 women then you are statistically likely to be. 

“There are so many misconceptions and myths about sexual assault. I think talking about it in any comic sense would contribute to those,” said Jessica Mertz, associate director of the Penn Women’s Center. “The misuse of the word is making light of a very serious crime.”

“Obviously no person would joke about rape in front of a person they knew to be a rape survivor,” said College senior Drew Rizzo, former president and current member of One in Four, Penn’s all-male sexual assault peer-education group. “But, the point is people do not know the histories of the people around them — they grossly underestimate it. So people should not use the word ‘rape’ in a joking manner because it inevitably [will] cause someone within earshot a lot of pain.”

If nothing else it’s about being considerate. It’s about respect for those around you when you may not know their history. 

And as for ‘jumping down people’s throats’ etc - I wouldn’t personally refer to someone as a monster just for that, but - this sounds a bit tone argumenty to me. The anger of survivors is justified and they shouldn’t have to modify their tone just to reduce the risk of alienating someone who is saying something harmful to them.

It’s the one of the very few words in the english language that carries such baggage and emotions associated with it. I don’t think it should take much to just find another word for the context you’re speaking in if you aren’t talking about sexual assault or abuse.

I can see exactly what you mean, however, I just feel obliged to make one last statement on this matter.
As someone who has never been through that, I cannot begin to comprehend the experiences and emotions involved. And as such, is no credit due to this fact? I’m not saying here that victims should be understanding of non-victims, but surely you can understand the ‘lack of progress’ due to this fact?
I can’t sit here and say I understand all the emotions that come with the word, the closest I come to is when people joke about killing themselves.
However, I understand the mentality of the person joking as they don’t understand the weight that words carry for some people.
The problem I find with this argument, I suppose, is the forceful attack on language for human actions.
Language changes throughout time, and it’s progression. However, I find the whole ‘ban on words’ as a sort,as something that just bugs me.
As I said, it’s not even a big deal, I just hate being called insensitive because I believe words should be expressed in all of their meanings and should not be restricted.
I understand that it can hurt people, just as certain words can/do. I just object to this one dimensional view of a word which precedes attacks on the person who has said the word, even when used in a non-derogative, appropriate form.
Just seems like attacks begin to be focused on those who would not want to inflict any harm, as opposed to those who genuinely do.
Would we re-write literature for using alternative contexts? When we use the words rape, fag, twat, bitch, should they only be restricted to one meaning and all other meanings written completely out of history?
I know that seems a little excessive, and maybe it is, and maybe I’m overreacting about this, but as you understand - when something means something to you, it’s easier to see the end result of actions around it.

If people who have never been through rape or sexual assault (and therefore don’t understand the emotional process behind the reaction to the word) want to avoid harming rape survivors, then they should listen to them when they say ‘please don’t use that word unless you are discussing sexual assault’. Noone is actually censoring your legal right to say whatever you want, and noone is trying to censor literature or rewrite history; far from it in fact. It’s about being respectful of survivors, and as part of the effort to dismantle the rape culture we live in.  

Language marches on, indeed. However this doesn’t back up some sort of need to make an effort to use all of the established dictionary definitions of a particular word. Take slut for example; in most dictionaries the word ‘slut’ will refer to a ‘promiscuous’ woman, however that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate, or not sexist, or not harmful to refer to a woman who has many sexual partners as a ‘slut’ just because it is correct according to the dictionary.

Last reply, I promise! :D
Just wanted to point out something for the word ‘slut’
What you’re confusing there is a pejorative term which is insensitive itself, and using an innately non-pejorative word as an attack.
Also, say we were to stop using the word slut altogether, and if people are offended by the word slut, then they really shouldn’t breed dogs.
As with bitch, and many female-orientated pejorative words, they refer back to dogs.
As you may or may not know, slut is widely used in the dog bredding communities to describe a female dog(bitch) with a sole intent for breeding.
My point of all of this is, just because a word is offensive in some cases, doesn’t make it offensive in all.
And no, I don’t think we need to endeavour to use words in every listed examples as we can, but I don’t think people should be attacked a dehumanised simply for using a word in a different context.
It’s all very Orwellian, the thought that our language is being controlled and we are pegged as scoundrels and cretins for not adhering to this “accepted” level of control.
Instead of trying to stop peoples freedom to use words in whichever context they wish, why not focus on the real issue, which is of course, rape.

