• 876 Posts
  • 341 Comments
Joined 2 years ago
Cake day: June 12th, 2023
  • zecg@lemmy.worldtoAsklemmy@lemmy.ml•I don't understand referring to sex as "screwing"
    39·
    3 days ago

    I asked the local deepseek-14b in my basement what it thinks and bolded the part that was also my answer.

    Q: Can you explain referring to sex as “screwing”? Doesn’t that imply some rotational energy the act doesn’t have? Unless I’m doing it wrong. And although screws DO go in and out, they do it awfully slowly. If we’re going to use mechanical metaphors, wouldn’t “pistoning” be more apt?

    <think> Okay, so someone is questioning why people refer to sex as “screwing.” They think that using the term implies some kind of rotational energy since screws rotate when they’re driven in, but during sex, there’s no actual rotation involved. Plus, screws go in and out slowly, while sexual intercourse typically happens much faster. The person is suggesting that maybe “pistoning” would be a better metaphor because it relates to the in-and-out motion, similar to how a piston works in an engine.

    Hmm, I can see where they’re coming from. Metaphors are tricky because they try to draw parallels between two different things, but sometimes those parallels aren’t perfect. Let’s break this down. First, why do people use “screwing” for sex? Well, the term probably originates from the physical action of screwing something in, like using a screwdriver. The movement involves turning and pushing, which might have been likened to the movements involved in sexual intercourse.

    But wait, when you screw something, it’s more about rotation and maybe some linear motion as you turn the screwdriver. However, during sex, while there is an in-and-out motion, it’s not rotational. So why the term “screwing”? Maybe because both involve a kind of forceful entry or movement?
    Or perhaps it’s just that the word became slang over time and stuck, even if the mechanics aren’t exactly the same.

    Then, the person points out that screws go in and out slowly, but sex is usually faster. That’s another point—metaphors often simplify things, so maybe “screwing” is used not because of the speed or movement type, but more for the idea of fitting together or forcing entry.

    As for suggesting “pistoning,” they’re right that pistons move in a cyclical in-and-out motion, which might be a closer fit to how sex is sometimes described. But why isn’t “pistoning” the term used instead? Maybe because “screw” has a stronger connotation of force and assembly, which are aspects people associate with sex.

    I wonder if there’s also a historical or cultural reason for using “screwing.” Maybe in certain contexts, it was considered more vulgar or descriptive than other terms. Also, metaphors often stick based on how they’re popularized in media, literature, or even slang usage, regardless of their technical accuracy.

    Another angle is that “screwing” might evoke the idea of紧固 and fitting together, which could metaphorically relate to intimacy. So it’s not just about the motion but also about the connection between people. On the other hand, “pistoning” seems more mechanical and less about the emotional or intimate aspect.

    But then again, maybe the person is overthinking it. Sometimes metaphors are used because they’re catchy or have a certain rhythm in language, even if they aren’t technically accurate. For example, saying “making love” is poetic but doesn’t describe the mechanics either.

    I also think about other sex-related terms, like “dancing,” which emphasizes movement and rhythm over specifics of motion. So maybe “screwing” just stuck because it was a term that described the act in a way that was understood at some point, even if the metaphor isn’t perfect.

    In conclusion, while “pistoning” might be a more accurate mechanical metaphor for the in-and-out motion, “screwing” has its own history and connotations that make it a common slang term. Metaphors often don’t need to be technically precise; they just need to resonate or convey an idea effectively, even if imperfectly. </think>

  • zecg@lemmy.worldtoNo Stupid Questions@lemmy.world•uhh… my ex girlfriend and long-time friend is now cishet, very christian, and makes those “i identify as” jokes regarding trans people. would it end up bad for me if i continued to be her friend?
    31·
    5 days ago

    not everyone is able to nor should become an ambassador for their “group”.

    it’s also not everyone’s responsibility

    I’m not talking about moral duty or responsibility, I’m just saying the outcomes are better for the person doing the choosing if they engage with the world around them instead of shut it out.

    you might find yourself laughing along with hurtful jokes when you don’t want to. Especially when it’s an old friend.

    If it’s an old friend, then you especially need to make some effort, for your own sake if not theirs. People are using “nazi” and “bigot” as thought-terminating cliches, but in many cases you can have a normal conversation with the person you’d call a nazi for their online output about things not related to your or their identity or politics. You can learn woodworking from a nazi and go on to make furniture decorated with a hammer&sickle instead of a swastika. It’s an extreme example, perhaps, but in my view it’s also really extreme to peddle this extreme misanthropy as advice to people on the internet you don’t know about their friends you also don’t know. “Engage with them and try” seems to me like less of an error these days if we’re talking generalizations then “cut them off”.

  • zecg@lemmy.worldtoWorld News@lemmy.world•Mannheim live updates: One person dead after car drives into crowd in German city of Mannheim, police sayEnglish
    32·
    8 days ago

    That’s banished from polite editorialising for being rude to drivers, cars kill so many we’d ban them from all cities already if the press hasn’t been inventing euphemisms for a century. It sometimes leaks into reporting about this new mode of vehicular terrorism. They’re so objective they can’t yet tell whether it’s a deliberate henious act or just normal car insanity which is treated as a sad but unavoidable fact of life where the car just swerves due to conditions and stuff. Interesting to see in the wild.

    P.s. though, with self-driving systems, that title will probably be technically correct again at some point