Use of Language

Merab

Merab

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To all Forum Members
As the term ‘slave’ is becoming increasingly uncomfortable due to modern slavery issues we, the staff, suggest that we start using another term.
It will be your choice what to use that feels comfortable and still implies that we serve our piggies.
Please give the matter some consideration.
Any member who has slave in their username is welcome to change it - just ask @BossHogg
Thanks everyone
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
Another term in Germany is Two-Leg, so here terms more descriptive.

I used to refer to myself as seen thru guinea eyes as The Great Food Goddess, who e.g. allowed food to rain down from the Heavens.
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The Great Food Goddess is brilliant.

I've always just been Hooman or Mum to my pets regardless of species.
 
DavRz said:
PoopyPickerUppers
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In what must have been the 1980's in Alberta (Canada), there were instructions floating around on how to make a Pooper-Scooper for collecting your dog's poo and disposing of it, so when I see your suggestion, I think of dogs not piggies. That might just be personal though. I think the pooper-scooper was made out of something like a hard plastic detergent bottle with the bottom cut off. Wouldn't be helpful for piggy droppings.
 
The guinea dads could call themselves Jeeves I suppose. Particularly apt if the guinea is called Bertie or Bertram.
A general word: servant? Doesn't have the problematic connotation of slave, I don't think.

It's strange, I used to refer to my guineas as 'my babies' but I didn't refer to myself as their mum.
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
The guinea dads could call themselves Jeeves I suppose. Particularly apt if the guinea is called Bertie or Bertram.
A general word: servant? Doesn't have the problematic connotation of slave, I don't think.

It's strange, I used to refer to my guineas as 'my babies' but I didn't refer to myself as their mum.
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A lot of modern slavery happens in private homes as housemaids etc., so personally I would prefer steer clear of any expressions that denote menial roles like servant, skivvy (which doesn't have the same meaning everywhere) etc. altogether.

Staff is likely the most neutral modern use word.

The problem we are facing is that the word 'slave' can also express the voluntary total devotion to a deity, person/being or ideology, which is usually the sense this word is generally used by humans looking after guinea pigs.
None of the other expressions of service covers this aspect of voluntary devotion quite in the same way. Depending on what you value more, you would have to go into the direction of love or care (like mummy/momma) rather than of service if you want to use another word but there is no other word that combines the aspect of service as devotion quite as much.
 
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