# Am I allowed to use the word "\*\*\*\*"? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 5, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588 "2019-07-05T20:22:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/21 "2019-07-05T23:50:40Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I don’t know what the current status on using “cunt” outside the Pit is, but note that there have been several rulings in the last couple of years aimed at making the board more friendly to women. Ed’s rulings from 5-10 years ago are out of date. ISTM that **Ed’s** ruling is the current status, despite its age. If that is no longer the case, it needs to be modified. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/22 "2019-07-05T23:53:51Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Years ago I was smacked by my nanna for using the word bum. What a curmudgeon! > [@kambuckta](#): > > Now, especially online and conversing with friends on social media, the word is used with gay abandon. From describing the stupid cunts at work, the cunt that cut me off at the intersection, or when the car won’t start…it’s a cunt too. If an Australian calls you a “\*\*\*\*”, it means they like you. If they call you “mate”, it means they hate you. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/23 "2019-07-06T00:13:12Z")
Personally, I think it’s a perfectly serviceable word. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/24 "2019-07-06T00:16:39Z")
You misspelled “cromulent”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/25 "2019-07-06T00:28:22Z")
Three clarifications: First, I assure you that my moderation there wasn’t at all personal. Believe it or not as you choose, but I had forgotten about our previous interaction in the mushroom thread. Second is the distinction between use of a word and mention of it. If you had typed out “cunt” in the OP of this thread, it wouldn’t have been a problem (though I understand your caution there). Also allowed would be a discussion of the word’s etymology, or of Shakespearean puns (though the latter would probably belong in Cafe Society). Actually using the word, as in calling a person or thing a “cunt”, is a different matter. Third, I’m a moderator of General Questions, not of the whole board, and my instruction was given in that context, because I can’t think of any situation where the use of “cunt” would be appropriate in GQ. My ruling does not apply in forums I do not moderate. In particular, it does not apply in the Pit. Since I don’t moderate the Pit, and am not inclined towards the use of obscenities even on the rare occasion that I post there, I haven’t made much effort to keep up with the Pit rules. Though even there, it’s probably worth realizing that that word will likely have a greater impact than you expect. I recognize that slang is used differently in different parts of the world, and that there are places where “cunt” is relatively mild, but the US isn’t one of those places, and this board is based in the US, along with the majority of our users. Oh, and I have no idea what to say about the word “berk”, because I don’t know what that is. And while ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/26 "2019-07-06T00:38:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Oh, and I have no idea what to say about the word “berk”, because I don’t know what that is. [Berk](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=722724). ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/27 "2019-07-06T00:41:40Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Stop interrupting his white knighting with your well-considered feminism. You’re oppressing him! I made no argument for use or non-use of the word\*, just mentioning some history. I didn’t know I’d touch such a nerve with you. \*If you want my opinion, it would be fine to use in the right forums and context. But my opinion should carry less weight than those with actual cunts. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/28 "2019-07-06T00:52:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Three clarifications: > > \ > > Second is the distinction between use of a word and mention of it. If you had typed out “cunt” in the OP of this thread, it wouldn’t have been a problem (though I understand your caution there). Also allowed would be a discussion of the word’s etymology, or of Shakespearean puns (though the latter would probably belong in Cafe Society). Actually using the word, as in calling a person or thing a “cunt”, is a different matter. Then this ruling by **Ed Zotti** needs to be changed or rescinded. > [@](#): > > 1. As most users know, directing the word “cunt” against another SDMB user is a violation of our rules. The term is permissible in other contexts. We don’t encourage the use of vulgarities, but mere mention of the term, or **directing it against some off-board individual, isn’t against our rules**. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17968323&postcount=68](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17968323&postcount=68) I realize that **Ed** is no longer in charge here. Perhaps **TubaDiva** can weigh in here. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/29 "2019-07-06T01:06:22Z")
That ruling says that mention of the word isn’t against the rules. Which is what I said. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/30 "2019-07-06T01:25:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That ruling says that mention of the word isn’t against the rules. Which is what I said. Also, directing it against some off-board individual isn’t against the rules, either. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/31 "2019-07-06T02:09:43Z")
I believe you when you say that it wasn’t personal. I’m not being a smartass (right now, in this paragraph), I genuinely believe it most likely wasn’t personal so ok on that front. > [@Chronos](#): > > That ruling says that mention of the word isn’t against the rules. Which is what I said. You forbade me from using that word on the board again. If I do, will I receive a warning? If so, under what rule will you be handing out the warning? Do you actually have the power to forbid me from using certain words because you consider them offensive/inappropriate, even in GQ? You gave me the instruction not to use it again but where in the board’s rules do you get the power to do that? Am I not free to tell you to shove your instruction up your \*\*\*\*? If you can point me to a board rule that says you can issue a blanket instruction not to use that word on the board/GQ again, I will submit to your authority, Oh Great Moderator. Otherwise, imma keep usin’ it. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/32 "2019-07-06T02:20:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And while Did you intend to post more? Because practically everything else you’ve said here is 100% wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/33 "2019-07-06T02:35:54Z")
