A Bill to Ban the B word and Ho

[Bicycleman]

The New York City Council, which drew national headlines when it passed a symbolic citywide ban earlier this year on the use of the so-called n-word, has turned its linguistic (and legislative) lance toward a different slur: be itch.

The term is hateful and deeply sexist, said Councilwoman Darlene Mealy of Brooklyn, who has introduced a measure against the word, saying it creates “a paradigm of shame and indignity” for all women.

But conversations over the last week indicate that the “b-word” (as it is referred to in the legislation) enjoys a surprisingly strong currency — and even some defenders — among many New Yorkers.

And Ms. Mealy admitted that the city’s political ruling class can be guilty of its use. As she circulated her proposal, she said, “even council members are saying that they use it to their wives.”

The measure, which 19 of the 51 council members have signed onto, was prompted in part by the frequent use of the word in hip-hop music. Ten rappers were cited in the legislation, along with an excerpt from an 1811 dictionary that defined the word as “A she dog, or doggess; the most offensive appellation that can be given to an English woman.”

While the bill also bans the slang word “ho,” the b-word appears to have acquired more shades of meaning among various groups, ranging from a term of camaraderie to, in a gerund form, an expression of emphatic approval. Ms. Mealy acknowledged that the measure was unenforceable, but she argued that it would carry symbolic power against the pejorative uses of the word. Even so, a number of New Yorkers said they were taken aback by the idea of prohibiting a term that they not only use, but do so with relish and affection.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/nyregion/07bword.html?ei=5090&en=8bb9b60b7da0d2ed&ex=1344139200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[burntgorilla]

Fools.

[Bicycleman]

Fools.

Yeah, it's all the Irish who settled in New York that use the words more so than anyone else. Darn Irish!:D

[bowerbird]

I have less issue with the B word (although here if you referred to a woman as a B____ you would be looking for your cojones) than I have with the word "ho" which is a contraction of *****. A plainly derrogatory term. But I don't think banning it is the answer.

Not too sure what the answer is but I do abhor the inherent misogyny in many rap records

[Bicycleman]

We had a school principal who was forced to apologize because he told the school staff that they should practice better niggardly habits regarding school spending. So much for education in some circles, but just the mere mention of anything close to the N word brings out the worst in people, or lack thereof of education.

[towski]

I have less issue with the B word (although here if you referred to a woman as a B____ you would be looking for your cojones) than I have with the word "ho" which is a contraction of *****. A plainly derrogatory term. But I don't think banning it is the answer.

Not too sure what the answer is but I do abhor the inherent misogyny in many rap records

Quit being such a ***** about it, bower. :D

[Bicycleman]

I have less issue with the B word (although here if you referred to a woman as a B____ you would be looking for your cojones) than I have with the word "ho" which is a contraction of *****. A plainly derrogatory term. But I don't think banning it is the answer.

Not too sure what the answer is but I do abhor the inherent misogyny in many rap records

You mean the Australian woman would rip them off or the men defending the honor of the lady?

[::Major_Baker::]

bah, biatches and hos, you without me is like Harold Melvin without the blue notes. You'll never go platinum!

[GI Joe]

This is a good ho song KR and Snoop doin some sex rhymes

Kid Rock feat Snoop Dogg - WCSR : .


snip
i'm on a private jet outta JFK
Sipin the Becks Feelin A OK
look across the isle and who did i see
bill mutha ****in clinton sittin next to me
we kicked the talk tied a couple a laughs
this stewradess walked up & asked us for our autographs
i thought it was mac and i gave her two free shirts
bill stuck five fingers up in her skirt
so i stuck five and that made ten
**** two roosters and only one hen
billy winked at me it was all too sweet
we tag teamed that freak at thirty thousand feet

http://www.lyricsdownload.com/kid-rock-feat-snoop-dogg-wcsr-lyrics.html

[Dangerrmouse]

What will Santa say now? (hee hee hee?)

