I don't think you are. That completely freaks me out when someone says that. I totally agree. I don't think that is something that should become part of casual vernacular.

I never do.
I feel insulted when someone thinks they can use it so casually. You never know what it's like until it happens to you.

I wouldn't use that casually...it's in bad taste and is not funny...

It always bothers me when people use that word lightly/jokingly of unthinkingly. Some people just don't think about the meaning of the word before they open their mouth!

I have used it casually, even though it used to make me wince when other people do it. :/ I know I should stop, it's just as bad as using the word 'retarded' or 'gay' in a negative context. I've stopped using those two words- they just don't make you sound intelligent- so down with the casual usage of this word too.

I think it's a case of Know Your Audience and if you know for sure that someone won't be offended, but I don't use it that way. I just find it too graphic to be used casually.

I don't think you're overreacting, the word "rape" should never be used casually.

I agree. I would be totally offended as well. "rape" is not just a word you throw around when that becomes acceptable, women/men who actually experience this horrible thing will be even more inclined to not come forward.

Eveyone now and days are becoming more and more sensitive...

It depends on who you say it to. I would probably be shocked at hearing it used so casually at first.

I've been raped, and honestly, I jump whenever anyone uses the word. I hate it. It should never become a casual word, and if I hear any of my friends using it casually, I shove "The Vagina Monologues" into their hands and talk about The Yellow Dress.

It's understandable for those who've went through such a negative experience to get sensitive about the word since society today primarily associates the word with sexual violation. However, the other definition of rape is to plunder which is what she was using in that context. I wouldn't at all be offended by it if someone used the word that way. At the same time, it would be more tactful and mindful not to use it at all.

Interesting question. "Rape" means other things besides forced sex. But in all cases of the word usage, it connotes a dire situation.

Your friend was exaggerating, that much is clear. She probably chose a bad way to phrase it, too. But I wouldn't be horribly offended. I would just think she was being overly dramatic. Then again, if I were in jynx's shoes I would undoubtedly feel differently.

I agree that with those who said you should think of who you are talking to. Obviously you should never say this to someone who has been raped, but most of the time you don't know that sort of thing about a person. I also think that's something you say in a casual setting with a friend, if you must. It'd just be bad taste to tell your boss that she's raping you by giving you so much paperwork. When people use "rape" in this context, I don't find it offensive. I don't think it's the best choice of words though. I think people do use it because of its shock value to make a point of the situation they're in. People can take offense to anything though so I wouldn't tell people who use this expression to censor themselves. Just be careful of who you say it around. I don't think it belittles the actual act of rape. I mean how many times a day do any of us say "I'm going to kill her", etc, but we still think murder is a serious issue obviously. Or how the word "nigga/nigger" is tossed around doesn't soften the blow at all when a racist uses the word and really means it.

You're over reacting

i don't think you're overreacting. i had friends who would say they raped a test or a test raped them, and i'm not a prude person, but i'd get offended.

I could understand if maybe you have some reason for this word to make you uncomfortable. I do think there are much more offensive words out there that people us casually. This personally is not one I would use, but does not alarm me if I hear it used casually.

well, as someone said above, you don't know what it's like until it happens to you.
as someone who has known someone close to me who was murdered, I am more sensitive toward violent images. like at halloween, some people think it's funny to drive around with a rubber body part hanging out of their trunk. UH...that really happens, to real people. all i can think of when i see that is the person i knew. it's real. just like rape is real. which also happened to the person I knew.
so although i wouldn't be terribly upset if someone said that, i would never use that word casually myself. the one thing i've learned is that people are going to be insensitive, and you have to learn to deal with it. they don't mean any real harm. they just don't know any better. and in a way, that's okay. i wouldn't wish the pain of "knowing" on them anyway. it changes your life, and the images never leave your mind. so I would just forgive them and hope they never have to experience it.

I was raped by two men several years ago and I think that is a HORRIBLE to use that word casually. I mean come on...."the contractors raped us"...sorry, wait until it happens to you, then see if you thrown the word around casually.

My sister and I use it casually all the time using the definition that Meike provided. I am tight with my sister and I probably wouldn't say it around anyone else except maybe my mother who also says it casually.

I use it when talking about sports sometimes

ur_momm... i use it when talking about sports too. My sister uses the phrase when having to pay quarterly taxes to Uncle Sam.

There is no way i could ever work that word into a conversation casually.

i don't know how many times through college i heard people say "that exam raped me." i was never offended. neither were any of my other friends. i think people are being overly-sensitive.

I just looked up the 10 definitions of "Rape" in the Oxford English Dictionary, and none of the first definitions involved anything sexual. In fact, I found this: The act of taking anything by force; violent seizure (of goods), robbery. Also with a: A case or instance of this.

totally agree with you laura!!! and GO RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over reacting, and i have been in "that" situation. Dont get caught up on a word.

You're not overreacting at all. Rape isn't the kind of word to throw around lightly. Let's face it: A contractor being a schmoe is nothing like being beaten down and violated. Thanks for helping to create this dialogue.

