Wait...herm is...an insult now? It's literally a shortening of a medical term, hermaphrodite, how...when...what?

This is a new one on me. I've always used 'herm' for my, well, herm characters. Mostly because I come from a MUCK background, and 'hermaphrodite' often will not fit in a /sex: flag.

Plus Futa is shortening of Futanari which is just...it's japanese for hermaphrodite...since when did the medical term become an insult? Has the word "Vagina" or "Penis" become an insult without my knowing?

i've been told not to use it so i won't

basically it's unacceptable because while it is a scientific term, it's used mainly to refer to animals, micro organisms, slugs, etc. and not human beings

Told by whom exactly?

trans mutuals

Hermaphrodite is a term associated with organisms like snails and some fish species that have both sets of functioning genitalia.
Humans with both sets of perfectly functioning genitals don't exist. (I know fictional characters can enter the realm of fantasy including genitals. but i'm just putting this out there)
People with non-conventional chromosomes and primary and secondary sex characteristics are called intersex individuals.
Hermaphrodite and therefore Herm (and futanari as well) are dehumanizing people with intersex conditions to a mere fetish which is usually having both sets of funcionint genitals for someone else's pelasure.
Here's the wikipedia article on intersex people: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex

But here we aren't talking about humans but animals(furries-characters)

fantasy and fictional characters can still spread misinformation and objectify intersex people.

"Herm" is a scientific term and I will keep using it, if someone feels offended by a word is not my concern, I'm not calling them names or insulting them, if you have both a vagina and a dick (like my character/fursona, for instance, is a male-HERM) You are a herm.
Am I insulted by it?
No
Do I feel fetishized(?)
No
Seriously, people, there are so much more important matters in life and you feel insulted by a SCIENTIFIC term
/thread

Herm is an OUTDATED scientific term. It still has the ability to do harm. Unless you yourself are intersex IN REAL LIFE you cannot claim that you are not offended by the term or fetishized IF IT DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Still, in my language it is widely used to describe the situation of intersex people, I don't know if in English it has been deleted because "offensive" the term is "Hermaphroditism" and even goes under the voice intersex as one of the possible situations of this situation
:^)

Good for you? It's no longer recognized in scientific communities at large as the correct terminology.

I'm done wasting my time. If you're not going to listen to actual studies/sources then you're just an idiot.

you are obviously terribly misinformed on this issue and are not intersex yourself.
take some time to reflect and read up on it?? literally it's not that hard to realize you're wrong and admitting it is just part of being human. if anything insisting that you're right when you aren't leaves you in a less than ideal position.
I suggest you move along and just stop using the term hermaphrodite and it's variations, it literally doesn't affect you in any way.

"A hermaphrodite is an organism that has both male and female reproductive organs. Until the mid-20th century, "hermaphrodite" was used synonymously with "intersex". The distinctions "male pseudohermaphrodite", "female pseudohermaphrodite" and especially "true hermaphrodite" are vestiges of outdated 19th-century thinking, reflecting histology (microscopic appearance) of the gonads. Medical terminology has shifted not only due to concerns about language, but also a shift to understandings based on genetics.

Currently, hermaphroditism is not to be confused with intersex, as the former refers only to a specific phenotypical presentation of sex organs and the latter to more complex combination of phenotypical and genotypical presentation. Using "hermaphrodite" to refer to intersex individuals is considered to be stigmatizing and misleading. Hermaphrodite is used for animal and vegetal species in which the possession of both ovaries and testes is either serial or concurrent, and for living organisms without such gonads but present binary form of reproduction, which is part of the typical life history of those species; intersex has come to be used when this is not the case."
This is an extract from the Wikipedia article on intersex people.

Furries take the place of humans for many people (i.e. they're stand-ins or a representation of a person), so actually yeah furries do fit under "human" in this case. Furries are essentially humans with animal parts; unless your character does not show sapience despite being anthropomorphic any furry character falls under this label.

"Hermaphrodite" is inappropriate to use towards most animals that furries use anyways lmao. Mammals cannot be hermaphrodites; they can be intersex, but that isn't the same thing to many people who use the terminology here.

Herm is a term that ferishizes trans people AND intersex people, often by those who have no desire to actually support those in real life who do have these conditions.

Most trans people are NOT intersex (a rare condition) so the concern about actual intersex people is mostly irrelevant in matters concerning trans-identity. Hermaphrodite is a scientifically technical and accurate term for any organism, human or otherwise, that has a functional set of both male and female sex organs. And even if it isn't an accurate term for intersex people, it certainly is not a word intended to be an a slur. Inaccuracy is not the same thing as intentional insult.

I really think this Gender-situation has gotten out of hands, even using a right term is wrong because it "dehumanizes" people.
UGH

IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TERM
"Hermaphrodite" does NOT apply to humans or humanoid characters anymore. Why won't you just accept this?

