"The thing that everyone seems to be forgetting right now is that we are a culture that embraces sexiness. Billboards, movies, models — they get attention by how much they show of the human body. It is cool for a girl to wear something that is tight and shows her form.

"I'm sure the guys in the U.S. have noticed the plunging necklines and shortening skirts. No one is trying to look like a saint in that get up.

"Casual sex, grinding and Internet pornography have changed us into a nation that appears to fully accept the term. Words like "slut" and "b__ch" are frequently used by friends as terms of endearment. It used to be that a girl who slept around was a ‘slut.' Now it's not seen as such an abnormal thing."

"Brad Pitt is pretty sexy — am I insulting him when I say that? Or would I only insult him if I said ‘pimp?' What's the difference?"

"Every ethnic and religious group seems to have its their own lexicon. For example, we Jews often say we're attending a ‘Jew convention' or hanging out ‘with the Jews' or even ‘Jewing it up.' Should a non-Jew make the same sort of comment, however, we are likely to be offended.

"The same goes for the word ‘ho.' Girls can call each other that in a joking fashion (as in, ‘You got an 800 on your SAT Critical Reading? You ho! Congratulations!'). But if guys call us that, suddenly something seems wrong.

Essentially, racial or gender-based or religious comments tend to be offensive only when someone from outside of that particular group makes them. Is that right? Probably not.

"We should have enough respect for ourselves to refrain from derogatory comments, even if we're just joking. But in reality, words like ho or slut are often used as terms of endearment between female friends. It's slang, and that's the way we roll."

"I call my friends much worse names than ho. But, it is always in a joking way. There is a difference between calling someone a name out of spite and out of friendship. But really, I rarely hear the word ho.

"Coming from a farming family, ho means hoe. There is an equivalent name for guys, man-whore. I personally love this word. It is such a fun word! I would never call someone that in a mean way, but there is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with using it with a good friend in a friendly debate (e.g. What do you mean my hair sucks? You're such a man-whore!) I also hear words like ho-bag that make me giggle.

"I think that by allowing ourselves to be called (ho and slut) and calling others that, we are giving permission to everyone to call us that. So while some girls say it's okay in a girl-to-girl conversation, it is not ever acceptable for a guy to say it. This double standard is ridiculous and causing for controversy over what the word even means.

"According to Urbandictionary.com member ‘flyy,' a ho is a " a loose, immoral girl who takes other women's men." Why would anyone call his or her friend a man-stealer?

"Or, in simpler terms according to member Davo66, ‘being a woman is the sole requisite for being a ho.' This chauvinistic attitude is being allowed to develop through our continual use of the word.

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