illicit diversions » embroidery http://www.illicitdiversions.org/blog what i'm doing when i'm supposed to be doing something else Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:00:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 sticks and stones break bones http://www.illicitdiversions.org/blog/2008/06/sticks-and-stones-break-bones/ http://www.illicitdiversions.org/blog/2008/06/sticks-and-stones-break-bones/#comments Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:16:16 +0000 shallowwater http://www.illicitdiversions.org/blog/?p=5 Craftzine posted about a new embroidery pattern shop called PimpStitch (tagline: “Keep Your Stitch Hand Strong”), and after admiring the adorable patterns, the name finally registered and I could feel my jaw dropping.

Really? Someone thought that was a good name? I mean, they got racism, sexism, and domestic violence all in one go. I’m almost impressed.

Maybe I’m being a little hypocritical here. I am a slash fan, and I speak completely seriously of pimping music, authors, and fic to other fans. But this context is so completely unexpected and inappropriate! And unnecessary! The fandom usage of ‘pimp’ is to show other fans awesome things in a way that brings joy to everyone involved. This usage of ‘pimp’ is faux-cutesy and vomit-inducing. I’m not really seeing any use that either reverses or negates the negative connotations of the word or is subversive to the usual meaning of the word.

I realize that not all crafters identify as radical feminists, or even feminist at all, but I expected better of both Craftzine and their demographic. It’s too bad, really, because I would totally buy Tamie Snow’s adorable octopus pattern, except I cannot give money to any entity with ‘pimp’ in the name. Sorry Tamie, I’m just going to have to draw my own adorable octopus.

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