I replied up to this, way too many messages, AAA

everyone in 2017 is overly sensitive and no one is being raised to brush off things anymore, they're being raised to whine/cry/throw a fit until the bad thing goes away. It's a mark of immaturity amongst most english-speaking countries. I live in america, yet I am not american origin. I see this daily. George carlin the comedian (may he rest) talked about it 2 decades ago and how he saw the pussification of english language happening, and well, he was right of course.

But in this day and age either you agree or you shut up and say nothing because opposing opinions are part of that hive-mind collective that is DETRIMENTAL to humanity! (and by humanity, i mean america. really, this is only an 'issue' in america.)

Jesus Christ, it's it's like used in every language, it's the first time I hear someone crying for the use of a S C I E N T I F I C word.
And calling me stupid afterwards because SHE (ye now I know it) feels insulted by something that is normal in any part of the world.
PS:. just checked on both, Italian and German page of intersex and in both, there are a few times the word "Hermaphrodite" and its derivation, while in the English page not even once, lol
It's the opposite like in the English page it is labeled as an insult, such bullshit

realistically, people like this aren't grounded in the real world anymore. In english, you CAN still use the terms, its the special snowflakes that freak out. Much of the art I do for people is c-boys, and every c-boy I draw is fine being called that. But there is always someone who has to throw a fit ON BEHALF of that "poor misgendered person" even if it was said persons own choice to be called as such. You don't see this in the russian or italian community (i'd know, my family is both) nor in the jewish one. when we non-americans have a gay in the family its irrelevant, who cares? but for an american to have a gay in the family, oh no, the end of the world!! that's the difference. Americans have become insane about "terminology" and false "political correctness" in the last 7 years. And because of this you're having more violence than ever in this country. More violent murders and serial killing, more beatings..because the other side, those conservative americans have finally decided to push back and say "no, this is too liberal and you are going to far." which I can agree with, and I'm one of those people who now..never votes in this country, never takes part in politics because I feel both sides have lost their minds.

*sigh* but the drama caused towards you is proof enough that having a different opinion is "not allowed" in the 'Land of the free' lmao. The hypocritical behavior is shitty at best, when they demand you meet their terms, call them what they want, but refuse to budge when other people are like "it's been referred to as this for years, no one used to care so why are you mad now?" the responses from all of them are the same recycled garbage where they use keywords like "patriarchy" or "misgendering" or "misinormation" "objectifying" etc etc. That whole loud group of people has become rather volatile.

It's refreshing to this someone with this perspective on here.

Thank you for this??? It makes me glad to see more artists getting with the times and being respectful of trans/intersex people. :")

of course! i've had a few hiccups in the recent past with stuff like this but i'm really making an effort to change that ;v;

slow claps 👏👏👏

read all these comments lmao

While I can understand and appreciate this 100%, it doesn't help actually battle the problem.

See, the reason why these words are so powerful is because we shy away from them, we give them the power.
The more we use them, the less powerful they are, and in turn the more accepted they are.
Not saying some of these should be accepted, but by refusing all words like that to be used then we are inevitably making it so they are MUCH more powerful.

i understand the concept of reclaiming words/slurs to make them less powerful (good examples are racist slurs like the n word, chink, etc.) however, despite the continued use of these words, they are no less offensive than they were 100 years ago
taking power away from words takes far longer than one would think, and if trans people don't want me to use them, then out of respect i won't use them.

Yeah, I see your point, it's understandable.
:D

hello! i have a question. i'm just trying to understand people's stance on this, not be offensive/argue, so please don't block me. :C
i identify as genderfluid- somedays more male, some days more female. my character, to represent this, has both male genitalia (penis) and female genitalia (breasts). i usually use the term either futa, herm, or dickchick to describe him.
I have had issues in the past with people getting upset because of this... despite that this is not just straight up fetishization, it is a representation of my gender.
That being said, what would be the appropriate way of referring to a character with sexual characteristics of both sexes? I really am just curious, so again, please don't get upset at me.

i believe intersex would be the word that you're looking for :)

just also letting you know before i go on that i'm not mad and if i sound mean/angry, it wasn't my intention!

gender fluidity is fine
however
to preface, female breasts aren't genitalia

and futa/herm/hermaphrodite are terms used to refer to an organism that has both sets (male and female) and functioning genitalia - meaning the organism would have both male and female reproductive systems/organs (penis & vagina)
going by that definition, the use of herm or futa simply doesn't apply to your character.
i acknowledge that you use these words in reference to your gender and not to fetishize the character, but dickchick essentially reduces them to just genitals (if that's what you want, sure)

personally, i believe using the word intersex would be more accurate
or just genderfluid, like you

again, breasts aren't genitalia and thus shouldn't affect any kind of terminology

Ah, gotcha, okay. thank you for being so kind!
you didn't sound threatening, i've just had people either rage at me or straight up block me because I asked. so thanks again c: