Slog

News & Arts

The Stranger Suggests

Critics' Best Bets
Music Arts & Food

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

  |  

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Savage Love Yes We Can: Saddlebacking Makes The Economist

Posted by on Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 10:33 AM

The lead paragraph of a story in the Economist:

ANY decision Barack Obama makes can cause a stir. He invited Rick Warren, a popular pastor, to say a few words at his inauguration. The aim was to stroke conservative Christians, thereby fostering a warm feeling of national unity. But some of Mr Obama’s gay supporters were appalled. Though hardly a fire-breather by the standards of Southern Baptists, Mr Warren holds old-fashioned views about homosexuality. Bloggers lamented Mr Obama’s “betrayal”. Dan Savage, a gay columnist, urged his readers to protest by coining a new meaning for “Saddleback”—the name of Mr Warren’s church. Many of the suggestions were unprintable. To soothe sore tempers, Mr Obama invited a gay bishop, Gene Robinson, to speak at an inaugural concert.

I'm pouring over the results of the voting—here are the seven proposed definitions—and right now it's neck-and-neck between...

(1) "Logically, if 'barebacking' means having butt sex with no condom, then 'saddlebacking' should mean having butt sex with a condom."

and...

(5) "'Saddlebacking' should be the term for the phenomenon of Christian teens engaging in unprotected anal sex in order to preserve their virginities. 'After attending the Purity Ball, Heather and Bill saddlebacked all night because she's saving herself for marriage.' Please, please adopt this definition!"

I'm tempted to declare a tie and let the term have two meanings—one gay, one straight—but I'm not sure that will satisfy the masses. The winner will be announced in next week's "Savage Love," and www.saddlebacking.com goes live next Wednesday!

 

Comments (57) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
Aw, I love the Economist! You just know that they're huge Savage Love fans.
Posted by Robin Sparkles on January 22, 2009 at 10:36 AM
2
Logic is on the side of the first one, but the poetic justice of the second is overpowering. And, just so you know, according to my uncle kids were doing this as long ago as the 1940s, though pregnancy was a bigger fear than abstinence pledges back then.
Posted by Fnarf on January 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM
3
It's "poring over," not "pouring over." Know your homo(phones)!
Posted by kitschnsync on January 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM
4
I'm not sure how comfortable I am with giving protected sex any negative conotations... I really, really hope that (5) gets the name.
Posted by josiethefiend on January 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM
5
definition 1 has no punch. it is stillborn.

definition 5 is beyond epic. it strikes at the heart of the matter.
Posted by c'mon people, go big! on January 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM
6
Run-off?
Posted by so-called Claire on January 22, 2009 at 10:42 AM
7
Yes, josie said exactly what I was going to. Sex with a condom is a positive, progressive thing. Saddlebacking should never be positive or progressive. Definition 5 all the way!
Posted by leek on January 22, 2009 at 10:45 AM
8
Why can't you combine them? Saddlebacking becomes the phenomenon of "Christian" teens resorting to anal sex - with a condom, of course! - to preserve their "virginity." (Why doesn't the boy's property value decrease from losing his virginity, one wonders?)
Posted by Geni on January 22, 2009 at 10:49 AM
9
I did not submit a suggestion but feel strongly that the award should go to #5 as this choice would focus all the considerable attention onto a mostly unacknowledged consequence of the American Taliban's toxic agenda - the shaming of confused teenagers into rash acts that have predictably dire consequences. What do you say, Dan?
Posted by Timothy Hicks on January 22, 2009 at 10:50 AM
10
Dan,
Be sure to rush the results to Pres. Obama. He will be so totally impressed with the role Seattle Gays are playing at this critical juncture in our nations history.
Posted by you're so never getting married, you little prick on January 22, 2009 at 10:54 AM
11
no contest-- the abstinence definition!
Posted by robo on January 22, 2009 at 10:57 AM
12
Yes, straight teen sex is the only option. So much better.
Posted by important things on January 22, 2009 at 10:58 AM
13
@12 is right.

