Kilt, Skirt, MUG, etc.

[James]

Two little stories:-

First the lady herself served me faggots for dinner the other evening-a traditional British dish.

Second an excited Italian was over the moon and genuine in his admiration of my kilt, though he called it a skirt. I was not going to offend him or risk giving offence by correcting him-rather I was delighted to receive such a positive reaction from someone for whom the kilt was obviously new and strange.

Put the two together, and in my opinion it is too easy to find offence-look for it even.

Better to smile and march on.

James

[Freelander Sporrano]

Were they Brains Faggots I loved thoose my Nan always served them with mushy peas and gravy .
Thanks for that childhood memory James

[AckZel]

Well... nowadays there is cellular phones... and they still are telephones! So technical devices can get more modern but kilts cant? Why is the development so bad? Why cant kilt be modern too, UKs, AKs and so on wont make traditional kilts any worse... You can still use the normal telephone with the dialing plate if you dont like cellulars

[jkdesq]

Good grief, if people cannot understand sensitivities around the word "******" then .... Just hope we have the good sense to stay away from words that have been used as pejoratives for other minorities.

Words are funny things. They don't follow logic and they are not free of emotional responses. You have to be careful how you use them.

[Kiltedmusiclover]

Ok folks lets get back on target.
Many have tried to bring this thread back, yet we cannot seem to stay on topic.
No bickering over why words take on certain meanings.

This is the last warning.

For future reference find other words to describe cigarettes or peas.
If these words are used anymore the posts will be yanked.
If it is used anymore on this thread, it will be gone.

[James]

Without using this or that word-they were made b y a traditional butcher in the West Country-to an old recipe complete with caul.

James

[Kid Cossack]

I flee screaming! My head is exploding! KILTS, LADDIES, KILTS! If I want drama I will watch television. What were we talking about again? Weren't we talking about OUR SKIRTS? Hey? Bueller? Bueller?

[Rob]

Ok folks lets get back on target.
Many have tried to bring this thread back, yet we cannot seem to stay on topic.
No bickering over why words take on certain meanings.

This is the last warning.

For future reference find other words to describe cigarettes or peas.
If these words are used anymore the posts will be yanked.
If it is used anymore on this thread, it will be gone.

Nelson,

Is Xmarks purely a forum for citizens of the United States? Does it only take into account the sensitivities of Americans? The words, which you are declaring as 'banned', have no derogatory connotations in countries outside of North America, so why should non-Americans have to refrain from using perfectly normal (non-abusive) English words, just because some Americans have been stupid enough to assign dubious (non-original) meanings to them? You don't find us Brits complaining every time that Americans mention the term 'fanny pack', despite the fact that the word 'fanny' has acquired an alternative (slang) connotation in the UK. If we were to take this absurd self-imposed sensitivity to its logical conclusion, we would probably find that many words in the English language mean something impolite in other countries. Would we therefore feel obliged to ban their use, or would this only be the case if they are considered as being 'impolite' words in the USA? It should be perfectly obvious, from the context in which a particular word is being used, as to its intended meaning. If someone writes that they have just enjoyed a meal of 'f*****s and peas', only a fool would construe that the writer was making any sort of reference to anything other than food. Of course, to keep the post on-topic, the writer should refer to being kilted while eating such a restaurant meal. Don't give in to those who are intent on redefining words in whatever country.

[Freedomlover]

Nelson,.... so why should non-Americans have to refrain from using perfectly normal (non-abusive) English words, just because some Americans have been stupid enough to assign dubious (non-original) meanings to them?

Be careful. Making sense is not always a good idea. ;D

... absurd self-imposed sensitivity....

Thank you. That is just what it is. Over here in the U.S. (and more so in Canada) we seem to care way more about feelings than we do about facts.

A large part of this thread has been devoted to some folks desire to redefine what a skirt is simply because they don't like it. And I don't mean just choosing another term (such as KILT) for a male skirt, I mean denying that it is one in the first place. To me that is irrational. I think it stems, at least in part, from the foolish notion that no one should ever even [feel insulted.
That is a fairly recent idea, and hopefully we will return to our senses some day.

[Archangel]

Nelson,

Is Xmarks purely a forum for citizens of the United States? Does it only take into account the sensitivities of Americans?
Don't give in to those who are intent on redefining words in whatever country.

a quiet aside: most of the rest of the world is trying to get America to be more sensitive. When they try to do it, it's probably good to encourage it.

Words and names are fluid tools, some start out being sharp and get dulled, others become jagged and cutting. Respect that.

Said it before, a kilt is a skirt, this type of skirt we call a kilt, get over it and get on with life. It's only in law and math that we need this kind of precision.