[Sidebar Moderator]

I didn't take it as an attack on me. I actually read fairly well, most of the time. :)

I've spent most of the last two days letting all you folks "check me out", as it were. Every now and then I take the notion to check out one of you. I imagine lockeliberty is away from the forum now, which is why I've heard from so many others in his stead. That's not a problem, either.

At the time I read the post, the sudden appearance of the word at the end of things caught me unawares. Obviously I could have phrased my comments in a more congenial tone (hmm... maybe some of you are having a greater effect on me than I am having on you...), but all I really wanted to know was why that word was chosen when so many others would have conveyed the same information.

On the other hand, I doubt very much that I am the only denizen of Free Republic who might take offense at the word in question; in fact, I know I'm not. It's a word featured in infrequent abuse reports.

[xzins]

It is an offensive word in any context except that in a children's book describing an actual kitty-cat type feline.

Whether talking of "weakling" or of female anatomy, it's original meaning derives from it being a coarse derivative connected to female anatomy.

Therefore, there is no "acceptable and non-confrontive" way to refer to anyone by that word.

[rwfromkansas]

I am sure some take offense at the word (I guess being in college means I basically am not offended by anything except extreme contortions of the F word), but I think we should shoot for as high a standard as possible for actually punishing harsh language, meaning it would only be be removed or result in a warning if a clear violation of forum rules, not just being a bit of a jerk with rough language. That may be your thinking, I don't know.