3 ms·

You somehow managed to be wrong, while calling me out on being wrong... Amazing

dools 4y ago
You said that, as someone living in the UK, the term "scold" has never in your life been used, ever, as "imply[ing] a woman". Well, the page I linked to describes the Scold's Bridal, and links to a modern day crime novel of the same name: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scold%27s_Bridle https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scold%27s_Bridle The use in the article referenced by OP you responded to, ie. "censurious left-wing scolds" was definitely using it in this sense.
- spoiler 4y ago
  I think the use refers to the more contemporary use of the word: a person that has a habit of scolding, which the rest of the articles kinda makes obvious, as it's not talking about gender at all?
  - orwin 4y ago
    I don't like doing this, because i really don't care about this particular discussion, and i'm certainly not a native speaker. I agree with you on this particular post, but i want to add something (and i think you were both uncharitable to each other, which is dumb when talking about linguistics). The term "bitch" is now mostly non-gendered, used against men and women, would you agree? Still, when used in a text ranting about political enemies, and not as an endearing term, don't you have an image of a group of women (blue-haired hippies, or blond-haired Karens depending on your political bias :) )? Or of a feminine man? I'm obviously not an english major and had no idea scold was used primarily for women historically, but being charitable to OP, can't you both have a very different lecture of the word, depending on each other exposition? Be it by age, or even culture.
    - spoiler 4y ago
      > I'm obviously not an english major and had no idea scold was used primarily for women historically, but being charitable to OP, can't you both have a very different lecture of the word, depending on each other exposition? Be it by age, or even culture. That's a fair take, and you're right that I was a bit insensitive in the discussion. It just pushed a personal button of mine, which is all too common these days, and that it is to misrepresenting language as a form of gaslighting or manipulation. It's also unproductive—as this thread demonstrated. Anyway, that's also not an excuse to be an asshole, so I apologise. Edit: not in any way trying to imply the OP intentionally did this, but it's unfortunately all too common when heated subjects are being discussed Regarding language differences: Again you're right, I assumed that meanings didn't diverge (to this degree); they very well might have.

You said that, as someone living in the UK, the term "scold" has never in your life been used, ever, as "imply[ing] a woman". Well, the page I linked to describes the Scold's Bridal, and links to a modern day crime novel of the same name: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scold%27s_Bridle https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scold%27s_Bridle The use in the article referenced by OP you responded to, ie. "censurious left-wing scolds" was definitely using it in this sense.

spoiler 4y ago
I think the use refers to the more contemporary use of the word: a person that has a habit of scolding, which the rest of the articles kinda makes obvious, as it's not talking about gender at all?
- orwin 4y ago
  I don't like doing this, because i really don't care about this particular discussion, and i'm certainly not a native speaker. I agree with you on this particular post, but i want to add something (and i think you were both uncharitable to each other, which is dumb when talking about linguistics). The term "bitch" is now mostly non-gendered, used against men and women, would you agree? Still, when used in a text ranting about political enemies, and not as an endearing term, don't you have an image of a group of women (blue-haired hippies, or blond-haired Karens depending on your political bias :) )? Or of a feminine man? I'm obviously not an english major and had no idea scold was used primarily for women historically, but being charitable to OP, can't you both have a very different lecture of the word, depending on each other exposition? Be it by age, or even culture.
  - spoiler 4y ago
    > I'm obviously not an english major and had no idea scold was used primarily for women historically, but being charitable to OP, can't you both have a very different lecture of the word, depending on each other exposition? Be it by age, or even culture. That's a fair take, and you're right that I was a bit insensitive in the discussion. It just pushed a personal button of mine, which is all too common these days, and that it is to misrepresenting language as a form of gaslighting or manipulation. It's also unproductive—as this thread demonstrated. Anyway, that's also not an excuse to be an asshole, so I apologise. Edit: not in any way trying to imply the OP intentionally did this, but it's unfortunately all too common when heated subjects are being discussed Regarding language differences: Again you're right, I assumed that meanings didn't diverge (to this degree); they very well might have.