"The Bible is a remarkable fountain: the more one draws and drinks of it, the more it stimulates thirst."
- Martin Luther
Thursday, February 26, 2004
So I'm just staying up, perusing the sites on the Thinklings blogroll, mainly just keeping an eye out for the troll.
But I came across an interesting post at Bene Diction's site about terminology used when referring to males and females. Apparently Bene took another blogger to task for referring to women (in China) as "girls," while referring to men as, well, "men." I don't think Bene was the only one to point out this discrepancy. Honestly, I didn't click through to check out the other blogger's post and comment thread.
The idea, though, is that we ought to be careful with our words and how we use them. Perhaps that blogger didn't mean to be sexist -- and I'm assuming he didn't -- but the effect can still be one of offense.
So imagine my surprise when I came across this comment from Bene within the thread at her own post:
Regional use of language in any culture has it's own flavour, I agree with that.
This discussion was international and I think I perceive it differently than you do.
Males and females took the opportunity to say what useage of the terms meant in their lives . . . Language is an evolving, living thing.
I saw this comment thread and supsequent spin off posts as an opportunity to listen, to understand and learn carefulness of speech outside of my small circle. It was an opportunity to hear . . .
I demand 'respect' from my commenters.
Yes, demand. I ask that they remain aware they are speaking to others from all over the world . . .
The Thinklings had two guys-chick posts up.
The 'chicks' weren't offended and the 'guys' weren't offended because it was used within their own tribe and was inclusively playful.
Oops. The posts of ours Bene is referring to are these two composed by yours truly. One post was a list of female-blogger-only links, and the other was a list of male-blogger-only links.
In the ladies' blog, I referred to women as "femininas," "chicas," and "chicks" (although I also used the words "lady" and "female" and "women").
First of all, I didn't know we had our own "tribe." (I vote we make Bill the Witch Doctor.)
Secondly, although I'm glad Bene recognized the tongue-in-cheek nature of the post, she (he?) made me wonder if any of the women I linked to (or any women who just happened to be reading) were offended by any of the words I used. I readily admit I was operating in full Thinklings anti-metrosexual spirit. If I offended anyone, I truly apologize.
I gots nuthin' but love for the ladies.
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Comments on "Guys and Dolls":
2. Marla
- 02/26/2004 6:14 pm CST
Appreciating our God-given differences is a beautiful thing, so I would never think of calling the politically correct police on you, Jared! It's the meanings behind the words--more than the words themselves--that matter. All this superficial pious "tolerance" is just a bunch of semantics...I am woman, hear me preach ;)
p.s. I said I wouldn't be here till Tuesday but I can't stay away from you guys that long...and thanks for playing on my blog!
3. jen
- 02/27/2004 3:10 am CST
Bird - double heh.
Jared - dude, I believe people need to lighten up. I have no problem being called any form of female, from girl to lady. I use chick often to refer to my fellow women.
Are you guys offended when I call you "fellas"?
4. Shrode
- 02/27/2004 3:30 am CST
When I first moved to Texas (about 17 years ago), I heard a classmate refer to a girl as a chick. I threw my books down and put my fists up to fight him. This was a friend of mine, but I told him you just don't refer to girls that way. To me (being from up north, what Texans still refer to as a Yankee) "Chick" was just as offensive as "broad" or "dame". Then I found out that in Texas, "chick" was common and accepted nomenclature even to woman. Informal yes, but on the same level as "guys" or "dudes". I got used to it, and this is still the case.
I wonder though how someone from New York, Canada, Australia or the UK would view the term?
It didn't even occur to me, Jared, that someone might be offended by the use of the word "chick" in your original post until you wrote this one. I guess, I'm just that much of a Texan now. I didn't even notice. 
7. Jared
- 02/27/2004 3:49 am CST
Are you guys offended when I call you "fellas"?
Well, now that you mention it . . .
;-)
10. Bene Diction
- 02/28/2004 9:36 pm CST
When I said your terms were used within your own tribe, I was aware that:
a) the bloggers linked were within the US:
b) seemingly living within a regional radius that understood no offense was intended;
c) the playfulness of what you said appeared affectionate; d) the bloggers are probably within your age range and cultural experience;
e) and familiar to The Thinklings.
Having seen you wisely use what Marla might call PC language in comments on blogs you may not be quite as familar with, it isn't about being PC. In your comments on other blogs (especially international ones) they are in line with the Random Dic. Universal Usage guidelines I'd posted earlier.
I don't disagree with Jen, we all need to lighten up from time to time. In the Tall Skinny Kiwi post that sparked the discussion, we'd be amiss to dismiss or intellectize the concerns of others from around the world.
I wouldn't be comfortable using colloquial terms for the Thinklings because I don't know you well, and if I err I wish the person addressed aware they are free to correct me if offended.
Univeral useage guidelines help prevent offense or misunderstanding.
That's a part of what I meant by respect. Blog on!
If we have our own tribe, we must have our own village. If we have our own village, we should keep the troll around because he'd make a perfect village idiot.