OPEN

[mythalenaste]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Pel
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: Awkward question?
WHEN: Present
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Fantastic racial slurs.

 

Why is 'knife-ear' worse than 'rabbit?'

Comments

[circleprodigy]

Because of the tone in which it is said, and the intent behind it. I have rarely heard 'knife-ear' that wouldn't have been followed by an act of violence were my mabari not a deterrent.

[mythalenaste]

That makes no sense. It's like saying 'bastard' is worse than 'illegitimate' because people are usually standing on their heads when they say it. The only reason I know knife-ear is worse than rabbit is because people have told me so. But knife-ear doesn't imply to anyone that I'm an easily-frightened rodent.

[byblow]

You know, I once asked a Sister why I could say Andraste's sword but not Andraste's knickers.

[gatheringstorm]

Beats me. 'Rabbit' is just as bad as 'ox', as far as I can tell. Humans just love comparing us to animals, don't they?

[circleprodigy]

I'm no etymologist. Why 'knife-ear' came to be worse than 'rabbit', I don't know. When one calls me the latter, I can count on them to be a condescending ass and little more. 'Knife-ear' often precedes more extreme harassment, at the very least. That is enough for me to deem one considerably worse than the other, at least in my personal experience.

[mythalenaste]

I'm sure city folk think that's shamefully cheeky.

[byblow]

Country folk. But you're still right.

[failedfirst]

It's not.

[indocile]

It isn't. ( a sound from the back of her throat; ) It is only how cultured shems feel when they speak hate to us. Rabbit only means if they want to hit you they have someone else to do it.

[mythalenaste]

[A grunt. Country folk, city folk, there is literally no difference to her. All y'all are flatlanders.]

Your point is there is no difference, really?

[mythalenaste]

Oh, those humans. So charmingly simple.

[There's a lot of sarcasm there.]

[mythalenaste]

Good. That's how I feel.

[mythalenaste]

That...makes sense. A lot more sense than anything else I've heard. Rabbit would be a lot more damaging in the long-term. Less of an immediate identification and more of a...habitual degradation. Encouraging the thought that we're not...people.

[mythalenaste]

Where do you buy a mabari, anyway? Are they expensive?

[And good with tiny babies?]

[aforethought]

Is this one of those riddles?

[ what came first, the chicken or the egg. what's black, white, and red all over. makes about as much sense. ]

[meds4sale]

How can one be worse than the other when they are simply ... different means to the same end?

[indocile]

( that's all very well and good, but margaux cuts through it frankly; )

You are arguing whether you want to be struck with a closed or open hand. They are the same. They do the same thing.

[mythalenaste]

I-- [Pel cuts herself off, breathes.] I know. You're right. I'm rattled and trying to rationalize and you're right. It doesn't matter.

[indocile]

Polite or less polite is a shem question. About how they feel when they say them. I, ( enunciating this deliberately, ) do not care. It's a trap.

[byblow]

[ Foothill-landers. ]

No, no, I don't have a point. Points are the worst. I could try to invent an answer for you, I suppose, but I don't really want to say the words. And once you found out I'd made it all up you'd be furious, and our friendship would be ruined, and I'm such an ugly crier...

[gatheringstorm]

What started this, anyway? Does someone need to be headbutted?

[She's been trying to behave herself in Kirkwall, honestly, but there are days....]

[mythalenaste]

Someone called my daughter a baby rabbit. Just a snickering, passing thing, they weren't even talking to me.

[mythalenaste]

No. It's a real question. I've actually heard that knife-ear is a worse thing to call an elf and I want to know why.

[mythalenaste]

That's sort of how I feel about it. I've just been told one is worse than the other and I don't know why.

Private

[mythalenaste]

I'm...not accustomed to this. I don't know what to say, or not say, or whether I should just ignore it and move on. If I ignore, someone will eventually get angry about the blows not landing. If I say something, I start an argument I can't win. I mean this time it wasn't even said to me, but in the future...?