zlacker

>>GavCo+(OP)
I'm a non-native English speaker. What's wrong with screeching?

>>aflag+jN
"Screeching" in english (at least North American english) is typically a gendered derogative. You generally wouldn't say a man was "screeching", not unless you also wanted to imply he was effeminate.

By avoiding the word, you avoid insinuating the target's gender is part of the issue, and/or avoid insinuating that the target is effeminate when they "should not" be, i.e. you avoid homophobia.

>>DanHul+aO
Haha, this is the classic example of answering a question which was merely a rhetorical whip. I love watching this stuff in action. I agree wholesale with you.

Screeching is most definitely more commonly used for women. That doesn't make it a bad word to use.

I mean, you won't catch me dead with these bowdlerized versions. The prose is atrocious and the motives for the changes are dubious.

But screeching is high pitched and when it's used for people is used mostly for women. I'm not going to pretend it's not. That's a comical rewriting of what is true just because you don't like some other rewriting.