On behalf of female dogs I feel there is need here for a PC demand. How come bitches get a differentiation all of their own whilst male dogs have to put up with 'dog'. If someone uses the word 'bitch' there can be no doubt that they mean a female dog, but if they use the term 'dog' as being non gender specific how is a poor bitch to know if the dog referred to is of the male dog variety or perchance another bitch, being referred to in a non-specific way? If swans can be pens and cobs, if sheep can be rams and ewes perhaps we
are in need of a male gender specific word for dog.
But apart from all that I totally agree with you A-b that all this fuss and bother about what is and isn't acceptable PC does lead to a lot of confusion and to some people being accused of being offensive where none is intended. I don't know any black or white people but I do know lots of people who are various shades of pink and brown.
As it is no longer permissible to use a
blackboard I wonder how long it will be before Blackburn is required to change its name to the less offensive "Fairly-dark-and-muddyburn" ?