the dictionary defines a "gentleman" as someone of good family, good values or social position. one of my pet peeves is how even criminals are referred to as gentlemen. i love watching "cops" but it bugs me when they arrest some street bum for drunk driving, robbery or some other crime and then refer to them as a gentleman. the worst was once hearing a victim say, "this was the gentleman who attacked me.".
i don't know why this bugs me so much. it doesn't seem to bother me when, say a prostitute, is referred to as a lady. it does bother me to be referred to as either "old lady" or patronizingly as "young lady".
i guess it's what i read into the words and bristle if they don't coincide with my thinking. i wonder if it's just because i'm 72 and getting a little testy in my old age.
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