General Discussion

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

61. Interesting article here

Thu Jan 10, 2013, 02:50 PM

Jan 2013

http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-01-07/news/how-douchebag-became-everyone-s-favorite-insult/

Anyone with cable television or an Internet hookup knows all too well that this is the dawning of the age of the douchebag. While the term for a feminine hygiene implement traces its history back to 1685, its slang incarnation now proliferates on the airwaves and the Web. Face it: We're surrounded by douchebags.

This comes as no surprise to the nation's linguists. They even have a term for this sort of thing: pejoration. That's when a neutral word takes on a negative meaning. The Oxford English Dictionary traces this process back to 1967, when "douchebag" was a popular epithet for "an unattractive coed"; it has since morphed into "a general term of disparagement, esp. for an unattractive or boring person."

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Is "douchebag" a sexist term when used as an insult? [View all] TygrBright Jan 2013 OP

yes, the politically correct insult is "colostomy bag". unblock Jan 2013 #1

but "colostomy bag" doesn't roll off the tongue. NightWatcher Jan 2013 #12

And if it does, you're kinkier than I ever imagined.... n/t TygrBright Jan 2013 #21

LOL!!!! phleshdef Jan 2013 #45

Colostomy bag is something very different WhoIsNumberNone Jan 2013 #41

uh, unblock Jan 2013 #67

I think it is sort of sexist. LisaLynne Jan 2013 #2

Weird Story... Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #15

Wow, that is a weird (and funny) story. LisaLynne Jan 2013 #16

LOL! OneGrassRoot Jan 2013 #28

That's hilarious! SheilaT Jan 2013 #31

I suppose it depends on your cultural touchstones. MADem Jan 2013 #3

"cultural touchstones" KansDem Jan 2013 #58

I've only ever heard the term used for a man Freddie Jan 2013 #4

Well, that's sort of the point.... TygrBright Jan 2013 #7

Girly boy... loyalsister Jan 2013 #13

I believe 90% of people using those terms don't even know what "douche" means. Nt pkdu Jan 2013 #5

yep relayerbob Jan 2013 #22

same thought here nt Voice for Peace Jan 2013 #29

+1 uponit7771 Jan 2013 #60

exactly abelenkpe Jan 2013 #66

Hahaha, rec'd just because! babylonsister Jan 2013 #6

does anyone douche anymore? BainsBane Jan 2013 #8

yes loyalsister Jan 2013 #9

Every so often I come upon a thread that reminds me once again enough Jan 2013 #10

The real question is whether "douchebass" is an insult... madinmaryland Jan 2013 #11

I heard it on ESPN (I think) the other day. bluedigger Jan 2013 #14

I hear SNAFU on TV news all the time WhoIsNumberNone Jan 2013 #43

Really? bluedigger Jan 2013 #46

I'm happy to say.. sendero Jan 2013 #17

During my tenure as a moderator, I consistently supported removing it. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #18

i never saw it that way but who am i to be the arbiter of definition. dionysus Jan 2013 #19

My intention isn't sexist.. Lokey Jan 2013 #20

THAT'S the one I was trying to think of! "Douche canoe!" TygrBright Jan 2013 #23

Douche is also 'shower' or 'to shower.' BadgerKid Jan 2013 #24

A post-edit window correction: TygrBright Jan 2013 #25

There is no edit window on DU3. Skinner Jan 2013 #26

ooo, learn something new about DU.... LOVE it! TygrBright Jan 2013 #39

Right, otherwise it would be... geardaddy Jan 2013 #71

Yanno, I kinda like that. It sounds splendidly dirty and insulting! TygrBright Jan 2013 #73

Yeah, me too! geardaddy Jan 2013 #84

Why, if we tried, we could turn this thread into a bouche-o-rama! n/t TygrBright Jan 2013 #85

Indeed. geardaddy Jan 2013 #87

I don't know. It's not an expression I ever use. MineralMan Jan 2013 #27

Google Image the term "douchebag" jpak Jan 2013 #30

So...much...orange... Iggo Jan 2013 #34

I use it quite frequently... OneGrassRoot Jan 2013 #32

A douchebag is what you use to squirt tblue Jan 2013 #33

Many years ago on a trip to Paris, SheilaT Jan 2013 #35

I quit watching Jon Stewart because of incessant 'douchebag' insults Dems to Win Jan 2013 #36

This message was self-deleted by its author Ed Suspicious Jan 2013 #54

You mean like "idiot?" Gormy Cuss Jan 2013 #75

All I know is that you're not supposed to douche in the first place. Neoma Jan 2013 #37

You tell 'em! :) polichick Jan 2013 #81

I don't use the term, but I don't find it particularly offensive Orrex Jan 2013 #38

That's a stretch DefenseLawyer Jan 2013 #40

Well, the same thing could be said of the use of "pussy" as an insult. Or "bitch." TygrBright Jan 2013 #44

No argument here DefenseLawyer Jan 2013 #48

I think that "pussy" originally came from the sense of "cat", Art_from_Ark Jan 2013 #83

I'm female and use the term way too often tabbycat31 Jan 2013 #42

No thelordofhell Jan 2013 #47

One of the most epic threads in the history of DU was on this very subject. It's still famous. Arugula Latte Jan 2013 #49

Totally forgot about that one, thank you! n/t TygrBright Jan 2013 #55

You ain't taking my Douchebag away... trumad Jan 2013 #50

Logically, it has to be sexist Brainstormy Jan 2013 #51

Oh yes, they can--it doesn't have to be an internal procedure, you know. MADem Jan 2013 #62

Sorry, personally Brainstormy Jan 2013 #82

What about "douchenozzle"? backscatter712 Jan 2013 #52

I'm not giving up the word. backscatter712 Jan 2013 #53

Someone mentioned the term idiot as a synonym. It's more nuanced than idiot. Ed Suspicious Jan 2013 #56

I prefer the term "hot-water bottle." TheManInTheMac Jan 2013 #57

Yes. The insult is thrown at males ... Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #59

Interesting article here gollygee Jan 2013 #61

Yes. I believe calling anyone a douche-anything is sexist. In_The_Wind Jan 2013 #63

i prefer douchenozzle or doucherocket spanone Jan 2013 #64

This has been discussed a few hundred times before. Quantess Jan 2013 #65

Let's use 'asshole' edbermac Jan 2013 #68

It doesn't bother me libodem Jan 2013 #69

What a counter point. Brilliant. MissMarple Jan 2013 #70

Yes, but it is grand-fathered cthulu2016 Jan 2013 #72

Yes it is and I personally find it offensive. nt Raine Jan 2013 #74

Well consider the product. The empressof all Jan 2013 #76

As someone who has to douche here and there.... LOL, no. I'm okay with it. nt cecilfirefox Jan 2013 #77

Yes, its totally sexist but sexism is not against the rules on DU. undeterred Jan 2013 #78

Personally, I think we've got better things to do with our time than play word-nanny. backscatter712 Jan 2013 #79

Two things TroglodyteScholar Jan 2013 #80

Are we really arguing about whether "douchebag" is okay??? Bake Jan 2013 #86

You call THIS an "argument?" Seriously? TygrBright Jan 2013 #88

So now I have to worry about whether "douchebag" is sexist? Bake Jan 2013 #89