People have the right to give themselves whatever name they wish. People don't have the right to tell people to change their names or online nicknames.

"...I feel like the vitriol amounts to basically bullying and I'm not willing to change my name because a bully tries to force me to." Exactly. I agree.

I know what you mean; I once had a similar experience. Well, you can't win when it comes to race issues here on Jezebel, which seems to attract a lot of angry, unhappy people, who choose to be unhappy about everything.

Very well-said. I completely agree.

Amen sister-friend

It seems you didn't thoroughly read my most recent response, in which I stated that some overweight people don't take personal responsibility - not all of them. There's a difference between the words "some" and "all".

Agreed.

How many songs, movies, etc use the word gypsy in them? I have never heard it used as a slur in my life. Until the name thing, no one ever even mentioned it being a slur. And I actually researched this after missmeow attacked me and it seems like even in the Romani community there is some discussion about whether the…

All I can say is "wow".....you have issues....not once, in any part of any post by Westmark have I had any indication that your assertion of his/her being "able to consider our fuckability without having to see us as being complete individuals like you," is valid. Not quite sure where your hostility stems from, but…

And quite frankly, Lenaml, the same right that affords you the ability to state your opinion is the same one that allows Westmark to do the same. So if you want Westmark to "knock it the fuck off," and essentially stop posting his opinion, then you should do the same. And quite frankly, I'm sorry if you're offended…

Jesus, what an absolute shitshow of a thread.

As a lily-white mutt, from a variety of ethnicities and religions I will use the word mutt as much as I like.

Honestly, your profanity is more offensive than the whole "mutts" issue you're ranting about....I'm a mutt....and I don't equate that to being seen as a dog in any way, shape, or form. Pretty sure most people in this country are "mutts." If you're not, yeah for you, and while you're at it, shut the heck up. If you…

I said I love black women's natural Afros one time and caught major hell. I've decided you can't win when it comes to race here. Heaven forbid you should pay a compliment.

A-fucking-men. Holy christ...If I took into consideration everything I said could be construed as offensive to some marginal group of individuals I'd be a mute.

I'm about as white as white can be, and my whole life I've referred to myself as a Purebred American Mutt. The term is common and sees widespread useage. Westmark, just ignore the people who are too busy choking on afineedge's outrage to show some common sense.

I and many of my mixed/halfie/happa friends often refer to ourselves as mutts. From the context of your message I have no problem with you calling me a mutt and my friends wouldn't either; I don't know you, but you've opened up about yourself enough in a way that gives me the feeling that your using the word in the…

From one mutt to another, chill the fuck out.

I just spent 15 minutes reading through this dogshit thread in which a guy used a word that is considered in some circles to be insensitive, but not in others. Given that dynamic, the guy's mistake was that he failed to take into account that some of the folks that belong to the former circle might read his comment…

I don't think 'mutts' was being used with the negative connotations. Some people don't see it as a derogatory term, describing dogs or otherwise. I guess we could always ask though. I'm mixed and when I hear terms like that, I'm not offended unless they intentionally meant for it to be offensive. It seemed relatively…