Viewing the message boards in:

Does the term "cutting" bother you?

1568101113

Replies

  • Posts: 11,750 Member
    Defatting.

  • Posts: 27 Member
    emily_stew wrote: »
    It's all about context. So, no.
    When I first joined I kept getting alarmed at seeing posts about juicing..I thought people were talking about steroid use. Turns out they're talking about a juice diet, although that's still cause for alarm.

    Juicing shouldnt cause you alarm. Its quite practical.
  • Posts: 655 Member
    edited April 2015
    geotrice wrote: »

    Cutting calories vs cutting.
    Cutting cattle vs cutting.
    Cutting costs vs cutting.
    Cutting paper vs cutting.
    Cutting teeth vs cutting.

    Leave out the object and what does the term mean?

    Leave out the object and it simply means cutting. That doesn't mean cutting your arms. So you're associating the word with that, when using the word "cutting" in general meant other things way before it was largely referred to as self-harm.

    Context can also include the general area or place you use these terms. On MFP, we're (in general) talking about weight or calories. If somebody is unsure, it's really quite simple to ask.

    I get what you're saying, but I don't see the need to change or invent a new word. Just explain what you mean.
  • Posts: 274 Member
    MrM27 wrote: »

    So go ahead and tell us what the term should be changed to? What would be to you liking?

    Some combination of letters that's not currently a word.
    It should ideally phonetically sound light or quick. Maybe with a short "i" sounding like hit or flip.
    Monosyllabic.

    Or you could see the first post for my original suggestions.
  • Posts: 274 Member

    Context can also include the general area or place you use these terms. On MFP, we're (in general) talking about weight or calories. If somebody is unsure, it's really quite simple to ask.

    I get what you're saying, but I don't see the need to change or invent a new word. Just explain what you mean.

    Did the word selfie need to be created when self-portrait worked for centuries?
  • Posts: 274 Member
    Defatting.

    That works.
  • Posts: 655 Member
    geotrice wrote: »

    Did the word selfie need to be created when self-portrait worked for centuries?

    Leave out the object and it simply means cutting. That doesn't mean cutting your arms. So you're associating the word with that, when using the word "cutting" in general meant other things way before it was largely referred to as self-harm.

    (Sorry, edited while you wrote that)

    And my opinion? Nope. I find it annoying when people need to constantly invent new words.
  • Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited April 2015
    Shredding?? Or is that already taken?
  • Posts: 274 Member

    Leave out the object and it simply means cutting. That doesn't mean cutting your arms. So you're associating the word with that, when using the word "cutting" in general meant other things way before it was largely referred to as self-harm.

    (Sorry, edited while you wrote that)

    And my opinion? Nope. I find it annoying when people need to constantly invent new words.

    So now "cutting" largely refers to self harm? Right that's my point. Generally, that's the thing that "cutting" refers to if you don't qualify it. Yes it has lots of meanings if you qualify it. That's why it bothers me when people use it on MFP and other fitness/health places without qualifying it as "cutting calories" or "cutting fat"
  • Posts: 274 Member
    Shredding?? Or is that already taken?

    It's better than cutting IMHO.
  • Posts: 16,049 Member
    Did you ever stop to think that people who aren't familiar with mental illness wouldn't even have the slightest clue what cutting means in the context you're talking about??
  • Posts: 168 Member
    On a forum like this, I think most users who have been around have a general understanding that it's a "diet" term. However, to incoming and new users it can be a pretty overwhelming term. I don't particularly like people using it, because of the negative connotations the word carries in Western society today, and because it has the potential to be very triggering to the wrong person. I think there's lots of more appropriate, more descriptive words and phrases that could be used in its place, but once people latch onto a word they seldom let it go.

    Saying "cutting calories" or "cutting *insert diet thing here*" would be a far better thing in my opinion, and then slang could come into play later on in a thread that it's already been established is about said thing.
  • Posts: 34,415 Member
    So anyhow...



    ...how's the cut going, OP?
  • Posts: 168 Member
    Did you ever stop to think that people who aren't familiar with mental illness wouldn't even have the slightest clue what cutting means in the context you're talking about??

    But on the flip side, people who don't get it in the context of dieting/fitness would potentially only get it in the context of self-injury. Two sides of the same coin and both valid, I think the OP is just going on what "cutting" means in usual societal context (i.e. in television, gossip magazines, movies, literature, etc).
  • Posts: 655 Member
    geotrice wrote: »

    So now "cutting" largely refers to self harm? Right that's my point. Generally, that's the thing that "cutting" refers to if you don't qualify it. Yes it has lots of meanings if you qualify it. That's why it bothers me when people use it on MFP and other fitness/health places without qualifying it as "cutting calories" or "cutting fat"

    Maybe if more people begin referring to cutting calories as cutting, it will become a more positive term, right? Or maybe if we put the same effort into helping those who do self-harm as we do into nitpicking terms, we eventually won't automatically associate it with that.

    A word is a word. Cutting in itself is not a bad thing.
  • Unknown
    edited April 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • Posts: 933 Member
    Not to state the obvious here but this is not a self-harm forum so cutting or cutting down or cutting out means leaving something out or reducing something. If the term reminds you of something else than its your perception of it. We all have our own perception, that's what makes life interesting. You're either a glass half full or half empty person. Both are correct. It doesn't bother me in the slightest when taking in context. This is after all a place where people want to be fit and healthy and have pals.
  • Posts: 16,011 Member
    edited April 2015
    See I always thought "cutting" was another way of saying... Getting cut, getting ripped, getting shredded. Not cutting calories, though obviously that would be necessary, but I never thought that was the origin of the term. Reducing body fat so you can see your awesomely cut muscles better. I had absolutely ZERO exposure to the bodybuilding community before joining MFP, and it was one of the easier "jargon" terms to figure out. Bulk and cut, oh yeah, that makes sense.

    OP, I'm confused why you think "shredding" is better than "cutting"? Shredding what? Cheese? Paper? A body in the chipper-shredder?

    You also said "So now "cutting" largely refers to self harm? Right that's my point. Generally, that's the thing that "cutting" refers to if you don't qualify it." I think that's a pretty big assumption on your part. I think there is a large portion of the population that is unfamiliar with the practice, and even if they have heard of it, it would not be the first thing that comes to mind. At most, they would think, He's cutting? Cutting what?

    So in short, no. No it doesn't bother me. And on the long list of words with multiple meanings depending on context, it's not one of the more confusing ones in my opinion. Sorry.
  • Posts: 18,950 Member
    Leaning. Then we could call the former cutters 'leaners'. And the Australian Prime Minister could criticise them, when he's talking about chopping welfare and how there is a culture of lifters and leaners. But that could get confusing, because cutters-now-leaners are often also lifters too. Now I'm confused.

    Shredding makes me think of Ninja turtles.
  • Posts: 7,574 Member
    edited April 2015
    geotrice wrote: »

    But cutting isn't the antonym of bulking. But I it's used that way my guess for lack of a better term. In fact bulking doesn't seem to have a defined antonym. I guess I just see an opportunity for a new verb to mean eating less calories.

    412.png

    Eta- didn't realize someone already posted this. Didn't read through entire thread before posting.
  • Posts: 18,950 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »

    412.png

    I really want to call my next dog Gretchen Weiners, so I can tell it to stop trying to make fetch happen.
  • Posts: 3,133 Member
    Dude. Don't ever work in a school with young kids where you hear, quite literally, ALL freaking day "so and so cut me". You'd lose your ish in a heartbeat.
  • Posts: 3,133 Member
    edited April 2015
    Sweet. MFP is freaking out with posting. :grumble:
  • Posts: 3,133 Member
    edited April 2015
    And because clearly the "error" message I got was pure crap.
  • Posts: 3,133 Member
    shannonbun wrote: »

    But on the flip side, people who don't get it in the context of dieting/fitness would potentially only get it in the context of self-injury. Two sides of the same coin and both valid, I think the OP is just going on what "cutting" means in usual societal context (i.e. in television, gossip magazines, movies, literature, etc).

    But really, WTF is the point of coming onto a health and fitness site and picking apart terms that are used?
  • Posts: 361 Member
    Nah, what bothers me is people going out of their way to take offense at things that aren't meant to be offensive in the slightest. Way more trouble is caused by irate, oversensitive people looking to be offended than the use of the word "cutting" which was popular in this sense way before it became a popular piece for bad journalists to show false sympathy over.
  • Posts: 24,208 Member
    For your next thread can you cover the word "salad"?
    Because "salad tosser" is, you know, a bit upsetting.
  • Posts: 42 Member
    I am just going to put my little view on things, i like looking at things a little different and sometimes that can be in a negative way (yes i am 'that' person). When i read about bulking and cutting i just think of someone throwing up and shelf harming. Yes i know what both words mean in the context of muscle building etc but i just can't help my mind going to it's dark place for a few seconds.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Posts: 393 Member
    I am just going to put my little view on things, i like looking at things a little different and sometimes that can be in a negative way (yes i am 'that' person). When i read about bulking and cutting i just think of someone throwing up and shelf harming. Yes i know what both words mean in the context of muscle building etc but i just can't help my mind going to it's dark place for a few seconds.

    Now we getting into 'shelf harming'??? They are going to be so cut up about this when I try to lessen their load,,,,,,,,Truly.
This discussion has been closed.