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Well done, David, and Friday at last! Hopefully, this proves a graceful
landing point to bring this week's passionate and interesting (but now
rather protracted) discussion to a close.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of David Neeley
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 2:09 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Offensive language
I rise to speak of another frequently used term that has a great
potential for offending the discerning audience.
Although these days it seems open season upon Christians, we have all
been warned about the extreme problems that come from any hint of
sexism.
However, one term in widespread use is a sexist catastrophe.
I refer, of course, to "b.s."
As it happens, I have spent considerable time in and around members of
the bovine species as a part of my first marriage to the daughter of a
Texas cattle raiser.
Thus, I can personally attest to the fact that the excrement of the
bovines of the male gender are in no way more prolific than that of the
females. Nor is it different in any other particular discernable to the
cognoscenti.
Just as Shakespeare in his immortal "Romeo and Juliet" observed
"What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet,"
You may be sure that in their odoriferous qualities both b.s. and c.t.
("cow turds," not to put too fine a point on it!) are indistinguishable,
no matter what they may be called.
Should you happen to visit a feed lot, barn, or pasture, I would
challenge you to attempt to determine which of the many exemplars of
bovine excressences were the product of the males and which of the
females. I daresay that task would be beyond any powers of observation
you may possess.
Thus, to use only the term "b.s." is the rankest calumny upon the males
of the species.
I propose that if you wish to reach a reasonable accommodation by
reducing any tendency toward unwanted sexism, you consider at the very
minimum alternating your "b.s." references with "c.t." ones on at least
a 50/50 basis.
(In passing, I would also caution against the use of the term "holy cow"
as an ejaculation--as that is an obviously negative reference to the
Hindu religion. Since they are definitely not Christian, they are also
not at all fair game in the disparagement Olympics.)
I leave the examination of the wisdom of maligning another species to
another day.
Thank you very much.
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