Comments on: From Shrill, To Imbecile

By: Sharon Cobb

Sharon Cobb — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:11:58 +0000

I blogged about this this morning.

I hope I found the right words, because I think it’s important for people to realize the difference between feminists and what TGW is calling feminism.

By: Southern Beale

Southern Beale — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:42:22 +0000

I deleted TGW from my blogroll a long time ago. Yes, there was misogyny in the campaign, especially from the media (those Hillary Clinton “nutrcrackers” peddled by the right are beyond offensive). But it’s not the Democratic Party’s fault, and helping elect McSame hardly furthers the interests of women voters. McSame has received a 0 rating from Planned Parenthood every year he’s been in the Senate.

TGW, Corrente and the other angry Hillary supporters need a major reality check.

By: LeftWingCracker

LeftWingCracker — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:21:11 +0000

Aunt B, as always, you have broken new ground here.

I agree that the media, Matthews and Russert at MSNBC and the Faux News crew were vicious to her and sexist beyond the pale. I guess she was a threat to their penises, not that anyone cares about their penises any more.

I just wish that the TGW folks could understand that one could oppose Hillary on policy grounds. Hillary made several mistakes in judgment that led to her defeat.

By: sleepy

sleepy — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:17:43 +0000

TGW has taken down the title “fighting the radical right” and replaced it with “fighting sexism”.

I guess her McCain supporters/bloggers insisted.

By: jim voorhies

jim voorhies — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:54:40 +0000

When slinging words reaches the point that it feels to a reader almost as if verbal acid was being slung, there is a lack of appropriate non-sexually connotative words available. I used strident (after once hearing Aunt B. mention the negative perception of “shrill”) but it wasn’t really better. Perhaps Aunt B. could invent another word for this since she’s on a roll with words, so to speak.

By: Aunt B.

Aunt B. — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:44:15 +0000

Heartbreaktown, THANK YOU for the eloquent explanation of why being described as shrill makes me crazy. I mean, I have big boobs. I’d rather not be dismissed as being titsy, as if it’s a quality I can do anything about.

And, if titsy isn’t already a word, I claim copyright on it, right now.

By: democommie

democommie — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:14:59 +0000

To all and sundry:

I do not intend by my comments to say that there wasn’t rife sexism in the comments of the MSM and others who were denigrating Hillary Clinton. And, I certainly don’t say it’s right.

Ms. Clinton is as hard as nails when she needs to be. At present, it appears that she is intent on forcing some concession (the VP slot) from Mr. Obama by continuing to campaign, even though it appears that Obama has garnered enough votes to become the “presumptive” nominee. She is determined, cagy and a very hard worker. All of those are laudable traits. She is also, it would appear, unable to read the tea leaves and unconcerned with the welfare of the party as a whole, as long as she gets what she wants.

Wha was done by the MSM to Hillary Clinton, during the campaign was despicable. What she is doing at present is, to be charitable, counter-productive.

“Shrill” is a quality of sound/manner. It’s not restricted to women althought some might see it that way.

By: heartbreaktown

heartbreaktown — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:01:18 +0000

Okay – just checking.

By: Mr. Mack

Mr. Mack — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:50:11 +0000

Well, yes, we have actually participated in “blogging” seminars together. But IMO, females do not get to own the word shrill. I use the word when the writing style and words used are unpleasant to the point of being near-painful. I’ve used it to describe a man’s writing before.

The list is a bit long, of words that we men use at our peril:

Hysterical
Cute
whiny
etc.

Words matter, sure. Context and intent matter as well.

By: heartbreaktown

heartbreaktown — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:34:33 +0000

Honestly, I’m obtuse enough that I didn’t use the word “shrill” in relation to your title. I actually forgot your title by the time I finished my post. duhh.

But now that I’ve noticed I have to wonder – have heard that Egalia person speak? Do you know the sound of her voice? I don’t know, maybe you do. Or were you using the word shrill because she’s voicing her opinion forcefully or because she’s female or because you don’t agree with her. It seems to me using the word “shrill” is a way to discredit her opinion by making her sound ‘hysterical’ as opposed to just angry – or to emphasize she’s a woman and may have a higher voice than a mans.

If people are wondering or confused about whether sexism played a part, an important part, of the coverage Sen. Clinton received, we should examine our own language and the words we choose to describe things.

You choose to write a blog – you choose to write about important issues – we must acknowledge that words are powerful.