[rjamortega]

Well, maybe the rest of you aren't concerned, but my little rat terrier Ginger is quite pleased.

[dittohead not!]

I'm not sure how many are old enough to remember when you never heard words like that on TV, on the radio, or read them in newspapers or novels.

That's never!

Well, the N word was considered OK at one time, back before the civil rights era, but that was it.

Rhett Butler created a scandal with "I don't give a damn."

That's how low our society has sunk in just a few years (well, maybe more than a few, but still).

How do you legislate civilized behavior? Can you legislate civilized language?

Don't we have a Constitutional right to be boorish, rude, uncivilized, and idiotic if we really want to?

[Sgt Schultz]

So this cartoon would be banned?

http://www.t-shirthumor.com/Merchant2/graphics/fullsize/bcho_lg.gif

[The_Penguin]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7055124838371720516&q=i+got+hos&total=1627&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4797822695677363621&q=i+got+hos&total=1627&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

Just because I'm an uber-libertarian and a politically incorrect jackass.

[The_Penguin]

Don't we have a Constitutional right to be boorish, rude, uncivilized, and idiotic if we really want to?
Yes.

But c'mon. The feelings of others! You should NEVER offend them!

... or some crap like that.

[The_Penguin]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1747115273606306401&q=area+codes&total=1365&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2

Another one.

And yes, most of that music is annoying and moronic. But it's a free country... I think.

[Turenne]

Why stop there? Ban any word that is even slightly offensive, hell lets ban the English language altogether just in case someone feelings may get hurt.

[burntgorilla]

So is there anyone here who thinks it is a good idea?

[Sgt Schultz]

So is there anyone here who thinks it is a good idea?

Doesn't look like it.

[The_Penguin]

It seems to me that a group of local politicians needed an outrage du jour in order to become attention wh*res.

Look at me! I'm doing something outrageous because I think it's 'good'!

[Groucho]

Well, I don't quite understand it. I read the article and I don't see how anyone can "ban" a word. There was no mention of the penalty, or even what kind of "ban" it would be.

They certainly can't make it illegal to say it. I suppose they could find that any city employee using the word could be fired, but that's about it.

[bowerbird]

Well, I don't quite understand it. I read the article and I don't see how anyone can "ban" a word. There was no mention of the penalty, or even what kind of "ban" it would be.

They certainly can't make it illegal to say it. I suppose they could find that any city employee using the word could be fired, but that's about it.

Thank- you Groucho - you are correct.

I think this is less about banning than speaking up about the use of the words - they are offensive and worse they are demeaning. In another thread at the moment many are decrying the idea that women and "ask" to be raped but this form of address diminishes a woman to an object - one without feelings and worth and as such she can be used as and how they like.

[The_Penguin]

Thank- you Groucho - you are correct.

I think this is less about banning than speaking up about the use of the words - they are offensive and worse they are demeaning. In another thread at the moment many are decrying the idea that women and "ask" to be raped but this form of address diminishes a woman to an object - one without feelings and worth and as such she can be used as and how they like.

Do you purposefully ignore what was previously said about the possibility of lost rights of freedom of speech and the slippery slope on the subject?

Why the strawman?

Why the twisting of the meaning behind the original opposition to such a law?

[ptac4x4]

Why stop there? Ban any word that is even slightly offensive, hell lets ban the English language altogether just in case someone feelings may get hurt.

This wouldn't work. People would learn to use vulagrity in whatever language.
Besides English is my second language, I don't have a first.

Elected officials need to work on important issues like national security, debt, taxes, immigration, etc.

[The_Penguin]

This wouldn't work. People would learn to use vulagrity in whatever language.
Besides English is my second language, I don't have a first.

Elected officials need to work on important issues like national security, debt, taxes, immigration, etc.

He was being sarcastic.

[Scaryclouds]

The term is hateful and deeply sexist, said Councilwoman Darlene Mealy of Brooklyn, who has introduced a measure against the word, saying it creates “a paradigm of shame and indignity” for all women.

What a *****...