I read with interest the bitch thread. It seems to have wained now and I just want to interject a few thoughts. First, according to my GF, Bitch means.... Beautiful Intelligent Tenacious Caring Humble Otherwise......... Source: New Webster's Dictionary. Bitch: The female of the dog, wolf, or fox. Hmmm, that doesn't seem like the right meaning....... Bitch, (slang): To complain. Hmmm, that doesn't work either....... Bitch, (Colloq.): An opprobrious term for a woman. BINGO! Opprobrious: Reproachful and contemptuous, shameful. Accordingly, bitch does wholly demean women. Just like nigger demeans African Americans. What about wheelchairs? I have read wheelchair remarks that intended humor, but would be deemed demeaning, to anyone bound by one. There's more. SBN or Shit Bag Newbie is an offensive remark that demeans colostomy patients. Many, myself included, have used that insensitive, derogatory and demeaning  remark. Clearly, I will acknowledge that the crux of the term bitch used in the context was never intended to be demeaning to women. In fact, the poster gave no thought to women. However, just like the SBN term was never the intent of any of us to demean anyone with a colostomy, it does so, just the same. What does demean mean? Demean: To de_base_ or degrade De_base_: To reduce to a lower state, to degrade. Degrade: To lower the moral reputation of, to disgrace. Disgrace: To dishonor, discredit. Dishonor: Loss of honor, to shame, indignity. Indignity:  To affront, contemptuous treatment Affront:  To insult one to the face, abash. Abash: To strike with shame, to excite a consciousness of guilt, inferiority. Inferiority:  A lower state of condition. When we intend to insult or demean someone, serious consideration should be taken as to who else we might be insulting or demeaning. Certainly, it is not anyone's intent to demean, de_base_, degrade, disgrace, dishonor, affront or otherwise abash anyone other than our intended victim. Why do we insult or demean anyone in the first place? More on that later. Purposely demeaning genders or ethnicity's are perhaps indicative of ones own inferiority complex's shining through. IMHO, to demean those collectives that cannot change their condition/plight is especially egregious. i.e. paraplegics, handicapped, the medically or mentality impaired. The latter condition, is why I no longer read/respond to some posters, (who seemingly suffer from psychoses/derangements or otherwise obvious personality disorders) in this NG. Simply put, It's not their fault. The same premise holds true for those who are not among the mainstream of sexual orientation. So the term Fag, Faggot, Queer, Dike, etc. are equally demeaning. I acknowledge that all the aforementioned terms are sometimes used in an endearing manner. Well, maybe not SBN..................... Back to my question as to why we make any type of insulting or demeaning remarks at all, or why many of us use them so frequently in this NG. The answer is simple really, Basketball! Huh????, you're thinking. For further basketball elaboration, please scroll down. Keep scrolling........ Scroll some more.......... A little further........ You're getting closer.......... You're almost there........... Oh, so close now.......... Finally. The answer to the proverbial question This is a basketball forum, and just like in the game itself, any good p_layer_ knows to exploit his/her opponents weakness' over and over and over and over and over and over...... And, if you've gotten this far......... I've just exploited one of yours! Laurance

Hmmm, that doesn't seem like the right meaning....... It is at my house. =) Bitch = female Canus lupus familiaris. Dog = male Canus lupus familiaris Winners bitch = an award at a dog show with championship points awarded, Champion Bitch, I own two. Specials Bitch = (super bitch) a very good champion worth showing after they are champions. I own one retired one. Top ten in her breed US and Canada for 3 years. Brood bitch = produce cute puppies (future champions and pets). Puppy bitch = cuddly and full of potential Bitch slap - never hit a dog or bitch, poor training method... and alpha bitch = me at my house. Hard to insult to a dog breeder with bitch.

bitch. Thanks Laurel I just want you to know that I think you are one of the finest contributors to the a.s.b.n.* newsgroups, and I always enjoy reading your posts and greatly respect your opinions.  I hope you have not found some of the cruder postings as personally offensive another poster has.  After all, this is Usenet and it's not really a safe place for overly sensitive individuals.