Douchebag!

Published on 31/1/07 in Culture

If I call you a douche, it means I love you.

I've had an issue that I've been mulling for a while. It's perplexing me, and I'm hoping that the collective intelligence of the blogging community can help answer this question.

Why do we use "douche" or "douchebag" or "douchenozzle" as a pejorative term when referring to someone?

First of all, douche is a French word meaning "wash." And while it might be trendy to use any French word as a pejorative among the moral majority (and mental minority), it doesn't make any sense.

Douching is also widely considered to be a cleansing activity. It rinses and cleans, flushing out the bad. While the reality of the situation is that women who douche might cause more harm than good because they can upset their chemical balance and cause further irritation and infection, the general impression among people is that it's a good thing.

So if most people consider it to be a cleansing activity and a good thing, why is it used to describe bastards, slouches, nogoodniks, and punks?

Maybe it's the act of douching. By calling someone a name that implies they have been stuck inside a vagina, that could be an insult, I guess. But we already call people dicks or cocks, so that's already taken care of.

Personally, I think that since douching is considered by the general public to be a good thing, we should start referring to people who perform acts of humanity or charity as douches.

"That Mother Theresa was a real douche. She helped a lot of people."

"It's Martin Luther King Day! That man was a visionary and a douchebag."

"Happy birthday, Mom. Thank you for being such a huge douche."

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25 Comments

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that_guy

"It's Martin Luther King Day! That man was a visionary and a douchebag."
hahaha

oh man that stuff was really douche-tastic Written on 30/1/07

My Comment:

cat

Your writing is as clean and fresh as a summer's day! Or is that just your douche talking? Written on 30/1/07

My Comment:

MrFab

This is why I prefer "colostomy bag". There is no confusing that meaning. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

missyoda

Maybe it's because to douche is to try to be something you aren't and it's probably a somewhat unpleasant activity that could potentially make everything worse. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

Rebecca

Nice explanation! Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

hotcoffee

I love the comparison! Now I don't have to feel guilty when I refer to my mother/the guy who cut me off in traffic/your writing skills as totally douchebag. Nice work.

(P.S. I am on assignment at the company who makes Massengil...and they have conference rooms named after all of their products, except that one. Maybe I will forward your post to the marketing team.) Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

TracyLynn

I've always thought you were a douchebag, Avi. Because, no matter how I try to deny it, my feelings always overcome my good sense. You big douche. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

MissBritt

Were you really naked when you wrote this??

Your next assignment is to analyze whether Republitard can be a good thing. Go. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

Rebecca

Haha, Republitard. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

amused

This gives me food for thought. Douchebag just comes out so easily, you know? Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

NYCWD

I feel so... clean. I smell like flowers now too!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!! Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

MrStitch

From Wiki -

Terms such as shower pocket, douchebag, d-bag, DB or simply douche are popular terms of insult or ridicule in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. The slang usage of the term dates back to the 60s.[1] Initially, it was used to insult a woman. The origin of the use of the term as an insult is derived from lesbian activities. However, over time it has become a term for either gender.

There's your explanation. I guess apparently the terms evolved into a 'general' negative term, rather than one strictly associated with lesbians. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

MrStitch

Just realized,

Whats more disturbing...

A) The fact that I looked up 'douche' on Wiki

or

B) That someone took the time to write quite an extensive article on the subject at Wiki Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

Here2dispute

Probably that someone took the time to read that on wiki, but i was a little bit disappointed when I saw the definition/origins of douche because before that I actually sided with the article. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

JaneCopland

Imagine having a desperate enough modeling career that you've been reduced to posing for a douche box. I'd rather be on welfare. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

Dapht

Do you think they warned her ahead of time?
Or did they trick her into thinking the photo was for clothing or soap? Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

CygnusX1

historical issues aside, I always thought using the word douche in an insulting context was a reference to the 'waste' product.

douchebag: container of the results of douching

yes, I do realize that a douchebag is really the hot liquid reservoir used just before you douche. Written on 31/1/07

My Comment:

JaneCopland

yes, I do realize that a douchebag is really the hot liquid reservoir used just before you douche.

It is? It's not like I knew that. This is just waaay too sick. Written on 31/1/07