The unpopular opinion thread

[whottt]

people put too much importance on the past when really, it has no bearing on who you are as a person. live your own life, forget who did what to whom in the past...if you have to google and wiki , then you dont know it and it isnt a big deal to you, so dont act like it is. move on, live your life for now and the future. not the past.

And BTW, I didn't google or wiki anything, it's what I studied in college, with a focus on what is now called the Southwestern United States. You might be surprised how deep my knowledge on this subject goes. I'm definitely a know it all type(on the forum anyway) but on this subject the name actually fits.

[easjer]

You do realize that most men are quite fond of female genitalia right?

Yes, which is something that has always struck me funny. Hetero men like vaginas, so why ascribe weakness and lack of performance, inherently negative things with something you like so much?

Right...it means he's not fufilling his gender role. It means he's not acting like a man should act...but it's also just because it's intended to sound derogatory. . . Well maybe there are certain times when a man is supposed to be hard and tough, and by comparing them to female genitalia, which is decidedly not hard or tough, they are accusing them of not doing what they are supposed to be doing and being what they are supposed to be being.

Ok - but why does the insult have to be centered on equating him with the opposite gender? The nature of insult lies on demeaning and subjugation. If what you are saying is that the man is soft when he needs to be tough - why not call him a wet tissue? Or a down pillow? Why does he have to be a woman or a pussy or a bleeding vagina? Why do we have to ask if it's his time of the month?

There are a mul ude of comparisons and insults with no reference to gender. The fact that gender is brought into it as a negative is necessarily degrading to that other gender.

And I'm willing to revert to gender at this point and state that if it is the case that male gender is used derogatorily, that it is no more appropriate than degrading the female gender. But in conceding that, please concede to me that it happens far more frequently that the female gender is the one used derogatorily on this site and the casualness with which it is done is potentially harmful, in the same way that casually racist terms are harmful.

I can't honestly say I've ever heard someone call a woman a before though.

I have. And because of that I concede to gender and not just female. In the case it refers to overt aggression and unnecessary brutishness; less charming stereotypes of exaggerated male behaviors.

I suppose the question now is whether a woman or man calling a man a is subjugation of the male gender. I suppose in my argument it would be.

[easjer]

Once I heard someone say of Serena Williams, "She looks like Ben Wallace with breasts." I understand now that the comment was just extolling her toughness and athleticism.

I give.

Ben Wallace with breasts? Yeah.

But is a physical comparison on the same level? It's insulting someone's appearance, rather than their actions. I have to think about it for awhile.

[Leetonidas]

lol I stand by peewee. You realize that aside from Stairway (and I don't know if you play music, but if you do you should know that millions of songs have similar chord structures) that all those songs are either covers of the originals or new interpretations right? Led Zeppelin didn't steal , and people know their versions because their songs were better.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'll go with my old standby: officiating almost never (less than 1% of the time) costs a team a game.

Oh, and I think I've come around to whottt's view of singledom (several pages back). As someone who has never been married and who, at 36, has done the serial hookup thing and the serial dating thing, I've come to realize that finding some one specific person to share a life with seems a fabulous choice.

[whottt]

Yes, which is something that has always struck me funny. Hetero men like vaginas, so why ascribe weakness and lack of performance, inherently negative things with something you like so much?




Ok - but why does the insult have to be centered on equating him with the opposite gender? The nature of insult lies on demeaning and subjugation. If what you are saying is that the man is soft when he needs to be tough - why not call him a wet tissue? Or a down pillow? Why does he have to be a woman or a pussy or a bleeding vagina? Why do we have to ask if it's his time of the month?

There are a mul ude of comparisons and insults with no reference to gender. The fact that gender is brought into it as a negative is necessarily degrading to that other gender.

And I'm willing to revert to gender at this point and state that if it is the case that male gender is used derogatorily, that it is no more appropriate than degrading the female gender. But in conceding that, please concede to me that it happens far more frequently that the female gender is the one used derogatorily on this site and the casualness with which it is done is potentially harmful, in the same way that casually racist terms are harmful.




I have. And because of that I concede to gender and not just female. In the case it refers to overt aggression and unnecessary brutishness; less charming stereotypes of exaggerated male behaviors.

I suppose the question now is whether a woman or man calling a man a is subjugation of the male gender. I suppose in my argument it would be.

What a !

Just kidding.

It's probably more offensive because men tend to be more insulting than women and men tend to insult each other more than they insult women. So you hear it a of a lot more.

Plus when you are calling someone a pussy...just the sound of the word can be offensive. I know a lot of women that don't like that word period.


You know what...you have a point anyway, because a great deal of the time men have considered women more inferior(and up until recently, it got worse the more technologically advanced we became, most of the primitive and hunter gatherer tribes were egalitarian...


SO easjer...if someone called you a degogatory name corresponding to the female anatomy...would you be insulted?

[Leetonidas]

I would also like to point out in that Taurus song, their is a repeated chord with an alternating bass line. Stairway to Heaven is a series of other chords, not the same one played over an over again with a different bass note.

