[suebee]

I really hate to see this type of back-and-forth on the site. It usually accomplishes nothing. But for whatever it's worth:

I believe that context is everything! Using an offensive word to describe an offensive concept/situation/whatever is pretty effective. It doesn't mean that the example extends to everyone.

As for the word "breeder": thinking back to my days in child protection I could have used the word back then. People who had baby after baby and had no interest in actually raising them. Giving birth to a child, or contributing your genetic sample to the process does not a parent make. My folks would be a pretty good example of that. Kudos to all the Moms and Dads out there who actually raised their children!

As for the actual word in question: as I've said - I don't use it anymore even though I've never heard it used in a deliberately offensive fashion. But it's just on my list of "no sense in using if it might offend somebody" words.

We have a myriad of ways of marginalizing each other. It sure seems like a helluva way to treat each other, especially since every single one of us on this site is already marginalized by society at large. But I think it's really just human nature. It's a way of making us feel that we're okay.

So, in summary:
dissing people just because they're not like you - not cool
thinking that simply the fact that you've given birth to a child makes you a REAL mother (or father) - getta life
having made the decision to have a child (whether planned or not) and hanging there and being that one safe place through thick and thin - WAY cool, and nothing but respect to each and every one of you.

's blurb over.