pervert What do gay people, MySpace users and Scarlett Johansson have in common? In the past two years they have all been called perverts in the mass media. Ms. Johansson was called a pervert in a gossip blog when she was seen staring at a male actor's body during a movie shoot; over twenty thousand MySpace users were referred to as perverts in the news after they were removed from the site in an effort to reduce the threat of sex predators; and gay people everywhere were condemned as perverts who should be put to death by Muslim cleric Yusuf Qaradawi. According to these sources, perverts are all around us…Or are they? The label "pervert" and its alternatives "perv" and "pervo" can conjure up some pretty creepy images: old men trolling the web for young girls, guys sniffing stolen panties, S&M enthusiasts decked out in black leather, etc. But, have you ever wondered where these associations came from? How did particular people, acts and things come to be labeled as perverted in the first place? According to the dictionary, a pervert is someone (of either gender) who has “deviated from what is considered moral or right or proper or good.” Originally, used only as a verb, the word pervert comes from the Latin word pervertere, meaning "to corrupt, turn the wrong way, turn about," from per- "away" + vertere "to turn." In the 1600s, people began to use the word pervert as a noun to describe "one who has forsaken a doctrine or system regarded as true.” It wasn't until hundreds of years later that pervert took on the sexual connotation it has today. This evolution of meaning is partly due to 20th century Western psychology. How? Well, before the 1970s psychologists referred to abnormal or unhealthy sexual behavior as "sexual perversions" and classified patients with extreme sexual disorders as “perverts.” However, just as the antiquated medical terms "moron" and "imbecile" were removed from modern psychological literature, the label "pervert" has been deemed derogatory too. The concept of what is abnormal or unhealthy sexual behavior has evolved over time. In 1973, for instance, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of sexual disorders. In fact, many sex acts most would consider normal now (such as non-missionary position sex, pre-marital sex and even female orgasm) were once considered perversions, and still are by some conservative groups. Though the medical community no longer uses the word pervert, you may still hear its use in casual conversation. As a verb, "pervert" is pretty neutral. For example, a political reporter might say, "Judge Smith perverted justice with her ruling," to express that the ruling was unjust. However, the same reporter would probably not say, "Judge Smith is a justice pervert," which would imply that the judge gets abnormally aroused by justice. (Though knowing judges, she just might…) When used as a label, pervert is often intended as a playful tease, e.g. "OMG, she just checked out his butt. What a pervert!" but sometimes it is used to accuse someone of being mentally ill or worse since labeling someone a pervert can have serious consequences. In many societies, including the U.S., sexual behavior that infringes on the rights of others can lead to long prison sentences or even the death penalty. While outrageous personal fantasies are legal in every state (how's anyone even going to know?) communicating those desires or ideas can actually be illegal if those expressions are deemed obscene by a community. What do you think of the word pervert? Do you use it to describe people?

Comments

[pervz]

I have narrowed down pervertedness to 3 lvls

1-you make sexual comments in jokes with your friends and acquaintences.
2-You do all the things in #1 but you also perform perverted actions
3-You do everything in # 1 and 2 but you are still perverted enough to sneak in a pron magazine into language arts and share with your neighbor what 'feelings' the magazine gives you (actually happened at my school, one of my best friends was by this person. all i can say, ICK)

[a girl]

this world is so sexually perverted that even fruits are refered to be perverted

[Gigi]

I'm considered a perv by a couple of my friends, but by all my other buds, I'm considered painfully naive. Guess it depends on who you are

[stellerlife]

a pervert is some freek who thinks gross thoughts sexuaully about another peerson....who needs HELP.....stay away from them....play it safe!!!

[Heyyyyyyyy perv]

okay...whatever Jess!

[Heyyyyy perv']

okay...whatever Jess!

[jess]

i dis agree with fuck ur mom too but not for the same reason perverts are just saying wat everyone is thinking but the world is not that bad

[heyyyyyy perv!]

I disagree with "fuck your mum" because there R actually people out there who are'nt very sick minded! I dumped my boyfriend because of his $3^%&$ sick mind!

[Fuck Your Mum]

There is NO SUCH THING as a pervert...

We are all sick, sad, and dishonest animals who spin around on this pointless planet, fucking each other, killing each other, raping each other, starving each other, and shitting on each other until one by one we all die, and turn into dust....

Perverts are just honest, that's all.... they know they are sick, and they get on with the job!

[Mariah]

My boyfriend is deffinately a pervert but what do u excpect from a 19 year old male? I do think his porn( addiction) is unhealthy but at least he does not foucus on porn every day like some guys do. :+)

[katrina]

I'm uber perverted. Me and my friends have to watch what we say and how we say it otherwise, it'll sound perverted. I kno I'm mad perverted lol

[ellie]

um i really hate perves no offence its just that a kid came up to me once and he was like i can c ur purple thong i wasnt even wearing purple underwear i was like ur bra is showing but i dont yell it so friken loud! he was beet red.

[Terra]

By EVERYONE I know, Im considered a pervert XD

[Tori]

Why do people call it perverts they should just call it teenagers. Cause if you say oh your a perv then you have to get what they just said so your a perv to. And when we're young we're all pervs.

[Annonomys]

I'm a pervert and I have fucked all of your sexy boyfriends and they LOVED it and they all had MUlTIPLE orgasms!(lol) :)

[Tori]

to the person underneath same here lol

[emo_and_proudxx]

My friends think that i am a pervert because i have a sick mind and anything that they say i can twist it so it sounds rough or sick...its quite funny actually...ha...

[Cat]

Again sorry but hes changed his phone # to (512)272-9042

[Cat]

ugh! that doesnt help so heres his myspace url:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=46751087

[Cat]

hey every1! i was on earlier this year talking about taht perv who likes 12 year old girls and fantasizes about his younger sister.
He has a myspace! i added it in the url. my friend talked to him and he acts like nobody nos so if you got a myspace or just want tosee his 3 photos so you know how he looks liek, go on ahead!
thi is his home phone number. its on the internet so under joshua patrick his real name.
(512) 272-9397
he lives in manor texas. He needs to no his secrets not a scret anymore.

[Mimi gal]

I can be somewhat perverted ...but I know it does not get you many places in life...sexual harasment is concidered degrading world wide!

[sephi]

i get labled a perv by my friends some times, but i think it kinda has to do with the fact that im very open about sexual things and thats not always commen in girls. especaily cause im biesexual, so when i say
"omg, she wasnt wereing a bra, and her boobies boinced with every step, it was nice", some times people are taken aback.
but on the topic of scarlett, my womanly instink tells me the magezines just needed some one to bring down, and every one loves to rip on a beautiful blond.lol

[kelly]

haha.can't disagree with you there though!:-O

[Gabby]

umm since when is it pervertish to look at a hot guys body?
i do it all the time

[lalalala]

He should really get help! Not even trying to be funny there might be something really wrong w/ him! )-: