Would you raise this issue? Unwittingly appropriating/laughing about a term for selling women

[RoderickRules]

Community event for a good cause, one of the stands is going to customise zimmer frames and is being promoted as ‘pimp my zimmer’
I have an opportunity to speak to the organiser so I could raise this and ask them to reconsider, would you?

I think I might approach it by asking the organisers if they think the phrase means anything to the intended audience - if it’s aimed at people who use walking frames, they are usually (but not solely) elderly and may not be avid watchers of ‘Pimp my ride’. Thus the attempt at witty marketing may well misfire.

Quick google tells me it is a nationwide event.
FFS.

I’m incredulous on a daily basis.
I think I need to move to a small island with just me on it.

Yes, good point that the actual users of zimmer frames are unlikely to be aware of Tim Westwood!

I think the word to use that would be more fitting/ understood would be 'soup up' - ie fitting spoilers, etc.

'Pimping' I think is starting to fall out of favour anyway. This thread reminded me how 'ho' was a term that was mainstreamed at the same time as the American rap meaning of 'pimp', but it is rare to hear it now - probably because people started to realise it wasn't meant figuratively and is genuinely offensive.

Refuse is right. The origin of the term is derived from its association with prostitution.

That picture of Snoop is vile I really can't stand how 'pimp' has become normalised as a word and I think having a quiet word with the organiser might be appropriate? It's not the hill I'd want to die on, but I would want to raise it and see if the wording can be changed if it didn't take too much trouble iyswim?

I’d raise it. It’s bullshit that it means anything else than selling bodies.

I have been looking for something better than wikipedia about The Players Ball, which is a genuine annual gathering of pimps with links to the music industry but it is hard to find anything decent. Apologies.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Players_Ball

I wouldn't mention it. The word now exists in common slang to mean jazz up. I take your point on where the word comes from, but I think that ship has sailed since Pimp My Ride and you'll be fighting a losing battle.

Trying to use the term "pimp my X" (to mean glam up whatever the X is) for commercial purposes gets you a stern letter from the representatives of the trade mark owner. Or certainly used to when the show was at its peak.

I think that is at least partly why it's slightly fallen out of fashion.

I think it is at best cringey and manages to patronize everyone all at once. Ick.

I think that ship has sailed

I disagree.

Prostitution was being heavily glamorised at the time 'pimp' was becoming normalised as a word.

Boys genuinely started turning against female friends/gang members and locking them in a room, supplying them with weed/whatever and getting their mates to pay to go in.

Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford. .. pimping is normalised, invisible and accepted everytime ignorant idiots use it to mean 'cool', 'glamorous' or ostentatious.

Since 'ho' is no longer bandied about and Jimmy Savile Harvey Weinstein have been exposed there is no reason 'pimp' can't be understood to be a truly dodgy word again.

It is always a good idea to point out that a significant portion of the population will be offended by the terms they are using so if they are concerned about that they might want to have a rethink.
Dozens of apologies are made every year by advertisers just because no one ran the advertisement past a woman before they OKed it.

I'm glad to see that later posts are coming out against the use of this expression. I was beginning to wonder if I was overreacting.

I don't think people here are super in-favour of the expression Lass, or about to start using it as a female-empowerment tool, I just think you need to pick your battles, that's all.

A conversation here isn't likely to lead to anything productive. More than anything it would probably just annoy a friend who's worked hard at organising an local charity event.

You're welcome to feel differently without feeling that you're overreacting, (or implying that everyone else is underreacting).

A conversation here isn't likely to lead to anything productive. More than anything it would probably just annoy a friend who's worked hard at organising an local charity event.

People in charities are used to having to update their language all the time to avoid stigmatising or offending people - in fact they are at the front line of these changes.
'Pimp' is really not very acceptable at the moment and could be viewed as mocking the people using zimmer frames. The humour behind it really reminds me of the juvenile cultural appropriation and sexism of Will Farrel movies. It isn't appropriate.

'Pimp' is really not very acceptable at the moment and could be viewed as mocking the people using zimmer frames

Yes, aside from the connection with prostitution I agree there is an air of mockery about it.

I wondered about the mockery aspect as well, especially considering that dementia patients are a main target of the program. So we possibly have a bit of ageism, ableism, and sexism rolled into one.

Also, I see that children can be involved in decorating the zimmers. That adds another level of inappropriateness.

One could have "bespoke zimmers" or "customised zimmers"

Both of which suggest something good being made better ; not doing a cheap cosmetic makeover of an old banger to try and hide its worthlessness.

I discussed this with my manager who agrees with me.
When we have our meeting I am going to mention it.
The borough has a problem with sex trafficking and brothels.
They should have more sense...

Well done OP

There are plenty of good alternatives suggested on the thread. Good luck.

Well done OP.

Yes, well done.

I would point it out and have a rage about it to whoever I was with, but I wouldn't bother bringing it up to the people on the stand. Wrong time and place to change their mind I reckon.

Good work, OP! That word has to go, and the normalisation of sexual exploitation needs to be put in reverse. Thank you.