girlsarestrong:

orunitia:

orunitia:

bubonickitten:

whatsajuthika:

circlethecat:

• never
• never
• also never

It’s also not okay to use the word “rape” for shock factor, or as a poor synonym for something completely unrelated. Get a vocabulary and some sensitivity.

please don’t make rape jokes around…

I get that and all, but my point is that the word rape is not restrictive to a purely sexual tense.
I sympathise with victims, I truly do, and I’m not expecting them to change their view of the word. All I’m saying is that you cannot claim someone is a monster and insensitive when somebody uses the word ‘rape’ it’s it’s correct meaning.
I do not apply this to the term ‘frape’. That has no meaning, and does not deserve defending because THAT is using rape incorrectly and insensitively.
However, when I refer to politicians raping the common man of his rights, I do not expect to be shouted down like some rapist myself, or as if I have made some kind of witty synonym. I have applied a word to a context to which it fits.
All I mean, is before you start handing out the monster card, THINK about it first.
It does not belittle the experiences of a rape victim to use the word rape in another context, simply because they have no connection with eachother.
Raping of political rights, and sexual rape, although the same in lexicality, are completely different in a contextual sense.
Okay, I would say there are plenty of seemingly derogative words I use everyday in a non-derogative context.
E.g When going out for a cigarette, I have a tendency to say “I’m going for a fag”
Now, I know that may not have the same impact, and I’m not trying to compare the two significant meanings of the words, but I’m just pointing out we do it every day.
I completely understand everything you’re saying, and I see where it comes from. However, with regards to triggering, I can’t say I’ve experienced that, so cannot say what effect that has.
All I will say is, if you want some consideration, then please don’t be the first to jump down anothers throat when a word is used in a different(not incorrect) context. You then begin to alienate and dehumanise those who may very well support the struggle.
I’ve probably missed something out there, ah well.

My point isn’t that it’s incorrect in a dictionary prescriptivist sense, because like you said you can open a dictionary and see ‘plundering’ listed as a synonym. The point is that the word used to describe possibly the most traumatic thing that can happen to a person is tossed around freely in a different context - that says a LOT about our society and how it treats rape, whether you are using the meaning out of the dictionary or you’re simply stealing the word to describe a facebook hacking. 

You’re saying it doesn’t belittle the experience of rape survivors and yet if you were to ask most survivors or even ask rape crisis/survivor advocacy groups they would tell you that, yes, they do feel like it belittles the trauma they endured. Not every survivor may feel that way but there are plenty that do, enough to warrant examining the language we use to avoid inflicting further harm on people who are already doing a good job by just trying to survive. Listen to them. Look around you and think ‘is there anyone here who might have been raped? Might I hurt someone by saying this’? If you’re in a room with more than 4 women then you are statistically likely to be. 

“There are so many misconceptions and myths about sexual assault. I think talking about it in any comic sense would contribute to those,” said Jessica Mertz, associate director of the Penn Women’s Center. “The misuse of the word is making light of a very serious crime.”

“Obviously no person would joke about rape in front of a person they knew to be a rape survivor,” said College senior Drew Rizzo, former president and current member of One in Four, Penn’s all-male sexual assault peer-education group. “But, the point is people do not know the histories of the people around them — they grossly underestimate it. So people should not use the word ‘rape’ in a joking manner because it inevitably [will] cause someone within earshot a lot of pain.”

If nothing else it’s about being considerate. It’s about respect for those around you when you may not know their history. 

And as for ‘jumping down people’s throats’ etc - I wouldn’t personally refer to someone as a monster just for that, but - this sounds a bit tone argumenty to me. The anger of survivors is justified and they shouldn’t have to modify their tone just to reduce the risk of alienating someone who is saying something harmful to them.

