Word’s Worth: Sacred cows and coddling sheep
November 12th, 2009 by Jason Kimble in Arts, News
Today’s secret word is the F-word. It’s just not the one you think. The four-letter variety is old hat. Plus, with the advent of texting, who has time for that many letters? No, three should do it: Start with F, end with G, and put an A somewhere in the middle. I know, I hate word jumbles, too, but I have faith in you. Everyone on the same page? Good. On with the show.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has taken exception with today’s word as used in a recent South Park episode. The episode centers around the kids’ contention that the word’s an insult having nothing to do with sexuality. Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman decide it’s time to use their F-bomb on folks who deserve insults — in this case, obnoxiously loud bikers. The usual South Park absurdism results, with new laws and an appeal to update the dictionary definition for the kids’ preferred insult.
Part of GLAAD’s response follows:
The creators of South Park are right on one important point: more and more people are using the F-word as an all-purpose insult. However, it is irresponsible and wrong to suggest that it is a benign insult or that promoting its use has no consequences for those who are the targets of anti-gay bullying and violence. This is a slur whose meaning remains rooted in homophobia.
As the word guy, I’m all for debating definitions and figuring out the right word for the job you want done. So, go GLAAD for making valid points and engaging in the debate, right? Except there’s this next bit from the GLAAD statement:
[W]hile many South Park viewers will understand the sophisticated satire and critique in last night’s episode, others won’t – and if even a small number of those take from this a message that using the “F-word” is OK, it worsens the hostile climate that many in our community continue to face.
You’re going to have to give me a minute, because it sounds like the group dedicated to fostering “awareness, understanding and respect” just asked us to shut down the debate because Ignorant People Won’t Get It. Frankly, that’s just… well, it’s nice in the original sense.
Protect your sacred cow from satire all you like, but all this “if only a few people miss the point” nonsense is just that. We’re talking about a show where the town’s only black resident is named Token. Where the Jewish kid literally kills Jesus. If you think there’s not someone out there who saw that and screamed, “See? Mel Gibson was right!” then you are frighteningly delusional.
The shitty thing about language is that it’s not telepathy. If we have to make sure no one’s going to misinterpret us every time we try to make a point, I’m afraid everyone’s going to need to go home and meditate until he turns into Charles Xavier. Preferably without full baldness attached, but I suppose that would be one more thing we’d all have in common, so maybe we should shoot for that one, too.
The great thing about language is that we can all use it, unlike telepathy (all apologies to Uri Geller). If you want people to understand, you have to talk, and keep talking. Sure, you can keep quiet and blindly hope, but even that doesn’t guarantee someone isn’t going to misrepresent you. If you don’t put words in your own mouth, don’t be surprised if someone else puts some there for you. Don’t believe me? Just ask Chef (just don’t ask him with your speakers on at the office. Definitely NSFW).
November 12th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
That Jason Kimble would take the time to write this ‘article’ about the word F A G is example enough of the complete lack of respect and dignity afforded to gay Americans in this country.
If it were a slur used against any other group, it would not be tolerated.
Jason Kimble is a F A G for not recognizing that.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Bill,
I completely agree concerning the dearth of respect for LGBT Americans, which is why I applauded GLAAD for making valid points re: the episode. I think there’s absolutely a debate to be had about slurs and epithets and the relative acceptability of same in our popular entertainment, and GLAAD is one of those groups which should by all means engage in that debate.
Satire, too, is a form of debate, and GLAAD themselves labeled the episode “sophisticated satire and critique.” My sole objection to the GLAAD statement, then, was that they subsequently expressed an apparent belief that the South Park creators shouldn’t enter the debate due to the risk of being misunderstood. It’s that position–the call to silence for fear of misunderstanding, instead of a call to further debate–which I find troubling.
I certainly apologize if my attempt to make that point was itself unclear.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
The GLAAD made an error in their response to Southpark: “This is a slur whose meaning remains rooted in homophobia.” However, SP had already explained that the real “root” of this word never had anything to do with homosexuals. The anti-gay meaning is now just a dying branch, while new meanings are beginning to blossom on the faggot tree.