[CuckingFunt]

You do realize that most men are quite fond of female genitalia right?

Right...it means he's not fufilling his gender role. It means he's not acting like a man should act...but it's also just because it's intended to sound derogatory.

Well maybe there are certain times when a man is supposed to be hard and tough, and by comparing them to female genitalia, which is decidedly not hard or tough, they are accusing them of not doing what they are supposed to be doing and being what they are supposed to be being.

Female genitalia is, believe it or not, attached to actual females. In fact, it's pretty much the thing that sets them (us) apart as females. Therefore, when you call a guy a pussy, as an insult, you are essentially calling him a woman. As an insult.

That's a tad problematic. It assumes that women are inherently less than men. It assumes that women are inherently less capable than men, depending on usage, or less intelligent than men, or less stable than men, and on and on. You say it's used towards men to accuse them of not doing what they're supposed to be doing, or being what they're supposed to be (which on its own raises all sorts of questions as to what, exactly, a man is supposed to be... but that's a different conversation), and that's fine, but there are other ways to do it. The fact that "pussy" (and " ") is so quickly used in our society as a way to express a perceived weakness says a lot about how we view women.

Sure...she looks like a man. She talks like a man. She walks like a man, acts like man. I think she has an Adam's apple...she's got a mustache, a beard.

All derogatory...all referencing male characteristics, all meant to be insults to women.

Equally insulting to me. Any insults referencing gender, race, and sexuality are equally responsible for helping to maintain the many systems of inequality that currently exist.

[E20]

Taking s and sneezing feels better than an orgasm and among other bodily functions.

[remingtonbo2001]

I believe Mexico should be annexed into the Union.

It's obvious the Mexican government isn't capable of supporting it's own citizens.

[easjer]

SO easjer...if someone called you a degogatory name corresponding to the female anatomy...would you be insulted?

Yes, most likely. Though it would be less about the cause of female equality than personal insult at that point.

Funt sums it up well too.

[easjer]

Here's another statement from me.

Abraham Lincoln and FDR are the top 5 of my worst presidents list, from a political science point of view. They worked around the Cons ution in deplorable ways to gain their own ends, and I think it left the government and country worse for it.

Of course, when you factor humanity and history back in, it is difficult to see what ought to have been done differently, given how deplorable the ins ution of slavery is and how disgusting the notion of owning another human being is. And given the dire situation that many people found themselves in during the Depression - what would have been a better course of action.

Yet another moment when ideologies clash and fail in light of humanity, and why the study of things such as history and political science can only be carried so far.

[easjer]

I'll go with my old standby: officiating almost never (less than 1% of the time) costs a team a game.

Oh, and I think I've come around to whottt's view of singledom (several pages back). As someone who has never been married and who, at 36, has done the serial hookup thing and the serial dating thing, I've come to realize that finding some one specific person to share a life with seems a fabulous choice.

You know what's funny? Almost as long as I've been on this site, you've had a picture of an old ref up as your avatar, and I've never thought of you as a relatively young man. Especially with your extensive basketball knowledge - I've always, always thought of you as in your mid 40s or older.

Well, if you can't find a wife, remember you have an open invitation from me and SFIE to marry us in ST. (Unfortunately, we're sort of a packaged deal at this point.) :married

[Hank the Tank]

300 is one of the worst movies ever made.

Will Ferrell isnt even remotely funny.

LOZ: Ocarina of Time is boring.

[tp2021]

I give.

Ben Wallace with breasts? Yeah.

But is a physical comparison on the same level? It's insulting someone's appearance, rather than their actions. I have to think about it for awhile.

Is it insulting if you have to think awhile? Thats a pretty good one, actually. it plants a ticking time bomb. it does nothing at the time, but a week and a half later when you think about it for a minute..."That !"

People read too much into what other people say. if words like pussy or insult you, maybe you just arent psychologically strong enough. kids call each other meaner, more personal things. the personalized insult is what hurts, not the random word vomit that an ass says to anyone s/he comes across. if its not the insult, but the insinuation that it must mean one sex or race or religion or whatever is more inferior to the person saying it, i doubt that the insultor feels that way. you dont think about that stuff when you are fuming at someone. calling someone a piece of doesnt mean you think piss is the superior effluence. thinking too much into petty like that just empowers the person insulting you more (thats if they even realized its effect).

People are too sensitive and petty.

By the way Whottt, i wasnt pointing you out specifically. knowing what i know now, its cool that you know so much about the history of the people in the southwest. as someone about to go off to college, its cool to see that someone has stayed interested in what they studied and enjoy it so much.

[DarkReign]

That right there is so dense with misconceptions I don't know where to begin to unpack it.

Apparently your knowledge of Eastern history is quan atively zero.

Thanks, like I give a what you or anyone else thinks.

I understand youre a learned theist and a uva smart dude, but I was making a pla ude.

Tell me you couldnt read what I wrote and guess the ing time period I was referring to?