How many times have we done this whole thing? I thought that since Ed left, the whole “cunt” thing was over now! Even before that, the only rule was you couldn’t use it against Dopers!!! Look, if it bothers people so much, just ban the fucking word, and be done with it. Or not. Make up your goddamned minds. The whole, “is it, or isn’t it”? is really, really annoying. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/34 "2019-07-06T03:05:00Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > How many times have we done this whole thing? I thought that since Ed left, the whole “cunt” thing was over now! Even before that, the only rule was you couldn’t use it against Dopers!!! > > Look, if it bothers people so much, just ban the fucking word, and be done with it. Or not. Make up your goddamned minds. The whole, “is it, or isn’t it”? is really, really annoying. Although, if you do blanket ban it, you have to be mindful of just how much bother the ban would be to enforce against \*\*\*\*s like me. Here are a few possibilities: cuntry, cuntinue, cuntrol, cuntent, cuntact, cuntagious, cuntain, cuntaminate, cuntemplate, cuntempt, cuntender, cuntest, cuntext, cuntingency, cuntort, cuntraband, cuntravene, cuntract, cuntradict, cuntradistinction, cuntrarian, cuntrary, cuntrast, cuntravene, cuntribute, cuntrite, cuntrived, cuntroversial. Now that they’ve been listed, it really wouldn’t be difficult to keep those words in mind and just use them a little more often than usual with proper spelling. Or you could just stop having the sensibilities of a Mormon housewife and allow the \*\*\*\*ing word. ---
**Author:** ![Krav\_Manga](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krav_manga/32/3153_2.png) [@Krav\_Manga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krav_Manga)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/35 "2019-07-06T03:56:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That ruling says that mention of the word isn’t against the rules. Which is what I said. What does the part following ‘or’ in the quoted rule mean to you? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/36 "2019-07-06T04:05:19Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Also, directing it against some off-board individual isn’t against the rules, either. Here was the actual 2-part-exchange-in-one-post: > [@What's the mechanism of action of a massage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mechanism-of-action-of-a-massage/836529/9): > > > [@What's the mechanism of action of a massage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mechanism-of-action-of-a-massage/836529/7): > > > > Another cause of muscle pain are trigger points, little hardened nodules, that can be physically broken down. > > Yeah, those are the cunts I’m talking about. Really having a hard time seeing any justification for the mod note except for it being **Chronos** ’s personal preference. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/37 "2019-07-06T06:32:36Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Really having a hard time seeing any justification for the mod note except for it being **Chronos** ’s personal preference. Which is basically what he said isn’t it? GQ is a different sort of place; less wide-open than the other forums. And (I believe) one more likely to attract drive-by readers researching one thing or another. That we watch our language a little closer there is something I can live with. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/38 "2019-07-06T06:54:22Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > That we watch our language a little closer there is something I can live with. But drive-by readers are coming from all points of the compass, and I’d take a guess that describing nodules as cunts is not going to raise any hackles (unless you’re an American Pentecostal or something). Seriously, it’s not a bad word most of the time. Some might still think it verboten, like fuck or shit or cocksucker, but it’s really not. Cunt has easily found it’s way into modern language without it having the negative sexist connotations of yesteryear. Plenty of people still don’t want to utter it (and good on 'em) but that doesn’t mean the rest of us should be banned from using it when appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/39 "2019-07-06T07:17:52Z")
But even if it banned, this joke will still work. The teacher asks if anyone in the class can use the word contagious in a sentence. Teacher’s pet gets up and says, “Last year I got the measles and my mum said it was contagious.” “Well done, Roland," says the teacher, “can anyone else try?” Katie, a sweet little girl with pigtails, says, “My grandma says there’s a bug going round, and it’s contagious.” “Well done, Katie,” says the teacher. “Anyone else?” Little Johnny jumps up and says, “Our next door neighbour is painting his house with a 2 inch brush, and my Dad says it will take the contagious.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588/40 "2019-07-06T13:45:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **GreysonCarlisle** : > > Did you intend to post more? Huh. I did type more; I must have accidentally deleted it before posting. What I had there was something like: And while I recognize that slang is different in different parts of the world, and that there are some parts of the world where “cunt” is relatively mild, the US is not one of those parts, and this board and the majority of our users are based in the US, and so we must keep US sensibilities in mind. > [@](#): > > Quoth **kambucta** : > > But drive-by readers are coming from all points of the compass, and I’d take a guess that describing nodules as cunts is not going to raise any hackles (unless you’re an American Pentecostal or something). > > Seriously, it’s not a bad word most of the time. Some might still think it verboten, like fuck or shit or cocksucker, but it’s really not. Cunt has easily found it’s way into modern language without it having the negative sexist connotations of yesteryear. Plenty of people still don’t want to utter it (and good on 'em) but that doesn’t mean the rest of us should be banned from using it when appropriate. Maybe that’s true in Australia, but it is most emphatically not true in the US, where it’s still either the most or second-most offensive word in the language. Use of the word in any context will raise American hackles, including non-Pentecostal hackles (though using it to refer to muscle knots will likely also confuse those hackles, since that’s not a way the word is used even in vulgar American English). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588.md?page=3)