Careful with Words
I'm not a huge gadget fan, but I love my green iPod, Darth Kermit. It's an old model, but it does the job every morning as I'm going to and fro work. However, I am yet to figure a way to make suitable playlists for Darth Kermit. I tend to make my playlists in the evenings when I'm a bit tired, a bit dozy and generally comfortable and content. This results in chilled-out playlists. Unfortunately I am in need of wake-me-up music in the mornings - preferably of the sparkly pop variety. I have tried to steer my playlist making in that general direction, but to no avail.
Anyway, I have been listening to knitting podcasts instead. I listen to a lot of different ones - both current ones as well as a lot of old ones. I was listening to a relatively current one when I was jolted out of my morning sleepiness by the podcaster describing someone as being a bit "spazzy". Now, I realise that British English and American English are two very different things. I also realise that whilst I find expressions such as "that's spazzy" or "that's gay" very offensive, these types of expressions are accepted among certain young people who do not mean to be derogatory or offensive. The question is: do I contact the podcaster and point out that I find her language offensive .. or should I just let it slide and get less serious about words and meanings? I'm reminded of Josh Rouse's The White Trash Period of My Life in which he sings careful with words .. they are so meaningful. It is one of those songs I should never put on my iPod morning mix and yet I do.
My inbox delivered some delightful surprises this morning - lovely previews of the new Kim Hargreaves book, Misty, and the forthcoming Amy Butler yarn range - so even though I was stuck with melancholy songs and surprisingly derogatory knitting podcasts, I could enjoy my morning coffee and scone feeling a bit cheerful.
March 17th, 2010 - 04:38
tempting though it would be to write, I wouldn’t. Not worth it.
March 17th, 2010 - 06:29
I woudn’t write — I’d just switch to another of the many knitting podcasts out there. And thanks for the heads up on the Amy Butler yarn line, can’t wait to see that!
March 17th, 2010 - 10:50
I agree, word for word, with Bells.
March 17th, 2010 - 10:53
Having slept on it, I am just going to let it go and find another podcast. So, yes, I agree.
Leah, The AB yarn is due to launch quite soon so I bet you’ll find much more info popping up across the yarn world in just a matter of days. It is a wool/cotton mix in quite saturated colours – double knitting and aran.
March 17th, 2010 - 11:51
I’m afraid I disagree, I think people using such derogatory language should be told politely that it is offensive and that it would prevent you listening to the podcasts in the future otherwise the podcaster may think no-one objects so it is okay to use it. Such phrases become the norm all too easily
March 17th, 2010 - 18:58
I suppose that if you were really enjoying the podcast you would bother to let the podcaster know that her use of language was inappropriate.
The other day when writing my blog I self-edited ‘sorry about the lame photos’ to ‘…shoddy photos’ because of all the stuff I’ve read on the FWD/Feminists With Disabilities site about the offensiveness of the word ‘lame’, which I used to use quite a lot. Especially about ideas, which makes me realise that I visualise a good idea as being mobile and active, running and dancing etc., which goes to show the ableism of my whole way of seeing the world. Sigh.