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NYC May Ban the 'B-Word'

City council wants to nix 'bitch' from New Yorkers' vocab

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Aug 7, 2007 3:38 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The "N-word" was the first to go, earlier this year, and now New York's city council wants to impose a citywide symbolic ban on another dirty word: bitch. The councilwoman who jump-started the initiative calls the slur "a vile attack on our womanhood," but plenty of New Yorkers disagree. It all depends on context, the Times reports.

"Bitch" technically refers to a female dog, but the dictionary says it's no longer "in decent use." The council is looking to nix it along with another hip-hop librettist favorite, "ho." One stand-up comic says a real ban would keep her from working: "You may as well just say to me, don't even use the word 'the.'"

B-Word defenders such as Village Voice columnist Michael Musto dismiss the symbolic legislation as absurd. %u201CHalf my conversation would be gone.
B-Word defenders such as Village Voice columnist Michael Musto dismiss the symbolic legislation as absurd. %u201CHalf my conversation would be gone."   (David Shankbone; Wikimedia Commons)
The B-Word ban comes shortly after a similar symbolic ban on the N-Word in February 2007, and carries similar connotations regarding usage in hip-hop music.
The B-Word ban comes shortly after a similar symbolic ban on the N-Word in February 2007, and carries similar connotations regarding usage in hip-hop music.   (Shutterstock.com)
The controversial term has multiple meanings to multiple people, from the innocuous to the offensive, to the privately endearing.
The controversial term has multiple meanings to multiple people, from the innocuous to the offensive, to the privately endearing.   (Shutterstock.com)
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Someone on the city council has a very interesting iPod
Village Voice

"Where's George Carlin when we need him?"
My Middle name Is Earl

 
New York City • censorship • sexism • profanity • language • bitch

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