Subject:
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Re: New Brickbay promotion
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Thu, 14 Jun 2001 20:54:28 GMT
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Viewed:
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276 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Matthew Gerber writes:
>
> > From Dictionary.com:
> >
> > gyp also gip (jp) Slang
> > tr.v. gypped, also gipped gyp·ping, gip·ping gyps, gips
> > To deprive (another) of something by fraud; cheat or swindle.
> > n.
> > 1. A fraud or swindle.
> > 2. One who defrauds; a swindler.
> > [Probably short for Gypsy.]
>
> I imagine some will get similarly upset when I refer to gypsum.
Dave, I *know* you're smarter than this. You know well
the difference between the semantic load of "gypsum" (if
there is one, outside of East Tawas, MI, where it indicates
employment ;) ) and that of "gypping" (or "Gypsy").
> If people are willing to go to such preposterous etymological lengths to
> be offended,
What's so preposterous about going the length that "gyp"
requires? The only difference is that fewer Americans
encouter people who identify themselves as gypsies daily,
so we've grown more comfortable with the epithet because
it hasn't been challenged for generations past. Most
of us don't understand how others can "go to such lengths
to be offended" because most LUGnetters are not in a minority
group--and even when we *are* the target of epithets
we can laugh it off because we're still the majority and
overwhelmingly control the real power in the Western world.
It doesn't connote oppression in the same way for straight
white European males as it does for others.
It's all a matter of position. At Michigan State, lots
of (white) students from rural areas used "jew" the same way.
They'd never met one of "those," and so it seemed to them
like a big fuss over a silly little verb. One of my Jewish
colleagues came very close to smacking a student who used
the term casually--a student who then professed complete
surprise and couldn't grasp why she might be furious.
(See below for the furor thing. ;) ) Ideally, words should
be just words, but reality doesn't work that way.
I'd like to point out that every time someone "testifies" in
> court or elswhere, that person is using a word derived from "testis" and,
> specifically, the Roman custom of hefting one another's testicles while
> agreeing to a contract. Likewise, the next time you hear that someone is
> "fascinated," you might point out that to be "fascinated" is to be abjured
> to inaction by a phallic amulet. I'm offended by the rampant sexism and
> objectification of the male genitalia by these two common words!
> The point is that, like numerology, etymology can yield any answer you
> like if you're willing to work the data hard enough.
But in the cases you give, there is no necessary semantic
load to the term. You're missing the indication of intent
to demean or devalue, or imply something negative. That's
the difference. Interesting about "fascination", however--
I'd always understood that it referred to fascines, or bundles
of wood or kindling. Perhaps they're cousin-words instead.
But with all terms like "gyp", feel free to keep using them, but
don't be surprised at the reactions you get. There's no right
in the US or in the world not to be offended--but I think in
the last beating of this particular dead horse someone (Larry?)
pointed out the converse--that people have the right to *be*
angry or offended if they feel transgressed against. If you
don't care, well, that's your right too. :)
Oh, yeah, and in order to be offensive, the word would have
to be "füror", not "furor". ;) Oh no! I've offended someone!
Woe is me!
best
LFB
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: New Brickbay promotion
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| (...) What if you're overcharged for a low-quality load of gypsum? 8^) (...) And here I was afraid you were trying to sneak in some Nazi propaganda! 8^) Anyway, I wasn't able to type the umlaut so it came through the same! You crystallized it for (...) (23 years ago, 14-Jun-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: New Brickbay promotion
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| (...) I imagine some will get similarly upset when I refer to gypsum. If people are willing to go to such preposterous etymological lengths to be offended, I'd like to point out that every time someone "testifies" in court or elswhere, that person (...) (23 years ago, 14-Jun-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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