Reply #28: So your contention is that all gender specific terms are offensive?

[MajorChode]

Yes, I am aware of this line of reasoning, but I don't think I can subscribe to it. Certainly there are those who believe that terms like "policeman", "mailman", and "forefathers" are patently offensive and discriminatory and should be replaced with the gender neutral terms like "policeperson", "mailperson", and "ancestors", but I don't really think that line of thinking is well entrenched in mainstream thought. I'm also of the opinion that "teat" and "coon" are probably not even within a cab ride of each other in terms of how offensive they are.

All in all I welcome the discussion and am glad you offered your own explanation however begrudgingly.

Cheers!