My whole job is about words and language, so part of me thinks that the words DOES have other definitions, and so it's okay.

On the other hand, if you use it in mixed company and there is person present who was once raped, you've just made them feel very uncomfortable. I don't know that I would want to risk that.

BTW, I don't think it's fair to say someone is being overly sensitive to the word, either. Maybe the person posting this question has not been raped, but clearly others have who also dislike the word.

I think it's more of a matter of being socially sensitive than using the word as defined by the dictionary.

it's unfortunate, but i've heard the word "rape" used in a casual context like that before. i would never use it, but i cringe every time i hear it. i don't really think it's appropriate to use the word rape like in any other context than what it's commonly used to describe.

I think words mean different things when used in different situations (obviously). Just like when people use the word "gay", it's not always meant to be derogatory to homosexuals. words evolve, just like people.

first off, i have been assaulted and i'm also the kind of person who will joke about literally everything. i'm not offended by much. i'm just not buying the argument that boils down to "the dictionary doesn't mention sex in the definition, so it's basically the same as daying i got robbed." despite the OED definitions, the most familiar definition is that of sexual assault. it's like lynching in that regard. lynching doesn't pertain specifically to hate crimes, but that's what it is most closely associated with. and if that brings up painful memories for you, then no, you're not overreacting.

Your not overreacting. You have a right to your feelings and what you will tolerate and what you are willing not to tolerate. There can be other words used or substituted for rape.

everybody is soo damn sensitive.

i personally don't use the word like that. i'll just say that the contractor is "f*ckin' me over".

Merriam-Webster's definition of RAPE:

1 aarchaic : to seize and take away by force .

everybody is becoming politically correct these days, and it's annoying!

people say things all the time, but when the word RAPE comes up, everyone wants to get a pitch-fork.

lol.

i laugh, because it's not that damn serious. get over it. you can't control what people say.

yea i use it sometimes.. BUT i would be horrified if i accidentaly said it in front of someone who has been raped

asia, if i am to assume you meant to type "archaic" then it seems pretty clear that even merriam-webster agrees that definition has fallen out of favor.

asia84, wait until something like rape happens to you or a loved one. Maybe then you won't see people as being "overly sensitive". After being raped by not one but two men, yes, it does offend me that people can throw it around so casually.

Well, most of my best friends are some very politically incorrect guys who love rape jokes and use the word at any possible occasion. So,I've become desensitized to the meaning of "rape". After reading your guys' comments though, and seeing how offended so many people are by it, I'll definitely try to refrain from using the term around people I'm not super close with. I've never been raped and don't know anyone who has been, so I can't imagine how offensive it must be to hear it being used so casually.

As for your friend, she's probably just ignorant like I was and I'm sure if you let her know the word offends you she would stop using it. I'm sure she didn't mean to upset you.

Wow, I've never heard anyone use the word rape so casually.

I think I would have been taken aback also.

I think using the word "rape" casually is low-class, and insensitive to others.
I would've been very surprised.

I think it should not be used casual.

Hmm..this is interesting. My ex raped me twice, but I regularly use the word rape in different context. Does that mean I'm being insensitive to myself?

Having your house broken into can be a horrifying, traumatic experience and make you feel insecure in your own home, so should we cut back on saying the word "robbed" to describe something? I.E. "I was robbed by Uncle Sam on my taxes".

Get over it.

I personally would never use this word in a situation like you've described. I think it's somewhat offensive.

i don't think you are overreacting. it's the same as people who use the word "retarded" or "gay". it's not right and there are definitely better and more appropriate words to use other than words like that. and i don't think you are being sensitive either. these types of words are words that should not be used to describe anything but what they are and by saying them in the way that people say them in, negatively, it makes it seem like it is not a big deal (rape) or that it is wrong (gay) or bad (retarded). i don't think i'd say anything to my friend, but i would probably be a little stunned to hear it said.

I don't use it like that, but it's not heinous when other people do. They could be doing worse things - like actually RAPING someone.

I would never use that would as casual. You never know who has actually been literally raped by someone, that may be standing around you somewhere in the same room.

I would not want to hurt someone in that manner. And I would never want to bring up any bad memories for anyone just because I wanted to "casually" use the word 'rape' inappropriately.

I don't think it's a -shock-, but I would say it's definitely uncouth... But then, I've heard worse things out of people's mouths.

I am on the fence about this one...

first of all, I used to be one those people who threw words around such as "gay" and "retarded". when i was younger I never really thought about how those words could offend a person. I have since removed them from my vocabulary.

but I also see what people mean when they say that the word "rape" doesn't necessarily mean a sexual assault. it has many other definitions. in the context of charging too much for hardwood floors, a person is obviously referring to the contractor seizing way too much of her money.

it really is a matter of whose company you are in. as someone else said..it's all about being socially sensitive.

i think word choice is a reflection of the speaker, so there you go. people who use words that they know others find offensive do so for a reason. usually when someone i know uses a word this way, i make a note of it. a slip or 2 is one thing, but i don't like to associate with people who use words to "batter" or shock people. if they know it's offensive to you it's rude. there are lpts of other people to spend time with.