Posted by lucky_1 on Thu 24 Jan 08, 3:19 PM to lucky_1's blog.
We have had quite a heated debate over on the boards about National Fetish Day and Perverts Wear Purple.
Now my point of view an this is quite simple. National Fetish Day? Yep, good idea, more power to the elbows of those who wish to devote time their time to making such a thing happen. After all raising the idea that "normal" people do these things is exactly the kind of publicity we could all benefit from. Yes, doctors, nurses, accountants, media people, teachers, lawyers, postmen (and ladies) lorry drivers, computer programmers, soldiers, authors, mums and dads....... all normal and contributing members of society, yes, we do these things because it makes us happy and harms no one. We are consenting adults and quite capable of making those decisions thank you very much. So anything that points out to the general populace that this is actually more normal than you think it might be. All good as far as I'm concerned.
"Perverts wear Purple" Much as I understand that the driver was to find a catchy slogan it spelled out exactly the opposite message to the one I talked about at the start of this blog. Perverts are paedophiles, perverts are to be found skulking around the edges of playgrounds. Perverts are the very kind of people you would never allow near your kids. As a keen photographer there has been a lot of debate in the photographic press about taking pictures in public. Several photographers have been confronted, some have had cameras confiscated by Police on the basis that someone accused them of being a "pervert" and a "paedo" for taking quite innocent photos in public. I've been told that I could not photograph a public ice rink that was open air and in the centre of town simply because there were children present even though you could not see them on the pics that I took. It was not against the law to take those pics but the general public, thanks mainly to the hysterical press, now believes that anyone present with a camera must be a "paedo"
So why on earth do I want to wear purple and identify myself as a pervert? Yes, I have an alternative sexuality and I would support any initiative to educate people on alternative sexualities, but call myself a pervert? Not in a month of Sundays! Perverts are "paedos" "child molesters" and people that should be firebombed and stoned out of their communities. People on the sex offenders register and released and tagged paedophiles have been attacked in their communities. Those are the people who are identified as "perverts" Why on earth would I choose to identify myself with that?
Now the word "pervert" has meaning within the wider BDSM community. If my friends at Nemesis were to call me that then, yes, I would probably just smile at them. It is not meant to be insulting and it would not be taken as such. At home if capi or J call me a "filthy bitch" and a "pervert" then yes, I'm fine with that. But in public or my working environment where the meaning is more than just a gentle bit of fun and understood as such? Not a chance in hell! It is the context in which the word is used and more importantly understood that means that I will never wear purple.
| 24 Jan 08, 3:21 PM Kinky_Embrace UK(DL), 4 yrs   |
I agree - Deviants wear Damson would've been much more appealing!!
Don't judge me until you've walked a mile in my shoes, and I shan't judge you! | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 3:39 PM Backdooruk UK(BA), 12 yrs |
I can't speak for your experience of the word of course, but in the everyday vanilla situations (including work) which I'm familiar with 'pervert' is used in a light hearted way all the time, much more so than it is used pejoratively in tabloid headlines. It would never occur to me that it automatically meant something bad. As I said elsewhere, if someone throws a rock at me it hurts, if I pick up that rock myself they can no longer hurt me. - Chris "Things aren't clear, they're just transparent | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 4:33 PM illuminati UK(PH), 6 yrs |
I can see where you're coming from with the ice rink issue...and it truely saddens me. If I take my camera out and about with me in a town environment, I'll usually never photograph people in general because I'm too nervous about someone objecting to it...and as I use 35mm film, unlike a digital I can't just erase the pic there and then. We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop? | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 5:14 PM kisses_for_me UK, 5 yrs |
Unfortunately the word pervert is not a rock, it is a handful of gravel, a piece labeled sub, a piece labled sadist, a piece labelled rubberist, a piece labelled foot worshiper, etc etc, unfortunately amongst all that grey gravel is a flourescent pink piece labeled kiddy fiddler. The hard bit is convincing them you didnt pick up the pink piece that is most noticeable.
Almost a year of heaven | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 6:28 PM just_tope 6 yrs |
It's an odd one. And I'm glad that most of the debate has now died down as I honestly think that it was an unintentional faux pas that only snowballed into a furor after the point of retraction. HOWEVER.
I was talking about something similar at work recently. The guys at work often "perv" over the ladies wondering around site. They don't see the word perv as negative, but they do see that there are negative connotations for the word pervert. It's a very blurry line. They would not want (as vanillas) to be labelled perverts, but are happy to be known as pervers (see what I mean about blurry lines?). Anyway. If we're not careful we're going to end up with Kinksters wear Khaki which would mean tope in taupe (god forbid!) Edited: cos I can't speil!
To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. Edited 24 Jan 08, 6:48 PM by just_tope | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 6:47 PM lucky_1 7 yrs |
So they think it is Ok as a verb as in "to perve" but not as an adjective i.e. a pervert. Interesting use of words and just goes to show just how awkward the use of our rather clumsy language can be.
I'm in my own world. It's Ok, they know me here. Edited 24 Jan 08, 6:48 PM by lucky_1 | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 7:11 PM Sweetiejar UK(S), 11 yrs |
I absolutely agree with you lucky, I wouldnt call myself a pervert either. It is, as you say, a word with decidedly unpleasant connotations for the wider public and most importantly its not how I see myself or the people I call friends. Sweetiejar | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 7:59 PM SnowdropExplodes UK(TN), 7 yrs |
I'm someone who usually makes all the negative connections with the word pervert, but in the context of the "perverts wear purple" debate, I came down to thinking it was okay., because there is that light-hearted "ooh, you are awful!", Carry On film style connotation that sometimes is perceived in the 'nilla world, and if any sort of slogan and event was going to make that sort of connection rather than the evilsickness connection, then the "Perverts Weasr Purple" National Fetish Day thing was going to be it. Deviants wear Damson sounds like a great slogan for next year, though! Ta, SnowdropExplodes | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 8:36 PM who_is_the_wolf UK(CT), 5 yrs |
I have to agree with Chris on this. You can make almost any comment mean any thing you wish it to, if you read what you wish into it, I am sure the press could make up what they like. Ok so this year was the first and if you did not like the slogan fine. Next year we might be able to support a new slogan. However I feel if it's such a bid deal come up with a solution. Me I was wearing Purple at work (and that is a big deal for me) I was proud to be a purple wearing pervert for the day and I when to Brighton to show my support also. I am a perv OK, think what you like. The word like I say means what you want it to mean. Every one I have mentioned it to have not seen it in any other way than kinky. Not the slightest mention of it being sleazy, horrid or child related. Not a hint even. Next year I will put my support forward again and do what I can to support this cause. Oh by the way just to through a curve ball in. The Suffragettes used purple to signify dignity, good job too. Take care all Ice Wolf Devour the heart before tearing at skin; this Wolf is hungry! | ||
| 24 Jan 08, 11:52 PM mq1965 UK(DA), 8 yrs |
I've tried to avoid getting involved in the 'pervert' debate, but I have to say I am with Chris on this one. I really don't think the general public do have the sort of automatic negative view of the word pervert that the 'antis' fear. Personally if it were up to me I would stick with the Perverts Wear Purple slogan, because I think it is still a far better slogan than any of the alternatives that have been suggested, and purple is an ideal colour to use for the day. I wouldn't risk changing it for the slight risk of a negative impression, and I don't think that the publicity we did get was particularly negative or focused on the word pervert. However having said all that I do feel that the argument that has gone on has showed how deeply divisive the word is, and I don't think the argument will be successfully resolved. For that reason I think an alternative slogan needs to be thought up, though I think we will be very lucky to find one that is as concise and likely to catch on as PWP. |
