this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2026
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ok so i've seen people say that lewd things are bad. why is that? i'd like to hear it from you personally.

i've come up with a variety of theories so far but none really track.

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[–] gandalf_der_12te@feddit.org 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] chunes@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Prude is an insult. If you want genuine dialogue with people, don't insult them.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I disagree. It's a term that describes a specific personality trait, which is exactly what they are asking about. If you have a bad connotation with the word, that's not their fault.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

The word has a long history of having that connotation. It has nothing to do with what I feel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prude

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (2 children)

A prude is a person with a very sensitive attitude and narrowness towards custom and morality.[1][2] The word prude comes from the Old French word prudefemme also prodefemme meaning loyal, respectable or modest woman,

This is what you linked. THIS sounds offensive?

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Protip: if a word has a section called 'Perjorative use' on wikipedia, that means it's not a nice thing to call people.

[–] Tenniswaffles@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Just prefacing this by saying that I agree that prude is more pejorative than not.

But, in that section of the Wikipedia article you pointed out, there's 3 [citation needed]'s and the citations that are there, are for: two thesaurus', a book of first names, and a paper on translating indecent language.

None of these actually supports your point, because we don't know who wrote that section or why, and they provided no proper sources for their opinions. This is one of the cases where Wikipedia is a bad source when it usually pretty solid.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The dictionary definition shows that today it's only ever used pejoratively:

a person who is excessively proper or modest in speech, conduct, dress, etc.

I have never once heard it used as a descriptor, as that's not how it's used today.

a person who is excessively proper or modest in speech, conduct, dress, etc.

That definition in no way describes the word prude as being pejorative.

And one person's personal anecdotes also doesn't really prove that it's an insult.

Did you not actually read my comment? It was about how the original person was using a bad source to prove their point, which you are also doing.

And to reiterate the very first thing I said, I do in fact believe that the word prude is pejorative. But that is beside the point I've been trying to make. Which is: if you're trying to make a point using sources, make sure they are actually good ones.

Here's an actual source that backs up your point. Of course that's only one source when every other dictionary definition I looked up didn't say either way whether it was insulting.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You really shouldn't let silly things like that trigger you.

It might come off as prudish.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Ah, yes "trigger you" yet more sophistry. You're not here for a discussion, but to win an argument.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I'm just here to converse, crack some jokes, and waste time. I didn't think OP meant anything malicious by using that word, so I stood up for them.

No hate crimes have been committed here today.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 0 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Prude today is only ever used pejoratively.

a person who is excessively proper or modest in speech, conduct, dress, etc.

Note excessively.

Don't be disingenuous and you'll have better discussions.

[–] gandalf_der_12te@feddit.org 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

what would be a more neutral term in your eyes?