to wish that posters wouldn't use sexist language ?

[ConferencePear]

I don't know if there really has been more of it lately or if I'm just getting more sensitive. I really dislike it when women are referred to as 'hag', 'cow', 'bag' or 'witch' and so on.
I find it particularly jarring when these words are used by other women.
Am I alone ?

I don't think these particular expressions are any worse than a lot of others. They're all horrible.

Beloved aunt episode of curb your enthusiasm was on last night

I don't really like the ageist female ones - not sure why those ones particularly get me (or maybe it's my age!!)

"Bint" is the arabic for "girl". Is it an insult?

I dislike "Cow" intensely. I never heard it as an insult until I came to the UK, and it seemed to be used almost exclusively by two very hard-faced women where I worked and who never, in my hearing, said anything kind or joyous in the six months I knew them.

"Bint" is an insult in English, yes. Started as army slang and went from there.

Ah. Then I have leaned something new today. Thank you!

"Walid" is "boy" - is that also used?

I would say bint is "disparaging" rather than an insult.

Walid is not used

I didn't realise fuckwit was linked to halfwit. Actually, I've only ever heard fuckwit on mn, never in RL! So that leaves asshole, anybody got a problem with asshole?

Hang on a second? Someone was using the phrase knob jockey on a thread? I hope others on the thread expressed their disgust!

Regarding "knob jockey" - I thought it was the same as "wank badger" - two words that don't have any linked meaning but sound good as an insult.

It literally didn't cross my mind that it was homophobic.

I have to say me too Cinna I had no idea it was homophobic.

I like asshat.

And put your big girl (or indeed boy) pants on for 'grow a pair'

I tend to stick to (in decreasing order of severity) arse, git and muppet. I think that those are all pretty gender-neutral and only cause the degree of offense that they are intended to cause, although I should probably check the etymology of git to be on the safe side.

I don't think those terms as sexist. They are just pejorative terms that are most commonly applied to women. Often it's by other women, as you say, so how can it be sexist?

No-one ever calls a woman a bastard, so I guess that must be a sexist term too. Why isn't it on your list?

Hmm. "git" is apparently casting aspersions on someone's legitimacy, so it's probably a bit dubious. Perhaps I just need to expand the range covered by "arse" by varying my tone of voice?

Someone mentioned 'old biddies' on a thread yesterday, and I had to ask for a definition to find out if I am one.

Often it's by other women, as you say, so how can it be sexist?

A sentiment isn't un-sexist just because it's uttered by a woman

Exactly.

If I say "Oh, women just aren't any good at maths and engineering" do I have to flash my genitalia at you before you can decide whether it's sexist or not?

because if so I am going to have to work out how to switch on the webcam

Look!

Wankbadger has a nice ring to it.

In fact, I'm quite disappointed with the offerings thus far - MN is usually an excellent source of creative non-any-kind-of-ism insults.

arsenic i might have made the arabic thing up.

I was only referring to Cathy from wuthering heights not a bint IRL so i think i'm alright

Omg tilly that reminds of a card someone gave me with a picture of 2... erm... older (?!) ladies on it saying 'we love minge'

first

That card is a wonder to behold...thank you

Tortoise, muppet I'd say is a "sn" related one again?

The fact is, what mostly annoys us/people in general daily life is other people.

Either we think the person is being 'orrid for the sake of it, or we think they somehow didn't realise they were being 'orrid.

Are there any words that adequately express that:
A) you think someone didn't realise something had negative consequences and bloody well should have realised, but;
B) don't express A by means of comparing the person to someone with SN?

All the ones I can think of right this moment really mean, "Roger, that was such a predictable consequence of putting that thing there, that one might well conclude you had an intellectual disability and were incapable of realising what might happen, rather than seeing the reality which is that you are just bloody careless because you can't be bothered. Now, FFS, clear it up!"