(11-06-2015, 04:08 AM)Verad Wrote:It's not the education I disagree with, and I view "sex worker" as a very good umbrella term.Â(11-06-2015, 04:05 AM)McBeefâ„¢ Wrote: Yes, and the vast majority.Â
VAST
View prostitute as a non offensive descriptor. For many, it's the only non offensive way to describe someone who has sex for money that they know.Â
Thus, my argument from the start that this is not a slur. Because almost no one views or understands it as such.
And now they know another one. Is this one less effective somehow? Or are we appealing to linguistic tradition?
I also agree that "prostitute" is not that good of a word for describing those who have sex for money, as I have said, and as your post so eloquently states, it is a general term for any who sell themselves and their talents for base profit.Â
However!
I do not think, as the OP of this thread suggests, that is is a slur, or generally used with ill intent. I do think Pkthunda has the right to have herself referred to with whatever words she wants, and I'd never call someone a word or phrase they find offensive.
I also do not think the opinion of a small minority is enough to suddenly make a word universally offensive. So while I won't call anyone who ascribes to the opinion that "Prostitute" is offensive, a prostitute, I also won't view the word as a slur, and will continue to use it when I feel it is the most appropriate word to use in a situation.