So today my husband was telling me about some stupid joke e-mail he got and said "It's what George Carlin called the pussification of America." I stopped what I was doing not sure what to make of that and asked for explication. Essentially it's making things too touchy feely, too soft - too pussy. Then the charming hubby added "It's like your father's - 'the world love mediocrity'." I've been stewing on this since. I've admired Carlin for years and tolerated my husband for about the same length of time but this really pissed me off. Am I wrong? Oh maybe I'm just too pussified.
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George Carlin's comedy is a struggle for me, too. On the one hand, he's said in his act that he agrees with most feminist theory and thinks feminists have the right idea, which is great. However, his assault on all things PC leads to some pretty offensive bits that a lot of his fans will probably remember longer than they will his pro-feminist statements. Of course his goal is to shock everyone, and he is pretty equal with his attacks on the left and right (and everywhere in between).
I have this same problem with the show South Park. Does anyone else struggle with this?
I do. I find a lot of things from both of them funny, but the politics of anti-PC really skeeve me out.
It seems to me utterly pointless, considering that their thing is to be offensive, so what is the point of claiming that what they're doing isn't actually offensive?
I agree with you on the point that people will probably remember George Carlin for his more obnoxious remarks than his stance on feminism and the like; I also struggle with his comedy and his beliefs. Sometimes I am not sure
exactly where Carlin stood on a lot of issues. He had a stage persona that was supposed to deliberately push the limits, "no holds barred". In his interviews he seemed a lot more objective and agree-able.
As for the term "pussification" and more-so the term (dare I say) "pussy", it angers me to the highest degree. First of all, there are so many names and terms applied to the female gender, a whole lot more than there are to males, and I have argued this with my boyfriend on more than one occasion. He says that men suffer from these names as well, but I argue that their connotations are not as bad, and that mostly, they are nowhere near as offensive as the terms we are stuck with, such as slut, bitch, prude, frigid, cold, cougar, whore, ho, heffer, skank, pussy, cunt, douche-bag, tight-wad, bimbo, air-head, ditz, dyke, old-maid, ice-queen, chick,catty, nag, ball-and-chain,baby-cakes, sugar, "princess", high-maintenance/low-maintenance, (a simple number on our
appearance),etc...
And I will venture to say that I'm sure this tops George Carlin's seven words you can't say on television.
And Gosh, I know there's more, so if anyone can help me add to this list anything I might have forgotten, I would really appreciate it. I would love to have a complete compilation of names, phrases, and terminology applied specifically to women over time. It might become useful someday.
"douche-bag, tight-wad"
iirc, isn't douchebag is usually used on men, and "tightwad" for cheap people regardless of gender?
Actually I think you're right about tight-wad, after thinking about it, I believe it is more gender neutral; but I'm pretty sure I only ever heard douche-bag being directed towards women when they were in a "bad mood".
Personally, I like to use the word 'pussy' to refer to people who are tough as hell while remaining receptive and incredibly flexible.
It's not a use that seems to be catching on.
When it comes to people like George Carlin, always remember that he says what he says to get a rise out of you so you think about what he's saying. It's not used just for the fun of it; he very deliberately picks his words to make sure it's thought provoking when you really sit down and think about it (if you ever do -- which is part of this thing here). He uses the vulgar and common word pussy to bring you out of that. While I don't think you're entirely off base with your reaction, I think it's always good to keep intentions in mind.
I love george carlin. For me, his pro-feminist stances (and many other things about him) outweigh these slip-ups.
If I hear him saying something that's not cool. I will just say I love george carlin, but this time he wasn't funny, and he wasn't cool.
I heard this expression a few years ago from my husband and his friends. But they have learned not to use some names in vain:) so there is none of that anymore.
I think we need more pussyfication of the world! I damn know that it's a phrase that is picked up and used with content and to describe something a "real" society would distance it self from (Real society: a society dominated by "male values" and not that fussy, irrational, touchy-feely stuff women bring along). But really: we need more softness and a lot more touchy feely. Maybe (and this might just be fantasy - and a pretty hackneyed, commonplace reflection) then there wouldn't be so much conflict, war, poverty, criminality, exploitation (physical, economical). So please - "pussify" the world! The sooner the better!
I have always hated the word pussy. I don't care how it's used - I just don't like the way it sounds. That aside, I especially hate it when men (or anyone) are referred to as pussies. Another term I've heard men say to each other to berate each other is "Your vagina's wet."
One phrase I've heard recently several times that I am also REALLY hating on is: "It's tits" to mean it's great.
I don't ever find the term "prick" or "dick" offensive when referring to someone as an asshole, and those are really the only names I can think of when referring to a man. I wonder if that's because there's so much pride in dicks?