Comments on: I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry

By: bulwer

bulwer — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 05:57:04 +0000

For fuck’s sake, can you please just say nigger? Yes, it’s a horrible word with a horrible history, with such power that most people would never direct it at a person – but why waltz around it with “N word”? You know which word you mean, and either the reader knows what which word you mean, in which case you have saved no offence, or the reader doesn’t know which word you mean (unlikely), in which case it merely sows confusion.

By: chuffy

chuffy — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:25:29 +0000

yup. and well said again!

By: chuffy

chuffy — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:24:09 +0000

yup, well said!

By: Banner

Banner — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:00:34 +0000

I don’t think people are saying that women and feminists ruin everything – you’re completely mischaracterising the debate – and I don’t think people are arguing about whether or not the word refers to female genitalia; its literal meaning is clear and isn’t in question. The question is whether its use as a swear word is a function of misogyny, particularly given that similar male-related swear words exist without apparently being evidence of misandry.

It’s perfectly possible to criticise the views or opinions of another feminist without being anti-feminist or anti-woman. There’s nothing wrong with debate and discussion.

By: Banner

Banner — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:48:01 +0000

I think it’s less about women being viewed with contempt, and more about taboo, as I’ve argued below. What some people say about US usage demonstrates that the word can definitely be actively misogynist though – when the word is flung at a woman it certainly carries added weight. I think the same thing is true about words like “cock” when they’re applied to men though. I’m not convinced that straightforward misogyny is the reason why the word cunt is so powerful.

By: Anton Vowl

Anton Vowl — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:43:09 +0000

Not really, no. But I do despise him.

By: Anton Vowl

Anton Vowl — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:41:30 +0000

No, see my reply below for explanation.

By: Anton Vowl

Anton Vowl — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:41:16 +0000

Well I used to like him – The Trial of Henry Kissinger is a great book. Then he comes out with awful atheist bollocks which makes me as an atheist cringe and think he’s a smug bastard; and then justifies exactly the same kind of slaughter-by-Government he criticised Kissinger for by backing the 2nd Gulf War. That’s it in a nutshell, really.

By: Anton Vowl

Anton Vowl — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:38:56 +0000

No, I know the difference. One is a cock-eyed right-wing neocon, the other is a slightly less cock-eyed right-wing neocon.

By: Kent

Kent — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:43:50 +0000

“You think I’m nasty; there are plans for parties in entire fucking football stadiums in Miami ready for when Castro dies. It’s a natural human instinct to wish ill on those whom we despise.”

Yeah it is, we’ve all done it, but wishing ill on those whom we despise is very different to celebrating their certain impending death, as you’re doing, unless you’re morally equating your emotional response to Christopher Hitchens’s writing with the way in which Cuban refugees formerly suffered under Castro.