They may mean the same thing but I don't think of them the same way (Lucy's rant on breasts, penises and better words for them)
You know, I was thinking about words the other day. Well, several other days...today, too. I've noticed, specifically about anatomical words, that they conjure up different images, even if they mean the same thing. For instance: Tits, breasts and boobs all mean the same thing. Yet, when I think of tits, I think of cute little breasts. Perky, spunky, full of life and vitality-Chi, if you will. Regardless, I picture something small. Something alive and vibrant but compact. When I think of boobs though...I think of big breasts. I'm getting confused but I'm pressing onward. 'Boobs' just conjures up the idea of voluptuous, seductive, sensual, Salma Hayek type breasts.
Interesting aside: When I hear someone saying something along the lines of ''wow, she's got huge tits'', I think 'Isn't that like 'Wow, she's a really tall midget'? '.
Then there's the word 'breasts'. Ugh. I hate that word. My chestial area feels oppressed just thinking about that term. Breasts make me picture dull, lifeless, hopeless, middle-of-the-road, mammogram having, depressed, hasn't-been-touched-properly-in-ages, fixtures of melancholy reality. They belong to the soccer mom who doesn't cheer because her drunken husband is making an ass out of himself next to her. They belong to the woman who's staring at a stool-stained pair of tighty whities by her washing machine and wondering why she didn't end up being a ballerina/actress/model/queen/other stuff she wanted to be in her youth before her perky tits or voluptuous boobs turned into simple breasts. The word brings me down, people. It makes me think of exams and pumps and real life things that are not wonbooberful (combination of boob and wonderful). It makes me think of the downside of feminine anatomy words.
Now, let's talk about male anatomy. I claim a Ph.D. in phallology (*Phallology from Phallus, Phallic, etc.). You may not have known that. It was attained in Iceland during a rough period in Icelandic history where they had a low point in that field and they just couldn't get it up. Now, when it comes to the peniacal model, the more technical, the smaller the mental image. Seriously. The word penis conjures up the image of an executive model. Something that is skittish, shy, doesn't like sunlight and belongs on a businessman with a horrific tie. The head of a turtle that doesn't really want to come out of its shell. Not inherently good nor bad, just a little bit hesitant and sad.
Then, there's d*ck. That term conjures up something else. Fraternities, fun, bars, urinals, trucks, blue jeans with a bulge. Something mischievous and relatively outgoing. Penis conjures up a bit below average, while d*ck conjures up something a bit above average. Macho. Yeah, when I think of d*icks, I think of happiness. You can't say happiness without piness. I mean, penis. You know what I mean. But, then again, the word penis-you see how complicated this gets?
Now for c*ck: When I think of c*ck, I think of something to approach with trepidation. Something you must be careful with or an ovary will be knocked up into a lung and cause lifelong asthma (I've heard stories). Something that is great to show off but frightening to use. Like an expensive, commercial grade juicer. ''It's great. You can juice a whole pineapple! Ack! Turn it off! We're all gonna die!''
I think of the big guy in the group who is 6'9 and strong enough to lift a car but he's relatively uncomfortable walking around in an antique store for fear that he might sneeze and destroy everything in it. Every time he goes into an attic, he gets a concussion. He had to take a yoga/contortionist hybrid class to get into his Chevy. The guy who can't pick up a potato chip without crushing it into crumbs. I think of a Bengal tiger. He's trying to be playful with the zookeeper but he's accidentally killing him. I also think of pulling an SUV into a tight parking spot. Aside from the pollution that he can't help, you think he's a decent enough bloke of a vehicle but it's nerve-wracking to drive him. I'm getting a little bit off track here.
To go back to what I'm ranting on about: Why do I picture these different things for the same word meanings? They don't imply any particular size, shape or personality. I often wonder about celebrity phallology. It's a hobby. There are assumptions, presumptions and bias involved. If I were to guess what Rush Limbaugh's penis looked like, I'd probably call it a penis. If I were to guess what Leonardo DiCaprio's was like, I'd picture something I'd call a d*ck. If I were to guess about Vin Diesel, I'd probably use the word c*ck. But, then again, I've heard rumors that he's a legend in Hollywood. In short (no pun intended there, obviously) I've heard he puts the 'wood' in HollyWOOD.
So, to recap: When I think of tits, I think of Nicole Kidman. When I think of boobs, I think of Salma Hayek. When I think of breasts, I think of my Aunt Marjorie who reminds me vaguely of the SNL character, Debbie Downer and always looks at home at a funeral dressed in black. When I think of penises, I think of badly dressed but otherwise nondescript businessmen. When I think of d*cks, I think of my favorite celebrities. When I think of c*cks, I think of that time I drove my old boss's SUV and wondered if he was compensating for having a penis instead of a d*ck or a c*ck.
Interesting note: Butt and Ass have the exact same meaning to me. A butt comes up in the old imagery center the same as an ass. Go figure.
Also interesting note: Nerve-racking and nerve-wracking are both acceptable and they are hyphenated. I just looked it up. See: nerve-wracking, nerve-racking. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993
PS: I didn't touch testicles and vaginas but those need a separate post. I can't just touch them casually in this post and I don't want to touch them and make the post too long.
PPS: I wonder if our friend Drowsey Monkey has thought about whether or not Vincent D'Onofrio is more of a d*ck man or a c*ck man. I'm sure she doesn't think he's a penis man.
