[haertig]

Did you notice that your first link, the one to the Wiki article, is specifically talking about "female hysteria" in medical diagnosis. The very first word in the article is "Female". And it's even in bold type. That is called a "qualifier" for the word that follows.

In your second link, the one at tedxvienna, did you notice that the paragraph about hysteria is talking about use of the word in describing a female. Their words were "Today people mainly use it to describe women, who cannot control themselves or are too emotional". Was I using the word to "describe women"? No. I was talking about media headlines.

In your third link, they mention things like "calling a woman hysterical", "labeling her hysterical", etc. In every case, there is a qualifier that puts things in the perspective of a negative comment directed specifically at someone. In my case, I said "hysterical media". That is not a qualifier per se, but "media" is a noun and "hysterical" is an adjective. The adjective is describing the noun. There is no way anyone could have reasonably interpreted this to mean that I was talking about women.

You need that qualifier to throw things into a sexist context. As a matter of fact, I said that exact thing earlier. Maybe you missed it (or ignored it). In either case, I will requote my words so that you can re-read them:

It is not the slightest bit sexist in the context that I have used it in, although intentionally using it in certain other contexts could be sexist. e.g., "That stupid hysterical woman" would definitely be sexist. "Hysterical media" is not sexist. But you can do these things - make something offensive via context - with ANY word. It is not the word that is offensive, it is the context you are using it in.

Now that you've re-read my words, tell me exactly where I am out of sync with ANY of the links you provided.

Oh, and by the way, your own quote below is a prime example of how context means everything:

The above is a histrionic response.

By directing that specifically at me, you are putting it into a context where some might consider it offensive, even though "histrionic" is a perfectly fine word. Don't worry, I am not personally offended in the slightest. I am just pointing out that the context in which you are using it could be considered offensive by some, those with a chip on their shoulder or an ax to grind, because you are using it to put down another, to belittle them. My guess is that you might try to waffle on this, and claim that it was not intended to belittle, it was just a statement of fact. Touché! That's exactly what I'm saying about my use of "hysterical media".

although the knowledge that this word is sexist is fairly widespread* (it's pretty much universally known in my circles, for example), you were not personally aware of that

I have no knowledge of what is discussed in your circles in Australia. That is on the opposite side of the planet from me. I kind of suspect we wouldn't be traveling in the same circles even if we managed to live on the same continent. Your comment is pretty irrelevant.

You did not answer my earlier question:

Tell me, if I had said, "I watched the movie The Naked Gun last night. It was hysterical!" Would that have offended you? If not, why not?

I would truly like to hear your answer to that.