Three (random) things to make a post:

[capri0mni]

This is a language post. Here is a list of three random language things:

1. I haven't really given any more thought to those words I suggested that English still needs, because my Anglo-Saxon root dictionary is buried in a pile of books, and I can't be bothered, right now, to dig it out. I will, someday, though (I think).



2. What with RaceFail'09, there's been a lot of talk of "privilege" going around (quotes are to show I'm talking about people talking about a specific word, not some ironic devaluing of meaning). The following is part of a reply I wrote in someone's LJ:
   
   

   Privilege, in and of itself, isn't necessarily a bad thing (imnsho). But like any instrument of power, you should be aware that you have it, be careful how you use it, be sure not to aim it at anyone, and absolutely don't go around shooting it off in a fit of anger.




3. Mid-afternoon television commercials for erectile dysfunction medicines, and "marital aide" lubricants are all very well and good, but we can't consider ourselves to be part of a sex-positive society until the phrase: "Boy! I've just been royally screwed!" translates as: "I've just had the most wonderful experience. And I feel all warm and happy, now!" ...I'm just saying...

Comments

[spiralsheep.livejournal.com]

2. "like any instrument of power, you should be aware that you have it, be careful how you use it, be sure not to aim it at anyone, and absolutely don't go around shooting it off in a fit of anger."

Yes, that.

3. I AGREE SO VERYVERYVERY MUCH. The use of receptive sexual metaphors for being on the receiving end of violence etc rly rly annoys me but not quite as much as the use of penetrative sexual metaphors for doing violence. Bah!

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

2. I was thinking of joining, and/or promoting the new comm starbase_idic, which is set up to discuss the way diversity is dealt with (or not dealt with) in the Star Trek francise, with other sciffy fandoms as also-rans. I haven't made up my mind, yet (wondering if I'm interested in joining a comm centered so specifically on a show I'm not really a fan of). Anyway, this line from the info page got me thinking:

Various displays of privilege and bigotry are not welcomed here

Is there way for me to not display my privilege at all? And is the the privilege itself that's the problem, or the misuse of privilege? So that's where that came from...

3. There's a real disconnect in our culture. On the one hand, we're told that we need to have sex on a fairly regular basis in order to be taken seriously as adults. But on the other hand, every non-clinical word we have for sex, and sexual body parts, are used to mean something bad, violent, or just plain unpleasant.

[lady-jem.livejournal.com]

The whole thing about needing to be having lots of sex to be "real" adults has always struck me as a very clever marketing ploy, so insinuated into the culture that we barely even see it. Annoys the heck out of me.

And thanks for the privilege thoughts; as you know, I'm wrestling with a lot of similar stuff.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, it's barely visible. At other times, it's painfully blatant -- such as an entire feature-length movie where the whole point is laughing at The Forty-Year-Old Virgin.

[spiralsheep.livejournal.com]

Also, I love your icon. :-)

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I made it a while back when I came to the realization that I will never be able to have a perfect icon to match every entry.