I think what my daughter's trying to say is: nyah nyah nyah nyah.

Joyce ,'Same Time, Same Place'


We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good  

There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."


P.M. Marc - Jan 04, 2005 2:31:38 pm PST #6807 of 10002
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

But I think the current usage - and that particular phrase - is all leatherman.

No cites, but I think your data is skewed based on your location, you SF freak. I've heard it used a lot with no leather or men implied.


Connie Neil - Jan 04, 2005 2:41:00 pm PST #6808 of 10002
brillig

But I think the current usage - and that particular phrase - is all leatherman

Some of the people I've heard use it have never *heard* of leathermen, I'd bet.


Consuela - Jan 04, 2005 2:47:43 pm PST #6809 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

And here I keep thinking about D'Argo.

I'm so out of the loop.


meara - Jan 04, 2005 2:47:56 pm PST #6810 of 10002

I think the next line of the song is, "Is he rich like me?" so I figured the singer was trying to figure out if the object of his attention would be impressed by him or not. (Me = not, by the way)

Yeah, that's always what I assumed, not that he was asking it in a during-sex-kinda-"yeah baby who's your daddy say my name bitch" kinda way...

I have no idea if drag kings say "who's your daddy?".

Well, some of them are into leather type daddy/boi relationships, so yeah, I'd imagine they do. :)

And I would find "sucks" more offensive than "bites", really.


Katie M - Jan 04, 2005 2:54:11 pm PST #6811 of 10002
I was charmed (albeit somewhat perplexed) by the fannish sensibility of many of the music choices -- it's like the director was trying to vid Canada. --loligo on the Olympic Opening Ceremonies

And here I keep thinking about D'Argo.

Hey, he wears leather, doesn't he?

Also, I'd never even considered hearing "bites" as offensive. I'm not personally offended by "sucks" either, but I could imagine someone else being bothered by it. Bites, though? Really? Huh.


DavidS - Jan 04, 2005 2:55:47 pm PST #6812 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

No cites, but I think your data is skewed based on your location, you SF freak.

Could be.

I've heard it used a lot with no leather or men implied.

Because the phrase has burrowed up from the subculture and is widely kicked around with etymological ignorance of its origin. I think. It could have a pimp-source too. I can imagine that. But the phrase has a skeezy undertow to it that carries an element of sexual and personal dominance in it.


erikaj - Jan 04, 2005 2:56:57 pm PST #6813 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!

I guess I'm immune now. I don't think of either one as vulgar in the least...not that I think Queen Elizabeth uses either mind you.


Connie Neil - Jan 04, 2005 2:59:05 pm PST #6814 of 10002
brillig

Because the phrase has burrowed up from the subculture

the phrase has a skeezy undertow to it that carries an element of sexual and personal dominance in it.

Honestly, I think the vast majority of people think it has to do with "sugar daddy" and are utterly oblivious to any influence of sexual dominance of the more direct sort. It's a power and an "I'm da man" thing, as in the guy cackling "Who's your daddy?" as he scoops up the poker pot.


erikaj - Jan 04, 2005 3:04:27 pm PST #6815 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!

That is how they use it on TV.


DavidS - Jan 04, 2005 3:08:16 pm PST #6816 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

From an online etymological resource:

**********

who's your daddy?/who's yer daddy?/who's ya daddy? - (effectively) I control you -
the Who's Your Daddy? expression has many subtle variations. Opinions are divided, and usage varies, between two main meanings, whose roots can be traced back to mid-late 1800's, although the full expression seems to have evolved in the 1900's. The full 'Who's Your daddy? expression is likely to have originated in USA underworld and street cultures. The main variations are:

  • I've looked/I'm looking after you, or taken/taking care of you, possibly in a sexually suggestive or sexually ironic way. This alludes to the 'sugar-daddy' term from late 19th century USA, which is based on the image of an older man giving (candy) reward in return for intimacy, either to a younger woman/mistress or younger gay male lover.

  • I've beaten you/I'm beating you, at something, and you are defenceless. This alludes to parental dominance and authority, and at its extreme, to intimacy with the victim's/opponent's mother.
The use of the expression as a straight insult, where the meaning is to question a person's parentage, is found, but this would not have been the origin, and is a more recent retrospectively applied meaning.

The sexual undertow and sordid nature of the expression has made this an appealing expression in the underworld, prison etc.

In much of the expression's common usage the meanings seem to converge, in which the hybrid 'feel' is one of (sexual) domination/control/intimacy in return for payment/material reward/safety/protection.

Daddy has many other slang uses which would have contributed to the dominant/paternalistic/authoritative/sexual-contract feel of the expression, for example:

  • the best/biggest/strongest one of anything (the daddy of them all)
  • a prostitute's pimp or boyfriend
  • a leading prisoner (through intimidation) at a borstal