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What happened to the Hermaphrodites???
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<blockquote data-quote="Dire Bare" data-source="post: 7123094" data-attributes="member: 18182"><p>Not what is happening here. </p><p></p><p>Words change meaning all the time. In my first post, I expressed surprise that hermaphrodite is an offensive term, but I learned something today. Hermaphrodite IS an offensive term. It wasn't, originally. But there are TONS of words that in the past, were not considered offensive. And then usually, some folks started using those words derogatorily to demean others, and they became offensive.</p><p></p><p>I'm a teacher, and I'm constantly on my students to stop using the word "gay" in a derogatory fashion ("That's so gay!"). And when they respond, "But, Mr. Dire Bare, gay means 'happy'!", I let loose with both barrels. Gay used to mean "happy", and in the right context, can still simply mean "happy", but that isn't how it's usually used today, certainly not how they are using it.</p><p></p><p>Words change meaning all the time. Words that once were inoffensive, can become offensive. People who don't understand that are not WotC's problem. If you choose to use the word "hermaphrodite" after learning that it's meaning has shifted to being offensive, then you are being stubborn at best, and a tool at worst.</p><p></p><p>For some reason, in my prior posts I felt the need to "hold onto" the word hermaphrodite when it comes to good old Corellon. I was being stubborn. That's not who I want to be, so I'm dropping the use of it. I'll simply use "androgynous" and the more poetic description from the 1E Deities & Demigods. If I need to get more technical, which I doubt I'll need to, I'll use the term intersex, and then have to explain what that means to my players (which is okay).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dire Bare, post: 7123094, member: 18182"] Not what is happening here. Words change meaning all the time. In my first post, I expressed surprise that hermaphrodite is an offensive term, but I learned something today. Hermaphrodite IS an offensive term. It wasn't, originally. But there are TONS of words that in the past, were not considered offensive. And then usually, some folks started using those words derogatorily to demean others, and they became offensive. I'm a teacher, and I'm constantly on my students to stop using the word "gay" in a derogatory fashion ("That's so gay!"). And when they respond, "But, Mr. Dire Bare, gay means 'happy'!", I let loose with both barrels. Gay used to mean "happy", and in the right context, can still simply mean "happy", but that isn't how it's usually used today, certainly not how they are using it. Words change meaning all the time. Words that once were inoffensive, can become offensive. People who don't understand that are not WotC's problem. If you choose to use the word "hermaphrodite" after learning that it's meaning has shifted to being offensive, then you are being stubborn at best, and a tool at worst. For some reason, in my prior posts I felt the need to "hold onto" the word hermaphrodite when it comes to good old Corellon. I was being stubborn. That's not who I want to be, so I'm dropping the use of it. I'll simply use "androgynous" and the more poetic description from the 1E Deities & Demigods. If I need to get more technical, which I doubt I'll need to, I'll use the term intersex, and then have to explain what that means to my players (which is okay). [/QUOTE]
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What happened to the Hermaphrodites???
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