As an example, just so youre clear, I was referring to Newton, The University of Paris, the scientific method (or at least a part of it, arguably speaking) and Galileo.

"The greatest ins utions" like Roman law?

[sic]

"and not to mention how Christianity was "spread" and the countless lives lost to that endeavor." do you mean that most or all Christian conversion was forced (nonsense) or just that instances did exist (Theodosius & the Eastern Empire, Charlemagne & the Saxons, the Reconquista)?

You do realize that (early) Greece is considered from the West, right?

[tp2021]

this is a good thread.

i dont know if thats unpopular, but its my opinion. its my guess that the only people enjoying it are the ones posting it.

[E20]

This new age bull with the tea drinking and like yoga is stupid and bull .

[whottt]

Female genitalia is, believe it or not, attached to actual females. In fact, it's pretty much the thing that sets them (us) apart as females. Therefore, when you call a guy a pussy, as an insult, you are essentially calling him a woman. As an insult.

I gotta disagree with you on this one Funt...women are more than just their genitals.

That's a tad problematic. It assumes that women are inherently less than men. It assumes that women are inherently less capable than men, depending on usage

Or it assumes that women and men have traditionally had different strengths and different weakenesses...I think that's a fairly accurate statement, if only because women bear children and primarily are the nurterers. But the truth of the matter is that many do assume an inherent inequality in the sexes...I don't really agree with that but I won't deny that it has been and largely still is the mindset of many. Including some women...

or less intelligent than men,

Hmmm...regardless of what most men think of the intelligence of women compared to men...most men, even the misogynists, will concede that women's IQ when it comes to men far exceeds the IQ of men when it comes to women.

or less stable than men, and on and on. You say it's used towards men to accuse them of not doing what they're supposed to be doing, or being what they're supposed to be (which on its own raises all sorts of questions as to what, exactly, a man is supposed to be...

There hasn't been a single society in the history of man where women primarily served as the hunters, or even the co-hunters. or men primarily as the child rearers. Women have often been the gatherers and prior to the industrial revolution even the farmers, but never the hunters. So it is pretty much an absolute statement that men are the killers, the takers of life women are the nuturers and givers of life....and killing takes a certain hardness, a lack of sympathy, a lack of empathy. This is not to say women can't do it...only that at no point in history has it been their role in an organized society.

You can call it how you see it, but it has been strictly the domain of man since time began. Not a single recorded case to the contrary........

And comments like that have been used to goad men into a killing mindset for the purpose of survival I'd imagine, for almost as long.


Since those sorts of insults are usually aimed a players showing an unwillingness ot hurt their opponent, a lack of killer instinct if you will...is it really that hard to understand why men make those sorts of comments to one another at times when they aren't supposed to be giving life, but taking it? Figuratively speaking of course.

but that's a different conversation), and that's fine, but there are other ways to do it. The fact that "pussy" (and " ") is so quickly used in our society as a way to express a perceived weakness says a lot about how we view women.



Equally insulting to me. Any insults referencing gender, race, and sexuality are equally responsible for helping to maintain the many systems of inequality that currently exist.

Right and I'd counter that those insults are offensive because of the discrimination itself that has existed/exists, not because the actually convey some sort of inequality in their utterance, it's more about the difference in roles, which weren't really a choice. That's why I don't think it bothers the majority of men to hear women saying a woman acts or looks like a man or calling one of them a etc.


You could say those sorts of expressions are now an anachronism in an industrialized civilization that strives to be egalitarian...but they definitely served a purpose in the past. It got me to kill(and skin) when my Dad was showing me how to do it....

[Stacie]

Dam Whottt those are some long replies, I hope you bring some of that to the next gtg.

[whottt]

You know what Funt, I'll say something else, the end result of the discrimination based on gender roles is ultimately a negative for men and mankind...as women aren't supposed to be hard, they are supposed to be nurtuers, and the result of the inequlity is that women are now striving to be more manlike and harder...I don't see that as a benefit to the human race personally...it's unfortunate that it happened. It's definitely upset the balance of human nature.


The most primitive societies were universally egalitarian...........


And blame for the spread of that mindset lies primarily at the feet of Europeans and it is the major cultural impact Europeans have had on the Indigenous populations of the lands they have colonized. It is almost entiirely a European mindset that grew out of the development of agriculture, and later imposed on other cultures by Europeans using trade incentives......it's not one that was predominant in the peoples of the Americas or Africa prior to their interaction with Europeans.

[Stacie]

I have three gay friends.

You actually keep count?

[ploto]

When men exhibit more feminine characteristics, they are insulted with feminine words and when women exhibit more masculine characteristics, they are insulted with masculine words. I really do not think it runs much deeper than that.

[E20]

When men exhibit more feminine characteristics, they are insulted with feminine words and when women exhibit more masculine characteristics, they are insulted with masculine words. I really do not think it runs much deeper than that.

I think that Whottt and CF are arguing the rigidness of contemporary gender roles and how each gender has to follow a norm set of rules for acceptance in society at large.

[pickle girl]

Kori and LJ can't be trusted any more..................