Can we stop with the balls references already?

[4stringfarley]

This thread will be locked soon. But first,
My tone is really all treble and lacking in kegels, Any way to tighten that low end up?

Automatically assuming any reference to balls is genitalia oriented is very 12 year oldish.

 

[Honkey tonk]

VIDEO: The Real Meaning of “Balls to the Wall” and “Balls Out”

 

[bobba66]

Did you know "the whole nine yards" refers to the length of a machine gun belt?

 

[5StringBlues]

Wow, what a great audience!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

That's fine with me. You do realize that "rat" has been frequently used as derogatory against jews though, right? Not suggesting that you change your name, but trying to point out that context a lot of times is important. Also, just did a search and I don't think I use "balls" except for Ernie Ball and ball end strings.

 

[Winslow]

Those are also very masculine, aggressive terms. I'm sure we can do better.

My bass sounds respectful, inclusive, and considerate of others.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Nope. Not particularly.

Nope, not here either.

 

[Pings Bass]

Asking rock musicians to "grow up" is a lost cause IME. Isn't hyper-masculine extended adolescence fundamental to the genre?

 

[Cut the middle]

I don't care what your gender or orientation are, but can we please stop using genitals as reference words for tonal characteristics, etc? I can only imagine that most female players are more sick of it than I am. It's the 21st century, and I'd like to think that we as musicians and creative types can agree that bass is not just for 12 year old boys who think that every balls joke is the most clever thing in the world. I for one would like to see manufacturers take a more inclusive, mature, and professional approach to marketing. And tone is so subjective, you can literally use any word to describe what you're hearing, so why do we constantly refer to balls when other words like punch, boom, gusto, substance, drive, and many others can serve essentially the same purpose?

Anyone feel similarly? Anyone have suggestions for alternative words?

I just want to ensure everyone who wants to play bass feels welcome in the club!

Most of the women I know, in private female conversation, use it more than men do. Not necessarily in a sexual way, but as adjective to describe a non sissy or feminine attitude or way.

No disrespect to the superior gender intended.

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[FunkHead]

I must have missed all these threads OP.
This is the first time I have seen a thread about balls. Honestly!

 

[ChadTheRat]

I'm with ChadTheRat.

Let's move on to d!ck references.

That's fine with me. You do realize that "rat" has been frequently used as derogatory against jews though, right? Not suggesting that you change your name, but trying to point out that context a lot of times is important. Also, just did a search and I don't think I use "balls" except for Ernie Ball and ball end strings.

I did not know this fact about the word rat, my name is reference to the distortion pedal. But very good point. And Ernie Ball is just some dudes name, which is all well and good. Maybe I am reading into things too much. But I welcome any opportunity to learn and grow as a player and a human.

 

[JimB52]

I never did like the bassballs pedal.
It seemed kind of anemic and useless, unlike actual balls or Bass for that matter

 

[DukeCC]

Nope. Not particularly.

Nor do I.

 

[birminghambass]

My bass tone has a whole lot of spleen to it! (Any better?)

As a person with no spleen I find this highly offensive. I would also like to make these following changes:
The nut shall be referred to the "upper string holder-in-place". Some of us have nut allergies and could be triggered by this.
The neck shall henceforth be known as "elongated note placement device". One of my friends broke his neck a few years back. Wouldn't want to be insensitive to him or others in his situation.
Fingerstyle will be replaced by "digit style" to be sensitive to those missing fingers.
The term "strap locks" will be replaced by "strap securers". Locks imply imprisonment. Not cool.
"Slapping" the bass will referred to as "Larry-ing" the bass. This is in reference to Larry Graham of course. The word slap is way too violent for our fragile culture.
Music Man basses will be known as "Music Person" basses.
Also Heavy metal is no longer a phrase we can use. It doesn't matter how much your metal weighs, we are all beautiful in our own way.

Not a comprehensive list but it's a good start.

 

[Funky Ghost]

View attachment 3868170

I gotta ask, why does he have his kibbles n bits chillin' in the breeze?

That's kinda creepy, yo.

 

[CallMeAl]

I often use the term “beef,” but now I wonder if that’s disrespectful to the cows...

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I did not know this fact about the word rat, my name is reference to the distortion pedal. But very good point. And Ernie Ball is just some dudes name, which is all well and good. Maybe I am reading into things too much. But I welcome any opportunity to learn and grow as a player and a human.

Well, Erie Ball does sell a t-shirt that says "Balls are Best", so I wouldn't hold them completely innocent. Heh. At work we did a bit of cleanup by removing the terms "whitelist" and "blacklist". At first I thought it was a little silly, but then decided that any distance you can put between wrong and right is probably a good thing. "Allow" and "Deny" work just as well. MySQL still uses "master" and "slave" for their failover terminology. It's probably time to retire that too.

 

[5StringBlues]

I gotta ask, why does he have his kibbles n bits chillin' in the breeze?

That's kinda creepy, yo.

That's the way they rolled in the olden days, G.




I find your use of beaver highly offensive.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Intestinal fortitude.

That's the way they rolled in the olden days, G.




I find your use of beaver highly offensive.

You don't like my beaver?