Poll: the word "chick"?

[zombiejoe]

I don't really use it that much...who does anymore?

It sounds weird to me. But I don't have a problem with it.



But I do love Chicks Galore

[img/]http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090523150425/ed/images/thumb/3/39/Chiskc.jpg/185px-Chiskc.jpg[/img]

 

[lettucethesallad]

I'm a girl, and I say chick all the time. I don't see the offensive part about it. Much like being called 'bird' in the UK - not a biggie.

 

[DragonsAteMyMarbles]

Given that the word isn't usually used to refer to those of the human race with two X-chromosomes around where I grew up, I don't use it.

I usually use "girl" (or, if I've been drinking, "ladygirl") when referring to females of my age group or younger - because the ones I know are almost invariably students, so the inherent implications of immaturityYay alliteration! do have some truth to them.


"Woman", to me, implies a degree of maturity and adultness (as does "man" - you'd never catch me referring to myself as anything other than "bloke", "guy" or "shortarse"), so I usually use it to refer to females in their thirties or older.
"Lady" just gets me punched for being a patronising arsebag.

 

[warprincenataku]

I prefer to use the word, 'bird' when refering to people of the opposite sex.

 

[jamesworkshop]

I have no opinion on the word it's simply not part of my social groups vocab, and Bird is a more british term than chick(s)

 

[neoontime]

Well, It's pretty much just the "dude" version of a girl so I don't see how it's offensive.

 

[Con Carne]

I never knew chick was offensive. I say it frequently and no one cares. I also use broad.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Women are not chicks. I use the word Chick to refer to my young. Anything else just gets confusing.

<img height=250>http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/earth/naturelibrary/assets/characters/0/9/diary/chick_14_06_10.jpg

*Cheep*

 

[smithy_2045]

What's wrong with calling chicks chicks?

 

[GotMalkAvian]

... Perhaps you could consider them a reasoned opinion and consider why we have an issue with it rather than simply dismissing our concerns...

So, what pronoun would you like to be applied to you? I sense that "dude" probably wouldn't sit well with you. "Human female?" "Person?" You didn't offer any non-offensive suggestions, merely that "girl" and "chick" are unacceptable.
I agree with a lot of what you said about meaning and connotation, but allow me to direct that back at you: What if a term like "chick" is used in a completely affectionate way that in no way is meant to insult a woman's intelligence?
Hell, my fiancee calls me "wookiee." Now, this is referring to a fictional alien, known for being large, shaggy, savage, uncivilized, tree-dwelling, and communicating entirely through grunts and roars. Not exactly a noble list of traits. Under certain circumstances, it would be entirely reasonable to be offended by this. However, since she uses the term as an affectionate nickname, I take no issue with it.
Sometimes, words get divorced from their original meanings and take on new meanings over time. Hell, how many of us label ourselves as "geeks" these days?

 

[Hashime]

I use it if the formality of the word fits into that social situation. Normally I just refer to everyone by name though.

 

[Bohemian Waltz]

Call me whatever you want. Anything. Don't care.

I shall now only refer to you as whorey mcslut *****.

Go ahead.

Anyone that lets someone's words offend them is plain stupid. Why would you care what a stranger that obviously dislikes you has to say about you?

I agree with you entirely, but I just wanted to establish my new found nickname for you before doing it at any other point. Otherwise it might come off as horribly uncouth and out of place.

Sound good to you whorey mcslut *****?

 

[Okuu_Fusion]

I use it... But only when referring to women I don't know...

 

[VanillaBean]

Never saw the problem with using the word, but I don't ussually use it in formal settings.

 

[Dystopia]

I'm a chick

 

[Geekosaurus]

Don't you just hate it when polls have very limit answers? I don't want to select any of those. I don't use the word but I don't see any issue with the word - it's slang after all.

 

[Shade184]

I call girls "chicks", and I call guys "dudes" or "blokes". Or, y'know, "guys". "And I call both genders "mate" (yes, Aussie here), although that's more of a second-person term than the third person terms we're talking about here. "Chick"'s just a word taken from the Spanish "chica", or "girl". Don't see anything wrong with that.

 

[Slash Dementia]

I never use it, and I have nothing against people who do.

 

[Sn1P3r M98]

I don't use it, but I don't mind when other people use it.

 

[Cyberjester]

I don't use it, but then I try not to use pop language. It's.. Well some ladies will find it offensive, but I simply dislike using "stupid" words or misusing words. Like gay for homosexual, chick for lady, etc. My brain hates it.

Am I the only person who uses the term "gal" or "gals"? I don't like using chick, and girl doesn't sit well with me, so I refer to them as gals.

Nope, welcome to the club of two.

"Gal" is just old style shorthand for "girl", which in itself may be offensive.. But old style dude, it's awesome. lol