Tales in Etymology

[jackshoegazer]

I was reading an article about how U2's Bono recently called Elvis a "white nigger" which is pretty fucking racist no matter how he meant it.  In the article, it mentions that in the poem that Bono read, there are offensive words like "nigger" (obviously) and "spastic".

HUH?  Spastic is an offensive word?  So I looked it up.  I had no idea that the word had its origins with cerebral palsy, the main symptom of which is spasticity.  Growing up, I knew that words like nerd, geek, spaz, dweeb, et cetera... all had original and quite specific meanings, but they sort of homogenized into rather bland slang insults meaning roughly the same thing.

Now my vocabulary is better and more specific and now I will only use spastic in proper context.  (Though, I never ever called anyone a spaz.)  However, I still have a hard time not saying "retarded" as a pejorative.
 

Comments

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Seriously. I bet he's signed a multi-million dollar deal to be the spokesperson for Summer's Eve. They can put him on the boxes like fucking Wheaties :P

[labelle77.livejournal.com]

Speaking of insulting language.. now you're implying that being something used to clean a woman's vagina is so horrible no one would want to be one. ;P

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I thought of that, but most of the literature I've read suggests that douching is actually a very unhealthy practice, so I relented and decided it is indeed a very bad thing. Perhaps I'm wrong? I am a dude and therefore less qualified to make decisions about vaginas. :P

[labelle77.livejournal.com]

I actually love the word douche, and yes, douche itself is very bad, but I suspect its evolution into an insult had more to do with dirty vaginae than an unhealthy and unnecessary practice. However, let's rewrite history and yell douchebag from the top of the world! Or... something.

[hellocthulhu.livejournal.com]

If you honestly decide you no longer want to say "douche", you can use "Wentz" instead. The Internet at some point in time decided that Pete Wentz, lead singer of Fall Out Boy, is a massive douche, and in many circles "Wentz" is well-recognized as a substitute for "douche", "douchebag", etc.

[explodingalice.livejournal.com]

Wait, wait. Now, I'll preface this by saying that the reason I don't know is because I don't care. But go ahead and tell me what Bono does/did that is douchey?