Pervscan kicks off 2008 with a look at how the news media uses “pervert” to describe various sexual behaviors … and concludes that pervert has started to mean pedophile, almost to the exclusion of all else.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Because so many sexual behaviors that used to be considered perverted – in public discourse, if not in private – are no longer considered so, thanks to the internet, and that’s pretty cool.
I just now thought I might save my observations for a column since I have some strong opinions on this topic.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Xylitol // Jan 2, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Interesting. I may have to change my language use a bit, among most I talk to “pervert” is kind of a reclaimed term, i.e. anyone practicing or into slightly non-mainstream sex (whatever that might be at a given time). To me it feels like a fairly neutral term in and of itself, a good or a bad thing depending on the situation. Sort of the opposite of vanilla or reserved, someone who would at the very least not be offended by things they have to make up strange euphemisms to talk about on broadcast networks and might even be into them or willing to find out if they are.
Might have to take more care in proudly proclaiming pervertedness.
2 regina lynn // Jan 10, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Exactly!