[Waldo]

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

Maybe the change in times has come around in that I don't hate straight people per se? I think *my* derogatory word for straight person is *right wing* these days. Which is probably just as side ways considering that I go to church and am offending all Christians sideways.

Holy crap. Really? straight = right wing? I know a couple of right wing straight folks, but overwhelmingly the straight folks I know are extremely liberal. In some cases more liberal than I am. Interesting.

Originally Posted by betenoire

If an individual doesn't want to reclaim a word but the majority does - really their only "responsibility" it to not use it. If someone doesn't like Queer, nobody is forcing them to say it. You're welcome to articulate why you don't like the word - but don't expect everybody to apologise and never use it again. DO expect everybody to make a mental note of that and not refer to YOU as Queer, however.

And then there's Fat.

I love the word Fat. I think Fat is just about the greatest fucking word in my vocabulary. I'm all about overusing it and desensitizing people to it to the point where when I say it it's clear to the listener that I'm using the same matter-of-fact voice that I would use if I were to mention my freckles.

I think there's a lot of power in taking back Fat.

But, you know, not everybody is on board. And they really don't have to be. I don't get to decide what words make other people uncomfortable.

Sometimes if I reference my Fat it squicks people out. From the co-worker who (so well intentioned) say "Brandy...you are not fat, honey." to lovers who say "I don't think you're fat, I think you're beautiful." (like I fucking can't be both? wtf! I wanna be both!) When that happens the onus is on me to (briefly) explain that I don't think Fat is a bad word, and why, and then move on with my life.

Early in the thread ( just read through most of it ) I was thinking about this "fat" thing.

Years ago, like a couple of decades, I used to LAUGH my ass off if the most hurtful thing a person could say to me was something about being fat. How very sad that in order to insult me they would only be able to pick out the most obvious thing about me. "Hey fat ass, watch it!" Come on, use a little imagination.

After about the age of 12 being called fat rarely ever bothered me.

I have more anxiety wrapped up in "butch" than I ever did in fat, dyke, fag, faggot, queer, snatch eater, fudge-packer, bull-dyke, bulldagger, carpet muncher, mick, bubble-butt, dumbo, cloud, homo, kraut eater, white bread, wonder bread, herm, amazon, wannabe, man, dude, beav, beaver, bitch, whore, slut, commie, fruit, chachi, man-hater, chief, honcho, big man, big fella, battle-axe, skank, shrew, chick... I could go on. But I think you get my point.

While I believe that words can hit as hard as a fist at some point it's a matter of personal responsibility to stand up and say "you know what? I'm not going to allow your ignorance to hurt me any longer" when someone is using these words in an attempt to hurt you. The words in and of themselves? I find them mostly powerless.

It is when we identify so strongly with something that a word has the ability to hurt us. Hence my issue around "butch". Telling that on more than one occasion I've eschewed the term. I have a real love/hate relationship with the word and my identity around it.

Originally Posted by JustJo

I think that this is a key point. I can choose to reclaim the word fat, because I am. But if those who aren't use it...it feels offensive. I'm also aware that it's a painful word for several people that I care a great deal about. I would never use it to them.

Intent and context are also critical. Almost any word can be used in a way that hurts or a way that heals...depending upon how it's meant and when and how it's used.

I try to avoid language that is painful or uncomfortable for others. I also know that there will be times when I unintentionally hurt others with my words. It's almost unavoidable without constant censoring of every word...and then communication becomes incredibly cumbersome.

I think sometimes we're using a word we've reclaimed, sometimes we're just spouting off without thinking, sometimes we're just being lazy about our communication, and sometimes it's that icky side of human nature that likes to jab at the weakest spot on others. The words used may be the same....but those all feel different to me.

Interesting. Who gets to decide who is fat and when it's ok to use "fat"?

What size does a person have to be in order to use it? Size 8? 12? 16?

If someone had been a size 4 for years and suddenly finds themselves a size 10 are they to censor themselves when around people of considerably larger size?

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On the OP: to "breed" is to produce offspring, no? According to MW, it is anyway. Also "breeding" is: the result of upbringing or training as shown in behavior and manners; manners, esp. good manners: "You can tell when a person has breeding." Now, we could also get into the elitist stuff surrounding things like that, but I digress.

I understand the arguments about this and that there are individuals who feel this is hurtful to women in general and find it hurtful to them, as individuals. Duly noted.

In looking at the term in the context of the queer rights movement I understood it to stem from a desire to label heteros who "had it easy". Who were physically capable of "breeding" of their own accord. Who had reproductive rights and opportunities that same sex couples did not.

Perhaps I have more progressive (or perhaps less progressive?) hetero friends than most people, but I have at least two couples in my world who refer to themselves as breeders.