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 N.Y. Council Considers ‘Bitch’ BanPosted on Aug 7, 2007Emboldened by its decision to outlaw the “N-word,” the New York City Council is now setting its sights on another slur: bitch. According to The New York Times, this latest semantic crusade, headed up by Brooklyn Councilwoman Darlene Mealy, is drawing supporters who think the word falls squarely within the bounds of hate speech. Detractors believe it can be used with benign—even affectionate—inflections.
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By Hemi*, August 9, 2007 at 5:57 pm #
“There is only no other characterization for the use of offensive terms in public. It is uncivil. It is ill-bred.” - Spineless, uncommitted, unregistered commenter
We live in a world where offensive and repulsive acts are rampant and the correct descriptors for such acts are necessary. When civility returns to the actions perpetrated upon our nation’s population then civility will return to their speech. There are much bigger fish to fry and once fried these petty issues will vanish. The problem is the big fish will never see the frying pan so get used to the lingo. “Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war”, BITCH!
Report thisBy cyrena, August 9, 2007 at 1:56 am #
#93094 by John on 8/08 at 5:52 am
O.K.
...“If we cant say Bitch anymore I want to get a stake in the sand for a few other favorite words before the rest of our rights are striped away by our angel like government folks.
You probably already know what they are so we dont need to repeat them all now except that we need the F word and I dont think it would be fun to live without the word Shit…”
John, not to worry. I’m with you all the way on this. Quite frankly, I just don’t think I could live without the word -Shit-.
Report thisBy KnowBush, August 8, 2007 at 6:31 pm #
I long ago re-embraced the word “BITCH” and removed anyone’s ability to use it against me negatively, this way:
B - Being
I - Insistant
T - Thus
C - Creating
H - Havoc
It’s not my fault if others can’t handle it.
Report thisBy C.P.T.L., August 8, 2007 at 5:03 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
The ‘debate’ highlights the impulsivity and lack of depth, of character of Americans. If people had such qualities they wouldn’t seek to safeguard their shallowness, for if it became law, or strictly unacceptable to use the word, then one would necessarily have to police themself, and too many Americans don’t have the core werewithall to do that.
It is lack of basic impulse control conflated with a notion of freedom.
For those of us who have forgotten: the standard is that if the use a word might, maybe, possibly hurt another’s feelings, then they should decide on their own, from their fund of simple decency, politeness, care, empathy and desire that all might enjoy their life and time, to not use the word. The standard centers around the most sensitive of us, who are more important than our freedom to shoot off our mouth. There is only no other characterization for the use of offensive terms in public. It is uncivil. It is ill-bred.
Now we have crass, base, low types like Tony Snow presuming to lecture us that a racial slur dropped for good reason forty years ago is O.K. to use because it’s in the dictionary. Or the general arguments one hears that: since I meant what I said to be benign, then who are you to take offense?
Report thisBy g d wymer, August 8, 2007 at 1:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Thank God that the NY city council is working on this overwhelmingly urgent political and social problem. Get a real job, all of you! Leave us niggas and bitches alone!
Report thisBy Hemi*, August 8, 2007 at 12:49 pm #
Bitch ban? Why those pricks!
Report thisBy Hemi*, August 8, 2007 at 12:49 pm #
Bitch? Why those pricks!
Report thisBy John, August 8, 2007 at 9:52 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
O.K.
Report thisIf we can’t say Bitch anymore I want to get a stake in the sand for a few other favorite words before the rest of our rights are striped away by our angel like government folks.
You probably already know what they are so we don’t need to repeat them all now except that we need the F word and I don’t think it would be fun to live without the word Shit.
By Skruff, August 8, 2007 at 9:46 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
reminds me of that old Sylvester Stallone film where he gets tickets everytime he awears, and finally uses the tickets for toilet paper…
Report thisHa Ha Ha very funny, now get back to work!
By cyrena, August 8, 2007 at 4:30 am #
#93034 by Debra Istvanik-Strotman on 8/07 at 9:37
THe New York council should return their pay checks to the taxpayers. Murder, rape,drugs, and robberies do not appear to be priorities to this counsel, just swear words.
Councilwoman Darlene Mealy should resign and take the enite council with her.She has no clue what is happening around her.
Debra,
We have this same problem in California, with Nancy Pelosi. Thing is, now shes a problem for EVERYBODY, because shes the Speaker of the House.
She TOO, should return her paychecks and resign. Ive suggested it before.
BECAUSE, she has no clue to what is happening around her, or anywhere else.
At least Darlenes damage is only local. (but yeah, she and Nancy should just go on a long cruise together, where they can chat about these priorities, that only they see as priorities.)
Report thisBy P. T., August 8, 2007 at 3:12 am #
The idea that politicians—of all people!—are going to set the standards for civil discourse is really a hoot! Who cares what they think?
Report thisBy THOMAS BILLIS, August 8, 2007 at 2:13 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Here we go.When you to start to ban words you end up with morons{thank god it is not illegal yet}who want more words banned and so on and so on.If we outlaw too many words George Bush will have to grunt he does not know that many.I guess New Yorkers will have to walk around with hooks on the back of the heads to hold the tickets they probably will receive for using outlawed words.Could you imagine being married to that bitch.Boy that felt good.
Report thisBy Debra Istvanik-Strotman, August 8, 2007 at 1:37 am #
THe New York council should return their pay checks to the taxpayers. Murder, rape,drugs, and robberies do not appear to be priorities to this counsel, just swear words.
Report thisCouncilwoman Darlene Mealy should resign and take the enite council with her.She has no clue what is happening around her.
By cyrena, August 8, 2007 at 12:39 am #
I’m with Louise. Do they REALLY not have anything more important to do? This is pretty disgusting.
And, how IS Skruff supposed to now refer to the female dogs in his enterprise? My beloved dog was a female. I didn’t call her “bitch” (not often at least) because she had a name that she responded to.
But, if I were a breeder, looking for a dog, I’d most likely refer to a female dog as a bitch, because that’s what they’ve been referred to all along.
So, the NY council REALLY has nothing better to do?
And, how’s this gonna fit in with the new unlimited spying? Will they haul Skruff off to jail for uttering or otherwise using this word in his communications?
Will they haul me off to jail for writing it?
Report thisBy Louise, August 7, 2007 at 10:08 pm #
Good to know the folks that run New York City have something important to do.
Like wise, good to know the New York Times is focused on the important news.
Report thisBy farmertx, August 7, 2007 at 9:24 pm #
Considering that NY State has a very restrictive gun law and numerous daily gun crimes, I reckon this new law would be as effective.
Report thisBy Aksamit, August 7, 2007 at 8:47 pm #
Call’em something else, you verbally benign morons.
Report thisBy Bitch, August 7, 2007 at 8:35 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
The New York City Coucil huh!
Report thisYou guys have big job on your hand allright.
Wow!
By Skruff, August 7, 2007 at 7:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
oH SHIT! NOW HOW CAN i REFER TO FEMALE DOGS USED FOR BREEDING?
Maybe I’ll just call ‘em wifey!
Report thisBy Lawrence, August 7, 2007 at 7:21 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I had a dean in college who told me that swear words were not true words of the English language, and could not be used by any intelligent person.
I responded to him that “miserable sycophant” doesn’t have quite the same punch as “miserable douchebag,” and swear words are most definitely part of any educated human’s speech.
Banning swear words makes about as much sense as banning sharp objects because thousands of people cut themselves each year. Just because some people are just shy of imbecilic does not mean that I should be required to dice my tomatoes with a spork.
Report thisBy Evan W., August 7, 2007 at 6:19 pm #
What ever happened to the First Amendment?
Report this