It's about the hypocrisy, after all.
Posted by Will in Seattle on January 22, 2009 at 11:03 AM
14
Definition 5, for sure. Like Fnarf said, the poetic justice is overpowering, similar to how the poetic justice for naming anal sex aftermath after Rick Santorum was overpowering.
Posted by Hernandez on January 22, 2009 at 11:04 AM
15
the abstinence def'n is the only one that has a chance (however small) of making it into popular media. If that becomes the definition, and the rates of teens doing this keeps going up and up...?

The condom definition would be forgotten almost immediately.

Pegging is fantastic
Santorum is fantastic
Saddlebacking must fulfill the triumvirate
Posted by Urgutha Forka on January 22, 2009 at 11:05 AM
16
5! I never want to speak of "saddlebacking" as a positive thing, as 1 would have us do.
Posted by Jaya on January 22, 2009 at 11:11 AM
17
Definition 5
Posted by smiles on January 22, 2009 at 11:12 AM
18
The second one without a doubt.
Posted by Judith on January 22, 2009 at 11:14 AM
19
my email got returned, so I'm voting here

#5!!!!
Posted by crystina on January 22, 2009 at 11:14 AM
20
Yes, it's #5.
Posted by Ben on January 22, 2009 at 11:21 AM
21
Clearly #5. For all the reasons cited above. Poetic justice surely trumps the technical merits of #1.
Posted by Charles on January 22, 2009 at 11:25 AM
22
@3, actually, he had it right. Shit-fer-brains.
Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on January 22, 2009 at 11:26 AM
23
If by "right," you mean entirely wrong, then you are correct.
Posted by whatever... on January 22, 2009 at 11:32 AM
24
"Poring over" is correct, though I suspect the tide of common usage is against it.

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/poring-o…

http://www.askoxford.com/pressroom/archi…
Posted by MidwayPete on January 22, 2009 at 11:33 AM
25
5, obvs.
Posted by josh on January 22, 2009 at 11:35 AM
26
It's already here:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.ph…

Please don't let them get away with making Rick Warren out to be JUST conservative and against gay marriage. People are upset because he is so much more. He supports persecution of gays in Africa to stop the spread of HIV. He posted on his webstie gays are not welcome at his church which he later pulled. Not because he is coming around on gay issues but because he wants to look like the victim.
Rick Warren is so much more than just being conservative and against gay marriage.
Posted by Bill W. on January 22, 2009 at 11:36 AM
27
If men have to think of Rick Warren every time they put on a condom, they may well stop putting on condoms. Don't go there.
Posted by Inkweary on January 22, 2009 at 11:38 AM
28
If I could have voted AGAINST any definition it would have been against #1.
Posted by dangerkitty5000 on January 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM
29
I still vote for #5

And the launch of saddlebacking.com made me laugh out loud
It would be even better if it had a positive twist to it and promoted safer sex and planned parenthood information/resources :-)
Posted by remix on January 22, 2009 at 11:47 AM
30
I forgot to vote before, but I definitely vote 5. Safe sex should be the default, it doesn't need a special name. Number 5 is funny, and in a way poignant, for those of us looking back on confused Christian teenagerhood.
Posted by Electra on January 22, 2009 at 11:59 AM
31
What are you pouring over those results, Dan? Don't you mean that you are "poring over" the results? It's a tad less messy.
Posted by E on January 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
32
Please please PLEASE #5, for all the reasons everyone has given.
Posted by this guy I know in Spokane on January 22, 2009 at 12:04 PM
33
Where / how do I vote?

Because it should be no fuckin' contest -- unprotected anal sex for religious purposes IS absolutely positively the more appropriate definition.

And it would be an absolute travesty to tar safe sex in any form with the shameful brush of the name Saddleback.
Posted by Eric Arrr on January 22, 2009 at 12:06 PM
34
saddlebacking/com has to have an audio clip of someone singing "I'm Back in the Saddle Again."

