Please add any responses, reflections, or additional commentary to today’s provocative discussion, and don’t hesitate to engage with each other.

5 Responses to Please add any responses, reflections, or additional commentary to today’s provocative discussion, and don’t hesitate to engage with each other.

1. Ngoc Nguyen (Angie) says:

   February 14, 2012 at 12:29 am

   I think today class’s discussion was interesting.Truly,”slut” is still “new” to me. It is kind of confusing to translate into Vietnamese due to the fact that I have never thought or used this word before. I think “di” should be better to describe “slut” in Vietnamese rather than “diem” based on receiving money or not.However, barely we say these words since in our culture, we take swearing or using bad words really really serious. These two words are extremely offensive and are listed into the top of the bad words (to me) to call a woman. There is a case that I think when most Vietnamese use this word, “slut.” If a woman sleep with someone else’s husband, and she get caught; then, the wife will definitely call her as a “slut.” Again, this word is taken really serious in Vietnam; we never joke using this word.

   The U.S. does have lots of slangs that I have to keep on updating.
   Today, I learned more slangs though.

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2. Tram says:

   February 14, 2012 at 11:52 am

   This kind of topic is usually not brought out to discuss in a class in Vietnam because it’s a very sensitive topic for Vietnamese professors and students to talk about. So, that was my very first experience and I thought it was interesting to know people’s opinions about a bad word. I just wonder if there is any bad word to call a man a “beep”. When a man has affairs, mostly people think he has “experiences” or he’s a “strong” man. Even in some cultures, they accept the fact that a man can have many wives he wants. That’s what I concerned about after the discussion in class.

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3. Cinthia Garza says:

   February 14, 2012 at 1:50 pm

   Today’s discussion had me forming my own new thoughts about some things. First off, in reference to the “n-word”, (which I don’t ever see the point of using in my language to begin with) I’d like to say that we should be realistic about it, it is impossible for a group of people to claim a word and tell other races they can’t use it because it’s their word. We’re a huge mixture of cultures, and words and ideas are going to be passed around whether we like it or not. An example is through music, which is universal. I’m not saying it is okay for people of different races to use the n-word, I’m just saying, let’s be realistic, there’s always that bonehead who is ignorant and proud and doesn’t care. Since people won’t always think, before they speak, sadly,we just have to try and educate those that are willing to listen.

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4. Joshua Edwards says:

   February 14, 2012 at 4:31 pm

   I agree with Cinthia. If more people actually did think before they spoke, i believe people would not get offended as often, and there may be more class in the way we communicate. However, that is not the case. I thought the discussion in class was interesting. We covered many topics, but pretty much held to one theme. It was cool to see how the majority of the class felt that “slut” can be used in a variety of ways, but as we got into other words and topics, the speakers were fewer and thought narrower. Then we always got back to defining a “slut.” Really, even those in our class that claim the “n” word said that even if people mean well, it doesn’t come off that way if they are not of African-American descent. The thing is that one bad thing ruins multiple good things. No matter how much comedians use the word, or how much we hear it in mainstream music, the one time somebody uses it inappropriately, people (especially those offended by it) recognize the bad connotation and it puts a bad taste in their mouth. I was thinking yesterday, another word that used to have more power that we throw around now is “bitch.” In a certain context, it is still insulting or inappropriate; but most of the time, it is not even recognized as a cuss word these days. So anyways, those are some of my thoughts on the interesting discussion we had in class. I did really enjoy hearing a lot of what was said in our class discussion.

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5. Tommy Marquez says:

   February 15, 2012 at 2:40 pm

   I had a great time in our class discussion. First of all I enjoyed that everyone had different opinions but did not trample on other peoples thought or opinions. Being respectful with each other is a important thing when we are having those types of discussions.
   In regards to what Cinthia wrote in the blog, I could not agree more. You did a great job of articulating your argument intelligently. I specifically agree with the point that we are indeed a melting pot, and having someone or some group come out and say I can’t use a word because it’s there’s is ludicrous to me.
   However it is so funny to me that we use to sy “sticks and stones might break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” but those words do hurt!

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