ear piercing

[Anonymous]

What is a WASP?

[Anonymous]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestant


The term WASP has many meanings. In sociology it reflects that segment of the U.S. population that founded the nation and traced their heritages to ... Western Europe... The term has largely negative connotations... Today... less than 25 percent of the U.S. population [is WASP]. Nevertheless they continue to... have disproportionate influence over... American institutions. The term... has become more inclusive. To many people, WASP now include most 'white' people who are not... members of any minority group (William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005, Society in Focus).[1]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a WASP?

White Anglo Saxon Protestant - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestant

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestant


The term WASP has many meanings. In sociology it reflects that segment of the U.S. population that founded the nation and traced their heritages to ... Western Europe... The term has largely negative connotations... Today... less than 25 percent of the U.S. population [is WASP]. Nevertheless they continue to... have disproportionate influence over... American institutions. The term... has become more inclusive. To many people, WASP now include most 'white' people who are not... members of any minority group (William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005, Society in Focus).[1]

Never had an inkling that WASP had a negative connotation. If I called a white person, "Damn Wasp" I don't think he'd get piping mad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestant


The term WASP has many meanings. In sociology it reflects that segment of the U.S. population that founded the nation and traced their heritages to ... Western Europe... The term has largely negative connotations... Today... less than 25 percent of the U.S. population [is WASP]. Nevertheless they continue to... have disproportionate influence over... American institutions. The term... has become more inclusive. To many people, WASP now include most 'white' people who are not... members of any minority group (William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005, Society in Focus).[1]

Never had an inkling that WASP had a negative connotation. If I called a white person, "Damn Wasp" I don't think he'd get piping mad.

Yeah, it doesn't. Some people may wish it did but realistically , it doesn't. Noone would be offend if you called them a WASP. They may not be a WASP but it wouldn't offend anyone. If you want to offend a WASP, there are much better ways to do it, like piercing your daughters ears !

[Anonymous]

"Yeah, it doesn't. Some people may wish it did but realistically , it doesn't. Noone would be offend if you called them a WASP. They may not be a WASP but it wouldn't offend anyone. If you want to offend a WASP, there are much better ways to do it, like piercing your daughters ears ! "

Like any of these situations, the group that has traditionally been in power is usually less sensitive to the pejorative use of terms like these -- because it doesn't matter, they are in power -- so what's a little slang now and then? (Which is why it's not the same when those people say-- "I don't mind being called 'so and so,' so why should other people care if I call them 'a different version of so and so.' Isn't it all equal?")

I say this as an upper-middle-class educated WASP (even raised Episcopalian!) who by accident of birth gets all the privilege points except for those gender points. This country has gotten much better but it still ain't a level playing field!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"Yeah, it doesn't. Some people may wish it did but realistically , it doesn't. Noone would be offend if you called them a WASP. They may not be a WASP but it wouldn't offend anyone. If you want to offend a WASP, there are much better ways to do it, like piercing your daughters ears ! "

Like any of these situations, the group that has traditionally been in power is usually less sensitive to the pejorative use of terms like these -- because it doesn't matter, they are in power -- so what's a little slang now and then? (Which is why it's not the same when those people say-- "I don't mind being called 'so and so,' so why should other people care if I call them 'a different version of so and so.' Isn't it all equal?")

I say this as an upper-middle-class educated WASP (even raised Episcopalian!) who by accident of birth gets all the privilege points except for those gender points. This country has gotten much better but it still ain't a level playing field!

You articulated it very well. The group (white male in particular) in power doesn't give a BFD and cannot understand why people of color and women cannot have a better sense of humor and lighten up.

[Anonymous]

OMG, this is the most ridiculous thread I've yet to see on this board . . . I mean really. There are two, tiny little holes that don't really hurt when made (and anyone who says it does is . . . .well, let's just say I wouldn't believe them). The noise of the piercing tool is more jarring than the actual piercing. (I had mine pierced when I was very young, but young enough to remember.)
As one of the other posters said, it is not like you're cutting off part of the ear. And, if they truly don't like it when they are older (something I have never known to occur in any of my family or friends-ALL of whom have their ears pierced), they can simply let the holes close.

I don't understand the harsh reactions on this. And, many of you are simply being ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I pierced my belly button when I was 18.....NOW THAT WAS RIDICULOUS MUTILATION!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pierced my belly button when I was 18.....NOW THAT WAS RIDICULOUS MUTILATION!

oh my god your mother should be ashamed of raising such a self-mutilating girl!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG, this is the most ridiculous thread I've yet to see on this board . . .

No, the most ridiculous one is the etiquette one related to guests writing their own addresses on envelopes for the Thank You cards to be sent to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestant


The term WASP has many meanings. In sociology it reflects that segment of the U.S. population that founded the nation and traced their heritages to ... Western Europe... The term has largely negative connotations... Today... less than 25 percent of the U.S. population [is WASP]. Nevertheless they continue to... have disproportionate influence over... American institutions. The term... has become more inclusive. To many people, WASP now include most 'white' people who are not... members of any minority group (William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005, Society in Focus).[1]

Never had an inkling that WASP had a negative connotation. If I called a white person, "Damn Wasp" I don't think he'd get piping mad.

Yeah, it doesn't. Some people may wish it did but realistically , it doesn't. Noone would be offend if you called them a WASP. They may not be a WASP but it wouldn't offend anyone. If you want to offend a WASP, there are much better ways to do it, like piercing your daughters ears !

The term Immigrant should not have a negative connotation either. But when it is used by WASPs, it frequently does. How's that work?

[Anonymous]

Well, even WASPs have an "immigrant" somewhere in their distant past, they just came over on the Mayflower or allow the DAR membership.

I don't think there is any way to make the plain word "immigrant" deregatory. You have to put an adjective in front of it like "dirty" or "poor" or "ignorant." and those words are deregatory regardless of which person or group they are attached to.

[Anonymous]

PP:

Well, 08/19/2008 19:18 managed to pull it off. She even made sure that we know poor and immigrant are not the same. Still, either is an association sufficient to earn the disdain of the WASP, in her opinion.