It’s the one of the very few words in the english language that carries such baggage and emotions associated with it. I don’t think it should take much to just find another word for the context you’re speaking in if you aren’t talking about sexual assault or abuse.

I can see exactly what you mean, however, I just feel obliged to make one last statement on this matter.
As someone who has never been through that, I cannot begin to comprehend the experiences and emotions involved. And as such, is no credit due to this fact? I’m not saying here that victims should be understanding of non-victims, but surely you can understand the ‘lack of progress’ due to this fact?
I can’t sit here and say I understand all the emotions that come with the word, the closest I come to is when people joke about killing themselves.
However, I understand the mentality of the person joking as they don’t understand the weight that words carry for some people.
The problem I find with this argument, I suppose, is the forceful attack on language for human actions.
Language changes throughout time, and it’s progression. However, I find the whole ‘ban on words’ as a sort,as something that just bugs me.
As I said, it’s not even a big deal, I just hate being called insensitive because I believe words should be expressed in all of their meanings and should not be restricted.
I understand that it can hurt people, just as certain words can/do. I just object to this one dimensional view of a word which precedes attacks on the person who has said the word, even when used in a non-derogative, appropriate form.
Just seems like attacks begin to be focused on those who would not want to inflict any harm, as opposed to those who genuinely do.
Would we re-write literature for using alternative contexts? When we use the words rape, fag, twat, bitch, should they only be restricted to one meaning and all other meanings written completely out of history?
I know that seems a little excessive, and maybe it is, and maybe I’m overreacting about this, but as you understand - when something means something to you, it’s easier to see the end result of actions around it.

orunitia:

bubonickitten:

whatsajuthika:

circlethecat:

• never
• never
• also never

It’s also not okay to use the word “rape” for shock factor, or as a poor synonym for something completely unrelated. Get a vocabulary and some sensitivity.

please don’t make rape jokes around…

I get that and all, but my point is that the word rape is not restrictive to a purely sexual tense.
I sympathise with victims, I truly do, and I’m not expecting them to change their view of the word. All I’m saying is that you cannot claim someone is a monster and insensitive when somebody uses the word ‘rape’ it’s it’s correct meaning.
I do not apply this to the term ‘frape’. That has no meaning, and does not deserve defending because THAT is using rape incorrectly and insensitively.
However, when I refer to politicians raping the common man of his rights, I do not expect to be shouted down like some rapist myself, or as if I have made some kind of witty synonym. I have applied a word to a context to which it fits.
All I mean, is before you start handing out the monster card, THINK about it first.
It does not belittle the experiences of a rape victim to use the word rape in another context, simply because they have no connection with eachother.
Raping of political rights, and sexual rape, although the same in lexicality, are completely different in a contextual sense.
Okay, I would say there are plenty of seemingly derogative words I use everyday in a non-derogative context.
E.g When going out for a cigarette, I have a tendency to say “I’m going for a fag”
Now, I know that may not have the same impact, and I’m not trying to compare the two significant meanings of the words, but I’m just pointing out we do it every day.
I completely understand everything you’re saying, and I see where it comes from. However, with regards to triggering, I can’t say I’ve experienced that, so cannot say what effect that has.
All I will say is, if you want some consideration, then please don’t be the first to jump down anothers throat when a word is used in a different(not incorrect) context. You then begin to alienate and dehumanise those who may very well support the struggle.
I’ve probably missed something out there, ah well.

she-had-an-abortion:

I keep my posts as questions so people can tell me: I should get the death penalty. I should be shot, mutilated, beaten, and burnt.

All these comments do is prove how anti-life many pro-lifers are.

I do not regret my abortion and soon I will post my entire story in pieces. And continue to…

Pro-lifers bombing abortion clinics, murdering those who perform abortions, wishing death on people who are even just pro-choice, even those who haven’t had an abortion.
I hate using the term pro-life, it doesn’t quite describe their views correctly.
It makes them seem like they have respect for all life, which they clearly don’t.
Bah, wont even go into it in full.