Offering constructive criticism to the social cripples in our midst since early 2005.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
I also think it's not entirely relevant that someone says something about herself; if I goof up at work and call myself an idiot, that doesn't mean that if someone else calls me that, it's okay. Maybe that's not a good example because idiot is clearly an insult. Or if I refer to myself as something complimentary (like, say, sexpot), it doesn't mean that my Managing Partner should say "that's not a bad business plan coming from a sexpot."

Yes, but if someone calls you an "idiot" in the same lighthearted, joking way that you call yourself that -- or if I call you a sexpot in the same way you use that term about yourself -- then what's the problem? It seems to me (without having to read Bush's entire statement, because, ick) that Bush was calling O'Connor an "old cowgirl" in the same way she uses the term to describe herself -- as a po' country kid made good.

In other words, toots, I agree that it's all about context and intent, but I don't see the context and the intent here as being all that bad.