What's a good substitute for "whore"?

[Prism]

17. All good

Your post had me wondering. Is this a generational thing? I did not grow up in a culture that had whore being a gendered insult. It has always meant to mean someone, of either gender, willing to sell themselves out for money or favor. I'm 36, and I've always seen males called whores in various ways.

When DU gets het up about whore as a gender slur, I genuinely look at it as if an alien ship has landed. "Who on earth thinks this is a gender specific slur?" because it never has been in my experience. I think most people would be hard-pressed to find a colloquial usage, outside of actual sex trade, that is gender specific.

So my question is, is this actually a problem, or is this a demographic difference based on language evolution? And I'm not exactly champing at the bit to use that word. But it's created this ruckus, so I'm curious. I honestly, earnestly, do not know anyone who would care.