I'm hoping maybe someone can clear this up for me. :(

Like 2 or 3 months ago, I think I accidentally offended some people in chat on this site with a casual comment without meaning to.

It was during the spring festival, and I said something along the lines of "I wish there were more girly colored themed-animals :) we need more pinks and purples!" to which somebody replied "pink is not inherently girly", and then like 4 or 5 people started ganging up on me because I labeled pink and purple "girly". But I wasn't really putting that much thought into it. I know guys wear pink and purple sometimes. And I am well aware my culture is not the only relevant culture on earth. And I'm not some strict stick-to-the-rules person (I couldn't be if I tried), but the moment I uttered those words, people started treating me like I needed to be enlightened and saved from my politically-incorrect box thinking. :-/ (I am not like that uggghhhhh!)

My main question is:
What is an alternative way to describe colors in the pink, purple, fuchsia, turquoise, cream category without it turning into an issue? And before someone says "why categorize it? we have enough boxes as it is" It is purely for quickness in typing reasons.....

What would you have called those colors instead?

(Yes I know I'm dragging up ancient history here, but this has been bugging me lately) xD

Omg why did I think total tumblr trigger warning taboo when I read this lol

Personally I think it's common and expected to label a set of colors. A 12 year old playing something as simple as neopets can say something like that. No panties have to be jumbled.

I think the group that ganged up on you was pretty immature. It's not like you're degrading pinks and purples. It's like saying I wish there were more manly, awesome themed pets because the themes thus far are pansy. s: it's relative.

To answer your main question, honestly, sadly, people may prefer not to label at all. Equality to the colors! None shall be gender based! Purples and pinks are no more different than blues and blacks!

So yeah. Maybe in your case, the only improvement to not cause an issue on your part is to not say "girly" at all.

But the other 4-5 people who apparently culture police could've just acknowledged that you wanted more pinks and purples in this game. :P

Imo you're not in the wrong. Just a bad group and a misunderstanding, maybe.
Some people really get defensive about their points of view. :P At least you can survive their tirades, gang-ups, and soap boxes. That's how you know you're stronger than peer pressure /o/

I did not mean to start a potential trigger warning topic, lol. I guess as you've probably figured out, I just needed to rant. But I also wanted to give those who hate color labels a chance to explain their side in the comfort of a large forum rather than a tiny chat box that scrolls way too fast.

I understand this is an artist friendly community, and many artists are wanting to redefine things for more free open thinking so as not to stifle their creativity. I get that. I wouldn't dream of stifling creativity.

I am kind of a tomboy in real life so I feel like a lot of pink and purple is girly on me. And that's why I chose to describe it as girly. I wasn't trying to live in the dark ages I promise. XD

tmw purple was a color of royalty in medieval times 8D
^{tmw = the moment when}

I don't think labels stifle creativity. People who think they do are stifling themselves. O:

(I've been having deep discussions about people lately orz like people mentality yo)

I guess it's a matter of stereotype tolerance. Do they accept it being used v.s. do they not.

That tiny chat box moves so fast, but not only that, moves in the accepted mentality and topic of discussion. *o* If they're talking about how hot someone's avatar is, they talk about it for like 100 lines LOL. not that we actually talk about hot avatars

I'm glad you're open to both sides of an argument though. c:

I personally label pink and purple as "girly" too and don't see the problem.

I don't think that means people MUST be wearing certain colors because it "goes with the Gender" or some things like that~ :o

I'm not fan of seeing many kind of pinks, may it be on a boy or a girl~ XP

If you weren't disrespectful when saying girly, don't feel insulted, those users were the one who should be giving excuses for attacking you, instead of simply expressing their point~ :P

I mean, one can say it disagree on what someone said, but there is NO need to gang on anyone for their way to express their words... Especially when said in such a way, which was obviously not meant for insulting in my eyes~ XP

I, too, am tired that pink is associated to girls, because I hate most of it's shade, especially on myself, I don't need to hate those who think it's girly... o.o"
(It's kinda what most of society think anyways, so you got to get ready to see often people call it girly~ XP)

Ah, God.... >_< Why doesn't this surprise me? And people wonder why I like being a loner and prefer animals to humanity.

Imo, people are way, way too sensitive in this world. And frankly, I don't really care if they're offended or not. Why? Because people in this world today seem to be offended...are determined to be offended, hell bent on being offended... by every freaking little thing and personally, I'm sick to death of tip toeing through 100,000 personal tulip fields. Or should I say mine fields? It's gotten to the point where you literally can't say a single word without somebody getting offended over it. It's gotten to the point where people have played the 'offended card' to the point of the ridiculous and I've become so desensitized to it that I don't give a crap anymore.

Guess what? I happen to think that pink is girly, too, and if someone is oh so OFFENDED by that, that's their problem, not mine. Had these people dog piled me I wouldn't have apologized, I would have told them to get over themselves and tell it to someone who gave a damn. Trying to pick and choose every word said, trying to wade through this overly PC world trying not to offend the masses that are just as determined to be offended anyway and determined to stir up endless drama over their constantly offended mental states, no matter how innocent a comment may be, just leaves me mentally exhausted and frustrated beyond belief.

Not to be offensive in any way, but, I might of labeled them girl-themed or just said something like: "we need more purple and pink!"

I'd replace girly with cute. c:

Descriptive words that can include those colors could be:

Pastel : Includes a lot of colors that people think (in general) are girly.

Spring Flower colors: When people think of spring flowers they often think of yellows, purples, and pinks (again in general not always).

Easter Colors: Well this brings religion in, but pink and purple are typical Easter colors as well.

Hmmmm.... That's all I've got (and I decided not to comment on the conversation except to answer your question. I don't consider colors gendered, but I'm okay with people who do.)

Purple is sometimes evil? XD Pink is bright and cheerful?