and:

http://www.eunuch.org/Images/bboy/paolocute.gif

You gay guys are trying to pervert the English language. "Cute" refers to ALL babies of any conceivable sex and/or gender. It can refer to any kid up to the age of 9 or 10. It definitely refers to couples in their 70s and 80s who hold hands as they walk through the shopping mall. The word is properly used for attractive YOUNG people of the sex/gender you happen to prefer. I certainly use it for petite and attractive women up to the age of 25 or so.

BUT, to refer to Paolo and Bboy??? I’ve never seen Bboy in the flesh, but Paolo can accurately be described as "good-looking" or "handsome" by us straight sorts. A gay guy looking at him might add a number of other age-appropriate positive terms. Like "gorgeous." Which you might feel accurate, but which I would never use, despite how much I like him. But CUTE? Paolo’s too old (or not old enough) for cute. That’s perverse.

Hate to sound like the mean male English teacher (Holding a hickory stick), but cute has an original meaning and that was "bow-legged." It was used to d3escribe a kind of tough burly little guy who is eitehr bowlegged, or walks in a cute way. During WWII it described good looking young males of the extra butch variety, usually when wearing a US Navy unfiorm --which made him look even cuter.

yankee masha

JesusA (imported) wrote: Tue Jun 24, 2003 2:06 pm You gay guys are trying to pervert the English language. "Cute" refers to ... It definitely refers to couples in their 70s and 80s who hold hands as they walk through the shopping mall.

Beautiful (not just cute) especially if they have been married for many years. Let them hug and kiss too if they like.

JesusA (imported) wrote: Tue Jun 24, 2003 2:06 pm You gay guys are trying to pervert the English language. "Cute" refers to ALL babies of any conceivable sex and/or gender. It can refer to any kid up to the age of 9 or 10.

"Cute" can also refer to most cats, no matter what their age, although baby kittens are a solid 10, on a scale of 1 to 10, when it comes to "cute"

How do you put pictures and graphics in your signature block? Please provide complete procedure as it isn't clear.

I don't go back to the 17th Century, although many think I do...but that is an interesting etymology, Jesus, about the origins of cute. But as with many words that people like, the word "Cute" has come to mean what you think it means and if you say someone or something is cute I think we all immediately think of kittens; young sailors; well-stacked nubile young women; baby rattlesnakes; nullified bodybuilders; and little old ladies who cuss like sailors and cavort with gay guys. I think of penises myself. The application is very wide and broad. So this whole discussion is wonderfully interesting and I hope it goes on for a long time.