Word avoidance, pro and con

I'm inclined to agree with you, osso. I suspect that they came up with the name and the sign to attract attention rather than the reason stated (to reclaim the word bitch as meaning a female dog). That's the slightly obnoxious part.

I think it's hilarious... I love signs that play on words. Much ado about nothing, IMO. I laughed when I read that the sign would interfere with photos during the parade! How stupid - just stand elsewhere - duh. If the city allowed the sign, enough said.

I'm finding a hidden side of myself, that I near enjoy word fright.

I must attend to these antisocial tendencies...

Yes, please do that, and let us know when they're resolved. Although I'm interested in knowing exactly what form these tendencies take...

I am not sure. The scamp in me thinks it is hilarious, but a I am thinking of the effect it will have on kids. Also, I think that the title DOES disrespect women.

I certainly know that bitch was always the word for a female dog, but the later, more colloquial usage of it, made even more popular in hip-hop songs, makes me uncomfortable.

A chain of restaurants is known as Fuddrucker's. I find the name sufficiently distasteful as prevent me from eating there.

Love it.



Maybe an opportunity to teach your children something about the English language?

idjits

The more that I think about it, the more negative the idea is to me. I think that the person who thought up this moniker MEANT it to be a double entendre. And THAT is what makes it so nasty!

Now, if the store posts a picture of Paris Hilton walking her pooch, I will know for sure!

I'm getting SO tired of the "what am I supposed to say to my 5-year-old??!" complaints. How little do these people usually talk to their kids? How much do they think they need to be protected, and from what? (The existence of families headed by same-sex partners and the existence of the words "vagina" and "bitch" are three instances that come to mind right away, all of which sozlet knew ["bitch" just as female dog] well before she was 5.)

I subscribe to that newspaper and saw the sign and resulting tittery article. (What, they only groom females?) That article brought to you from the Pacific Northwest newspaper which a month or so ago headlined espresso stands manned by women in bikinis.

They're pandering, of course. Why am I not surprised?

I dunno, made me laugh, too. I'm a woman, and not in the least offended by it. Not something I would choose, but I can see how it would be popular especially among younger women. Among friends women often call themselves bitches, right? It was started by a woman and there certainly seems to be a devoted clientelle.
On the other hand, if a store had "nigger" or so in the title, even if started by an African-America, I would cringe. Still I wouldn't advocate for its' removal. If the owner of the store wants to take the risk, be my guest. As for kids, I never thought they should be too sheltered, in fact a thoughtful parent can explain quite a few things around this one store sign. Kids are just small, not mentally handicapped, they understand if they are talked to. Avoiding and hiding things usually doesn't lead to better education. But I'm from Europe, ha. Eastern at that, where kids are brought up alongside adults and not separated and shielded from everything deemed morally hazardous. Anyway, I can sorta see it both ways on this one, but it leaves me lukewarm. Don't care one way or another too much.

Your original question, Ossobuco, was deeper, I think than the use of BITCH on a sign.

I like clever stuff as much as the next person and probably despite my matronly like exterior use "bad" words in RL more than most -- my own version of shock therapy. One of my favorite cultures adores the layered use of meanings using homonyms which I admire very much.

Sex and shock words sell stuff including dog grooming & newspapers. The owners are already positioning themselves to sell. In a world where bratty blondes are constantly considered newsworthy, this is tame.

A five yr old could go to kindergarden and see the word "F**K" written on the school wall or hear cuss words on the playground. Not having these experiences doesn't necessarily make that child (into) a better person. If they have been sheltered their entire childhood, how will they deal with it as an adult? This is the world we live in, so let's deal with it.

I am against pandering to people's sensitivities on the basis that it's discriminatory to the first party... unless, of course, it's actually discriminatory to a certain group (as in race).

Too much of our lives are regulated unnecessarily. As long as no one is hurt by something, it should be allowed to stand. What's the big deal with this sign? So it has the word "bitch" in it... big deal. If the word is not directed at someone in particular (as in an insult), it's just a word: Quit bitchin... life's a bitch... etc .... it's very commonplace.

There are more important things to concern ourselves about, like why gus hasn't been in this thread yet. Where is that old git?

I rather like it. We can renovate a slum; why not reclaim a word?

The sign isn't illegal. It isn't fattening. By my standards, it isn't immoral, either.

If the business thrives, the name may be partly responsible for having created a favorable buzz. If the business crashes, the name may be partly responsible because potential customers were alienated.

So? In either case "community standards" prevail.

As for innocent children! Toddlers aren't prancing down the sidewalk looking up for provocative signs. Toddlers are trying to keep their balance. Besides, toddlers don't spell. By the age of five, most kids have heard "bitch" used in the street sense. Children from more sophisticated homes also know that "bitch" means "female dog".

I'm very weary of the people who want to shape and prune the gritty bits of reality so they won't have to explain the full spectrum of social knowlege to their kids.

Quickly scanning the story, I had the same reaction as you soz.

If a 5 year old asked me what a bitch was....well, it's a perfect opportunity to teach the meaning of a word, and how dog breeders always call the female a bitch.

Hemming and hawing just gives power to the word, which has a perfectly legit use.

yeah, the hoo haa/vagina thing came to mind too.

For the adults who find the word offensive, get your mind out of the gutter.

Wow! Roger, Edgar and I are really showing our balls daring to participate in this thread.
I, for one, like the name (probably my first disagreement with Phoenix, ever), and I find it striking that the women who have posted so far here are all women with attitudes--something I very much appreciate in them. To me the term, bitch, has come to mean gal with an attitude, a woman not to be taken lightly.

I would never suggest that the government ban the sign. It is none of the government's damn business. I do think though, if people are insulted they can vent their spleen appropriately by creating boycotts, and not patronizing the store.