I'm sure someone can come up with new lyrics.
Posted by MidwayPete on January 22, 2009 at 12:21 PM
35
Go with #5, it's an absolute no-brainer.
Posted by Green Hilda on January 22, 2009 at 12:30 PM
36
what the fuck dan? a 'gay' definition and a 'straight' definition? buttsex is for everybody, not just homos - condoms or not. you should know better!
Posted by ibaien on January 22, 2009 at 12:39 PM
37
5, for sure!
Posted by Smurphette on January 22, 2009 at 12:51 PM
38
Congrats on getting mentioned in the Economist!
Posted by kim on January 22, 2009 at 12:55 PM
39
Inkweary @27, I think it's technically impossible to put on a condom while thinking about Rick Warren. Maybe with tools or something.
Posted by Fnarf on January 22, 2009 at 12:58 PM
40
5 (the choice)

never project your sexuality choices onto others, Fnarf. Who are we to say what turns on other people - it's quite possible a large number of women in his church are sexually attracted to him, and maybe some of the men.
Posted by Will in Seattle on January 22, 2009 at 1:42 PM
41
I'm anti-anything that will bring a negative connotation toward using a condom. The next time I'm banging a trick responsibly, the last thing I want to think of while rolling a rubber on is Rick Warren.
Posted by Gitai on January 22, 2009 at 2:06 PM
42
@39 Astute observation, Fnarf, I don't even want to imagine the type of fellows who could remain aroused with him in their minds.
Posted by Inkweary on January 22, 2009 at 2:31 PM
43
@3: A homophone is a pink Motorola Razr.
Posted by Joseph on January 22, 2009 at 3:15 PM
44
#5. It has got to be #5. No allowing both. Cannot associate using condoms w/something negative. It MUST BE #5.
Posted by Dr. Greypaws on January 22, 2009 at 4:25 PM
45
(4) "To saddleback is to rail against gay sex in public while secretly indulging in the same in private. Ted Haggard? Total saddlebacker. Larry Craig? Saddlebacker. Rick Warren? Probably a saddlebacker."

For example: "A certain fundie X-tian fucked his wife in the ass while he fantasized she was Mike Jones."

Could this not be more perfect? I think not.

Posted by Y.F. on January 22, 2009 at 4:32 PM
46
Definition of "saddleback" should be: To promote a disliked or disagreeable political agenda by forging an alliance with a generally well-liked figure who happens to oppose said agenda. Sample sentence: Although Warren, in pursuit of mainstream political acceptance, was clearly saddlebacking Obama, Obama was saddlebacking him as well.
Posted by timhulsey on January 22, 2009 at 8:43 PM
47
5! Drop the Christian and the teens. Saddlebacking is anal sex to avoid losing one's virginity. It's stupid no matter what age you are or what religion you profess.
Posted by Sunny on January 22, 2009 at 9:27 PM
48
@26 - Ha, they included it in a sentence:

"After attending the Purity Ball, Heather and Bill saddlebacked all night because she's saving herself for marriage. "
Posted by Mahtli69 on January 22, 2009 at 10:55 PM
49
oops so did dan in his post and with the same sentence. nevamind!
Posted by Mahtli69 on January 22, 2009 at 10:58 PM
50
One of my roommates recently had a brief relationship with a girl who would only have anal sex, for this same reason. "Saddlebacking" would have been a satisfying addition to our arsenal of insults. I guarantee that I would have used it on a daily basis, with great delight. I would also recommend it to a friend.
Posted by Reggie on January 23, 2009 at 6:13 AM
51
I hope the teen sex/abstinence one wins. How do I vote? NUMBER 5 PLEASE! lol

I like how the Economist says the definitions aren't fit to print! lmao Somehow we should incorporate that the definition is not suitable for certain virgin ears to hear!
Posted by kristinbellkitty on January 23, 2009 at 6:56 AM
52
I'm late but I vote 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jude Fawley on January 23, 2009 at 5:07 PM
53
Can't saddlebacking lead to santorum? Yet another teachable moment, Dan.
Posted by sykler on January 23, 2009 at 6:44 PM
54
#5 all the way. It's just so damn ELEGANT.
Posted by gregb on January 23, 2009 at 7:28 PM
55
Gotta be 5
Posted by Chris down in The Couv on January 23, 2009 at 10:22 PM
56
The two definitions are not mutually exclusive. I vote for 1 and 5!
Posted by Switzerland! on January 24, 2009 at 9:06 PM
57
"After attending the Purity Ball, Lisa and Dave saddlebacked all night because she's saving herself for marriage."
If I vote for the 5 did I use the term properly?
Posted by sex toy on July 30, 2009 at 3:27 AM

Add a comment

Advertisement
 

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC
1535 11th Ave (Third Floor), Seattle, WA 98122
Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Takedown Policy