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Main Forums => Flamer's Corner => Topic started by: 12AX7 on October 25, 2010, 04:00:03 PM

Title: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: 12AX7 on October 25, 2010, 04:00:03 PM: I just heard someone ( a Congressional rep ) use the word 'gentlelady' during the Immigration Hearing featuring Stephen Colbert.

Huh? Gentle lady? It's just "Lady". Gentlemen, and ladies. Ladies and gentlemen.

There are gentlemen, and bad boys; and there are ladies, and whores. There is no "gentlelady".

Its funny to see someone so fucked in the head by PCness that they aren't even sure what to call someone

and try to combine any part of all possible words to be sure not to offend anyone. And by funny; I mean sad.
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: Novice on October 25, 2010, 09:03:26 PM: I always felt that Lady, for whatever reason, seemed less polite than Gentleman. It doesn't come out of a need to be PC per se but probably more out of my own social problems with upsetting people.

In any case, "gentlelady" is stupid.
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: 12AX7 on October 25, 2010, 10:59:22 PM: I understand that. You have the root words 'men' and 'lady'. It *seems* as if adding 'gentle' to 'men' is a positive qualifier; which is not done to the root word 'lady'; thus leading to a misunderstanding. Also, the word 'lady' is nowadays applied to any female regardless of her behavior; which does tend to dilute it's original meaning. Gentlemen, on the other hand, is usually reserved for men behaving courteously; unlike 'lady' it is not normally applied to just any male.

So I get it that a lot of people miss the "equalness"? of the two terms. This is understandable and forgivable in regards to average people on the street. That it was used in a congressional hearing, though, by someone who *should* be proficient in English ( as words are their main tool to draft laws ) is disheartening to say the least.
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: xolik on October 26, 2010, 06:07:19 PM: I've been guilty of using "Gentlewomen" from time to time.
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: Vespertine on October 27, 2010, 11:09:47 AM: Gentlewoman is actually acceptable...from what I've seen (my Google-fu is strong), the two alternatives to gentleman appear to be 'lady' and 'gentlewoman'. 'Gentlelady' is all kinds of fucked though.
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: xolik on October 27, 2010, 01:18:16 PM: Quote from: bananaskittles on October 27, 2010, 11:22:41 AM
Is "ladyman" or "ladymen" also acceptable for males?

In Thailand, yes.
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: Vespertine on October 27, 2010, 02:41:54 PM: Quote from: xolik on October 27, 2010, 01:18:16 PM
In Thailand, yes.
You would know! :-D
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: xolik on October 27, 2010, 07:29:25 PM: Quote from: Vespertine on October 27, 2010, 02:41:54 PM
You would know! :-D

I'm here to entertain AND inform!
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: Chris on October 28, 2010, 10:32:28 PM: How are you gentleladies all your base are belong to us
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: Wunderkind on October 28, 2010, 10:39:14 PM: I've heard of gentlewomen, but never gentleladies. It's sounds redundant.
Title: Re: Gentlemen, ladies, and . . . gentlewomen???
Post by: 12AX7 on October 30, 2010, 12:48:45 AM: Found a video related to this. It's pretty interesting, if you're interested. Ha.

The History of Political Correctness (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8630135369495797236#)

This also prompts me to ask: Where the hell is ivan?