Scrotumgate Redux

Just when you thought it was safe to start bandying about the word "scrotum" again, flames are in the process of being fanned. First and foremost, this article came out in The Deseret News discussing The Higher Power of Lucky and the ensuing controversy. Then author Shannon Hale, hitherto a silent soul, decided to weigh in on her own. And since Ms. Hale is one of those authors who can write a posting and receive dozens of comments within mere seconds of her piece coming to light, I think her commentators are definitely worth reading (if you're not sick of the topic, of course).

One point that the Desert News writer makes, and that I had an unrelated conversation about just yesterday, is the idea that Short Sammy isn't the kind of fella who'd use the word "scrotum" in casual conversation. She feels it doesn't go along with his character. I couldn't disagree more. Think about it. Sammy's a rough n' tumble sort of feller, but when he goes to his AA Meetings he's in the presence of womenfolk. Plus, Sammy's been telling this tale over and over for a while now. He probably is using the term "scrotum" rather than "balls", "ballsack" or "twigs & berries" because the word "scrotum" IS more formal and clinical. The fact of the matter is that he's making a point about how awful it was that his dog got bit there and how painful it must have been. Seems to me the book would have had a whole different tenor if the word had instead been turned into "pain luggage" or "papa stork's bundle o' testes" (many thanks to David J. Schwartz for the terms).

Thanks too to Jen Robinson's Book Page for the link.