How and Where We Use Words

TW: Profanity

I’m not sure if anyone has noticed, but it’s been a while since I’ve written here. I’ve been considering shutting down the blog completely, but when the bill came to renew the domain, I decided I still want a place to air my grievances and wax poetic where I don’t have to hold back.

I am feeling a bit constrained because I am now actively pursuing a goal of replacing Maggits with decent human beings, and the things I say and how I say them in a public forum can, possibly, do more harm than good.

So I need a space where I can say “Wake the Fuck Up!” Even if I’m only saying it to a small handful of other woke folks.

I was watching MSNBC when this graphic appeared:

The speaker (no idea if he was a reporter, analyst, or whatever) said we need to start speaking like regular people and stop using these words and phrases.

How am I supposed to not say or write about LGBTQIA+?  Look at how many other items on this list are about me and my community too: Cisgender, Heteronormative, Patriarchy.

What are we supposed to say instead? I do tend to use queer more than the alphabet, but is that what he meant? It didn’t feel like it. It felt like he was saying we have to stop talking about the gays.

WTF?

Unsurprisingly, the analyst did not provide the answer to that question. Telling us to stop using these words without providing different words implies we should stop talking about these subjects. That is not acceptable.

Recently, I’ve also been hearing a lot about how we need to learn how to talk to men. Last week at our first informal party gathering, one woman said we are scaring the men and another woman agreed with her. Both were older white women.

Again I ask WTF?

When are men going to stop being snowflakes and stop centering themselves? And when are women going to stop coddling and centering them? I know I’m sounding like a man-hating feminist harpy but goddamn!

If the men in our county wanted things to be run a certain way, then why didn’t they step up at the convention for an officer position? Why haven’t they volunteered to chair a committee? Or organize an event? Or contribute to the newsletter? Argh!

It makes me so angry and frustrated, which makes me cry, which makes me even angrier. Stop the madness!

It must sound like I regret getting involved in local politics. I do not. I am thoroughly enjoying the work, even though it sometimes exasperates me. It’s filling me with a sense of purpose—that I’m doing something to protect my family and friends. I also get to use some of my skills and talents, which is gratifying.

I am also doing a lot more work than I anticipated. It feels a bit like I’m working full-time again, which I’m pretty sure Tennessee is not very happy about, but she likes that I feel good about it. And she says she’s proud of me, which fills me with joy. Can’t ask for more than that.

I hope y’all are finding ways to experience joy during these scary times. Take care, my friends.