Too precious

Posted by Lotg (OZ) on July 10, 2004

In Reply to: Stop bitchin' ! posted by Word Camel on July 09, 2004

: : : : : : In my biking days, we called a king and queen seater. The "queen" rode on back. Now it's "riding b*tch" and the "b*tch seat."

: : : : : : Posted on Thu, Jul. 08, 2004
: : : : : :
: : : : : : Women bikers group defends sign at parade
: : : : : : VICE MAYOR SAYS IT WAS OFFENSIVE
: : : : : : By Michelle Ku
: : : : : : HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
: : : : : : (Lexington, Ky.)

: : : : : : During the Fourth of July parade, B*tches on Bikes, a women's motorcycle group, roared down Main Street to the cheers of the crowd.

: : : : : : But before the start of Saturday's parade, the bikers drew the attention of Vice Mayor Mike Scanlon, who wanted them to take down a sign because he considered the word "b*tch" offensive.

: : : : : : "My concern was that the b-word was going down Main Street on a family holiday when we all know there are women in abuse shelters working their hardest to get that stereotype eliminated," Scanlon said.

: : : : : : The sign came down, but it didn't stay down. It reappeared on the front of a car as B*tches on Bikes turned onto Main from the Midland Avenue staging area.

: : : : : : The banner was taken down while the female bikers decided what to do and the group of about eight voted unanimously to put it back up, said Shannon Salisbury, founder of the biking group. "The theme of the parade was 'Let Freedom Ring,' and we were censored."

: : : : : : For B*tches on Bikes, the word "b*tch" isn't hateful or offensive, it's an empowering term, Salisbury said.

: : : : : : "B*tch" is used to play off of a well-known term in the biking community, said Chester Salisbury, Shannon's husband. "A guy or girl riding behind is called 'riding b*tch.' We're taking someone from the back and bringing them to the front."

: : : : : : Until Salisbury formed B*tches on Bikes, female motorcyclists in Lexington often rode alone because the local men's groups would only allow a woman to participate if she "rides b*tch," Shannon Salisbury said.

: : : : : : Although the women of the group have claimed and embraced "b*tch" for their own, that doesn't mean it's OK, Scanlon said. "It just doesn't feel good to see a hate word going down the middle of Main Street on the Fourth of July."

 

: : : : : The biker culture seems to delight in exhibiting behavior that is three standard deviations away from the norm and watching the rest of us squirm in discomfort. What mystifies me, however, is how women could revel in the treatment and the dreadful status they are accorded in this sub-culture. I believe that one of the real strengths of our western civilization is the fact that we recognize that women have equality of opportunity and contribution in the society. It is no wonder that cultures which essentially throw away half of their brainpower and potential don't do particularly well in a number of areas of science and commerce, and living. Thats why this sort of story speaks about a world I can't understand.

: : : : These women didn't like it either. "We're taking someone from the back and bringing them to the front." They claimed the term for their own.

: : : : It seems to me that b*tch has evolved from meaning a woman who is degraded to meaning an assertive woman. Men (mostly) who resent powerful women resort to calling them "b*tches." Some women have adopted the term as a badge of honor.

: : : 'Bitch' is only a female dog. calling a bloke a 'dog' does not raise PC offense. 'old dog' is entirely inoffensive.

: : : Bitch is an empowered name - men call women 'bitches' when the women are strong, not weak. it may have other connotations about back-biting, but strength is the main quality being described.

: : : Stop bitchin' 'bout it!

: : I must add a quote:

: : Vera Donovan: Sometimes being a bitch, is all a woman has to hang too. (Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King)

: : I can't speak for other women. Being called a "b*tch" would make me mad. But I'd rather be called that than "sweet."

:
: I dream of bitchdom. *sigh*.

: However, I do not dream of clinging to the "love handles" of a 285 lb weird beard wantabe. Biker culture is strange indeed.

Why don't we all just stop being so precious. Profanity, like all other words, are just words. I've heard people use words that we technically would call profane without any malice whatsoever. I've heard others never once utter a 'profane' word yet but utterly offensive. It's the thought behind the words, the method of delivery, and what the words mean to us.

That's why I believe that PC has gone too far. Like all agents of change, it had its place, but like most agents of change, it's gone too far. People don't seem to know where to stop, and take responsibility for their own minds and choices.

I mean, who the hell cares if a bunch of women want to call themselves bitches? If that's what it takes to make them feel special, then OK, I think that's probably a bit pathetic - but it doesn't affect my life, so why the hell should I care. And if other people choose to take offence because they want to somehow transfer that into some meaning in their own lives, well it's their own fault for being so self serving.

You know the term 'if the hat fits, wear it'. Well, if it doesn't, then just don't! Ignore it.