Another word thread: Squaw

[cloudy]

This comes out of a discussion Dran and I just had.

I've never been ultra-sensitive to my friends using the word "squaw." Just like so many other words, a lot can depend on who's using it, or how it's said. But Dran brought it to my attention that having it in my sigline perpetuates the stereotypes, and he's right, so I've changed it.

Do y'all know what "squaw" actually means?

It's a bastard-ized form of an Algonquin word meaning "cunt."

Now, y'all can call me that all day long, and it wouldn't piss me off, but seeing it used in that god-awful story just pissed me off like crazy. So.....I've changed my sig.

This is this weeks public service message from me. Carry on.

 

[NoJo]

This comes out of a discussion Dran and I just had.

I've never been ultra-sensitive to my friends using the word "squaw." Just like so many other words, a lot can depend on who's using it, or how it's said. But Dran brought it to my attention that having it in my sigline perpetuates the stereotypes, and he's right, so I've changed it.

Do y'all know what "squaw" actually means?

It's a bastard-ized form of an Algonquin word meaning "cunt."

Now, y'all can call me that all day long, and it wouldn't piss me off, but seeing it used in that god-awful story just pissed me off like crazy. So.....I've changed my sig.

This is this weeks public service message from me. Carry on.

Well, I'm still going to use it in Scrabble.

 

[impressive]

Do y'all know what "squaw" actually means?

It's a bastard-ized form of an Algonquin word meaning "cunt."

I had no idea ... not that I use the word (squaw, that is) with frequency.

Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[cloudy]

Well, I'm still going to use it in Scrabble.

so long as you know what it means.

 

[NoJo]

so long as you know what it means.

Yes, usually about 45 points.,

 

[fieryjen]

Another one to file away under "Things to know".

Thanks for explaining! I'll be sure to keep it in mind, not that I use it a whole lot.

It's not quite what they taught me in grade school...

 

[cloudy]

Another one to file away under "Things to know".

Thanks for explaining! I'll be sure to keep it in mind, not that I use it a whole lot.

It's not quite what they taught me in grade school...

You can probably take about 9/10's of what they taught you about Indians in grade school, and throw it in the garbage - honest.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Great, now I'll just have to call you cunt from now on....jeez.

 

[cloudy]

Great, now I'll just have to call you cunt from now on....jeez.

I repeat:

Now, y'all can call me that all day long, and it wouldn't piss me off

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I repeat:

Where's the fun in that?

Indigenous.

 

[cloudy]

Where's the fun in that?

Indigenous.

indigenous aborigine

(repeating myself, aren't I?)

 

[Liar]

I have heard it said that it means prositute as well as wife, but since I never have been able to find anything backing either claim, I didn't take them for face value.

But since I've seen and heard American natives' use it as a positive tag, I assumed that it was. Goes to show you never know.

Interresting, Cloudy. Thx.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

indigenous aborigine

(repeating myself, aren't I?)

Cannibalisiticaboriginalindigenouscunt.

 

[Guest]

Indigenous.

Hmmmmmm......

Maybe a base for a new definition of American Indian.

Just a thought.

 

[cloudy]

Cannibalisiticaboriginalindigenouscunt.

ooh, that's good!

(you just forgot the porcupine sno-cone part)

 

[NoJo]

Cannibalisiticaboriginalindigenouscunt.

Yes, Mary Poppins is my favorite movie too.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

ooh, that's good!

(you just forgot the porcupine sno-cone part)

This is your new title.....or for short Caborigenicunt.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Yes, Mary Poppins is my favorite movie too.

PMSL!!!!

Now I'm singing it that way...LOL

 

[fieryjen]

You can probably take about 9/10's of what they taught you about Indians in grade school, and throw it in the garbage - honest.

Yeah, I kind of figured that out after a while. Although we were probably even further from the truth than an American grade school would have been.

 

[TheEarl]

You can probably take about 9/10's of what they taught you about Indians in grade school, and throw it in the garbage - honest.

Shit. You mean that they're not mostly Hindu, Muslim or Sikh? And a large proportion of the population aren't vegetarians?

Damn, I knew they were lying to me.

The Earl

 

[Liar]

Shit. You mean that they're not mostly Hindu, Muslim or Sikh? And a large proportion of the population aren't vegetarians?

Damn, I knew they were lying to me.

Always. Especially in maths. Sub-traction is in fact a BDSM sporting event.

 

[Guest]

Always. Especially in maths. Sub-traction is in fact a BDSM sporting event.

I did very well in math.



Cloudy - thanks for enlightening us - I truly had no idea.

 

[logophile]

I am also surprised to hear this, and very glad you told us.
It makes me wonder about the herb "squawvine" that we often use in pregnancy. I wonder if there is another name for it so I can adjust myself.

 

[impressive]

I am also surprised to hear this, and very glad you told us.
It makes me wonder about the herb "squawvine" that we often use in pregnancy. I wonder if there is another name for it so I can adjust myself.

Also known as Partridgeberry.

 

[minsue]

That one I knew, but there's been fighting over the now-formerly-named Sqaw Peak (mountain in the middle of Phoenix who's name was just changed to Piestewa Peak about a year or so ago) for as long as I can remember. And there are plenty of people who still refuse to call it by any other name.