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"Mutt": Weird Definition

by thunderbird
12 replies
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mutt/mət/
Noun:
--A dog, esp. a mongrel.
--derogatory. A person regarded as stupid or incompetent.

The 2nd definition is ridiculous. In my experience, mongrels -- mixed-breed dogs -- tend to be quite bright. Also, genetic diversity tends to provide lots of health advantages.

From Wikipedia:
Mixed-breed dog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Several studies have shown that mixed-breed dogs have a health advantage. A German study finds that 'Mongrels require less veterinary treatment'. Studies in Sweden have found that 'Mongrel dogs are less prone to many diseases than the average purebred dog.'"

The same principle applies to humans.
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Not actually right, TB. People of mixed breeding can pick up the diseases of either race. If you breed a black person with a white one, the resulting human can pick up cycle cell anemia, the white doesn't cancel it out.

    Not sure about dogs. But when you consider that humans think they are better than animals - calling them an ill bred dog is NOT a compliment no matter what the medical facts might be.
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Not actually right, TB. People of mixed breeding can pick up the diseases of either race. If you breed a black person with a white one, the resulting human can pick up cycle cell anemia, the white doesn't cancel it out.

      Not sure about dogs. But when you consider that humans think they are better than animals - calling them an ill bred dog is NOT a compliment no matter what the medical facts might be.
      Actually there is no such thing as "breeds" among people, lol. I suppose inbred variants of humans such as the Royal family are the closest we come to breeds but the genetic variety is still greater than that of dog breeds.

      Overall, when it comes to health advantages, genetic principles are the same with all animals. From same article:

      "In purebred dogs, intentionally breeding dogs of very similar appearance over several generations produces animals that carry many of the same alleles, some of which are detrimental. This is especially true if the dogs are closely related. This inbreeding among purebreds has exposed various genetic health problems not readily apparent in less uniform populations. Mixed-breed dogs are more genetically diverse due to the more haphazard nature of their parents' mating. 'Haphazard' is not the same as 'random' to a geneticist. The offspring of such matings might be less likely to express certain genetic disorders because there might be a decreased chance that both parents carry the same detrimental recessive alleles."

      It seems you are probably incorrect about your assertion that a child could have sickle cell anemia if only one of the parents carried it:
      Sickle Cell Disease

      "Someone who inherits only one sickle cell gene and a normal gene from the other parent will have the sickle cell trait, but not the disease."
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    What you are saying is "inbred" dogs mostly. A good pedigree avoids any detrimental inbreeding. But you are right each breed has it's own physical weaknesses. And, no, people don't have "breeds" but they do have races - and as long a gene can be carried, it can be passed on until an offspring can actually become sick depending on future breeding patterns.

    All the medical facts in the world don't make the second definition absurd, though. Like I said - calling someone an ill bred dog is NOT a compliment. That is what is being said when you call someone a mutt. Most people realize that mixed breed dogs are really good dogs. It's not supposed to be taken LITERALLY. One of the really kewl things about the human brain is that we can form abstract ideas and use them. There are just some things that were never meant to be taken literally. Calling someone a "mutt" is one of those things.

    Jeesh.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    I have a purebred bichon right now. I've also own purebred mutts (:rolleyes that were very lovable, loyal, and intelligent. Calling a person a mutt is an insult to my dogs.

    Okay, just kidding. Sort of. I've never heard of a person being called a mutt in that context. I've heard it applied to someone that's homely, but not stupid. I think the person who wrote that for Wikipedia is applying a local or regional meaning as though it's universal.
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      I have a purebred bichon right now. I've also own purebred mutts (:rolleyes that were very lovable, loyal, and intelligent. Calling a person a mutt is an insult to my dogs.

      Okay, just kidding. Sort of. I've never heard of a person being called a mutt in that context. I've heard it applied to someone that's homely, but not stupid. I think the person who wrote that for Wikipedia is applying a local or regional meaning as though it's universal.
      I've been called worse.

      My intent in writing this thread wasn't really sincere or serious. I do think it is a silly term to use for an insult. It is not limited to English. If you use the Chinese term for mongrel on someone in China, be prepared for a big-time fistfight (it's a grievous insult there).
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  • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
    maybe its just where or when i grew up...
    but when someone said mutt, the were referring to lineage and ethnicity.
    I have heard many people refer to them selves as mutts and hienz 57's ...

    definitely wasn't derogatory
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Hmmm,

      I'm of mixed descent, but not a mutt, because I'm a breed all of my own (or so I've been told). :p

      Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

        Hmmm,

        I'm of mixed descent, but not a mutt, because I'm a breed all of my own (or so I've been told). :p

        Terra
        I'm also a member of the mixed-descent ethnic group.
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          Dennis,
          I think the person who wrote that for Wikipedia is applying a local or regional meaning as though it's universal.
          Nope. It's a very common expression, or was, across the US, for a long time. Still is in lots of places.

          Doubt that? Pay attention to police shows. The ones that focus more on realistic presentation than political erectness will use the word quite frequently.


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          • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            Dennis,Nope. It's a very common expression, or was, across the US, for a long time. Still is in lots of places.

            Doubt that? Pay attention to police shows. The ones that focus more on realistic presentation than political erectness will use the word quite frequently.


            Paul
            I've never heard it used that way, but I'll take your word for it, Paul. I don't watch much TV, as in, almost never. At least until football is back in season.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    When I describe my ancestry I almost always use the terms heinz 57,and it isn't derogatory.
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