Can we stop with the balls references already?

[dbsfgyd1]

Oh good grief. By the time we’re are done all words are going to be considered offensive.

I hate to say this, but as long as we are humans, you are not about to escape this life without getting offended, no matter how many words or terms or words are eliminated, statues torn down, or history books rewritten.

I assure you, thought and speech control is not the answer. It’s been tried and it always results in social failure.

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![/QUOT

BTW

I’ve used “guts” and “Stout” a lot but that offended the overweight

“Strong” offended the weak coffee crowd

“Enormous” offended midgets

Just to name a few...LOL.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Boys aren’t gonna change much.

True, but men do.

 

[ChadTheRat]

You need a hug??

Actually, that would be nice. Not due to this topic, but let's be honest nobody in the world has been allowed to make physical contact for months and I'm sure most of us could use one!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Yes please! Now enough of this nonsense. I'm off to practice my Ernie **** Music Person bass.

Lol!!

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Sex and relationship columnist and podcaster Dan Savage points out that balls are fragile, easily injured body parts, the opposite of strong and tough, while a vagina is tough enough to let a full-term, possibly large baby pass through.

Maybe "that amp has serious vag" is possibly better?

 

[Kukulkan61]

My Chevelle has Huge Cajones !!

 

[Dirk Diggler]

It is a proper term according to Maestro.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Actually, that would be nice. Not due to this topic, but let's be honest nobody in the world has been allowed to make physical contact for months and I'm sure most of us could use one!

Good point!

 

[J_Bass]

Doesn't bother me at all and I don't think it's offensive, really. Just a general term.

I think you are being over politically correct and ultra sensitive.

That's a problem with the internet these days. Too much people getting offended over nothing.

Obviously, not at all comparable with current problems in society, like the Me Too Movement or the BLM, which are totally pertinent and important.


Honestly, I think you're just riding the wave and chose a non-problem.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Thread.Of.The.Year.

 

[punchdrunk]

Endless eye rolls.

 

[akrachanko]

I don't really have an opinion on the matter, but if we're looking to avoid terms that some groups of people may take offense to, I recommend we start using terms that everyone would take offense to. We shouldn't discriminate.

Only joking of course. Keep it friendly everyone.

 

[Medicine Man]

Also, when you say "thick bottom end," you are body shaming.

 

[BassikLee]

OTOH, I just sold a mahogany Peavey Foundation to a lady friend who's got a sunburst Foundation as her main bass. She used the hog on a gig for the first time on Saturday. Her three word review: "It's got balls"…

So..... Dunno

 

[Jazz Ad]

Should we also stop testifying in court?

 

[Ryno1330]

I'm not a fan of political correctness and feel that it has a lot to do with why everyone has decided to feel offended all the time. If we get offended at things like this imagine how hard life has to be to constantly worry about presenting everything you do or say to all audiences in a particular manner. No thanks.

I feel like something like that should elicit an eye roll from someone who didn't like the term and that's about it.

 

[AndyPanda]

My bass has the sweet, sweet sound of flowers in springtime combined with goat farts!

 

[groooooove]

i asked my wife if she thought the use of the word balls to describe an instruments tonal characteristics is outdated, or useless.

she asked why I was asking, as i said someone posted the thought and I was curious what she, being female, thought.

as she was walking away up the steps she said "sounds like whoever posted that has no balls"



all in good fun, friends.

I don't care, as long as I know what you are trying to say. I'm sure i'm guilty of it. just the other day I was referring to T-40 basses as "high testosterone." oh well.

 

[Peteyboy]

I totally get this sentiment. I live in Ontario, Canada, and though our cities are not burning we do have many issues to deal with here as well. I didn't mean to distract from the reality of the pain and discrimination that so many are going through and have been going through for centuries. My friends to the south, you're dealing with real actual chaos right now, and I recognize things are pretty ugly. I have hope that people can come through it and make the world better for everyone, but right now things are pretty scary. I apologize if I've stepped on anyone's toes. No harm intended. I hope you are keeping healthy and safe.

No harm done brother. A little escapism can be a survival tactic this year. I just think some tones are just more masculine and that's ok. From a marketing standpoint it'd be harder to shift product featuring Fallopian Tube Amps.

 

[Lagado]

"The cricket ball hurtled straight toward me and caught me in the "family jewels."

"Watch your "meat and two veg" on that barbed wire fence!"

"You should hear my new bass, "it's the dogs."