B*tch or sl*t, which is worse.

In My Humble Opinion
1

I was watching a talk show today…k it was Rikki lake and I know I should be ashamed :smiley:

Two women were doing the usual hissy fit thing. Finger pointing, screeching, talking over each other and shooting dirty looks. Then one woman called the other a btch (am I allowed to swear in this forum?) and the word was beeped out. Two minutes later while still on the same rant she called the other one a slt and that word wasn’t beeped.

Thus my question, is btch a “naughtier” word then slt in America? Or did Rikki’s people miss a beeeeeep?

IMHO and generaly in this part of the world slt is a much “naughtier” word then btch. I have used the b-word many many many times, it tells the person you are talking to that you are pretty pissed off with them.

I don’t think I have ever called someone a sl*t. That speaks more to their character then to your anger with them.

Is it the opposite in the US or are the Rikki editor people full of cr*p :smiley:

2

Who is Rikki lake?

Slut is much worse in Aussie vernacular than bitch. Both are demeaning to women but what’s new?

3

Rikki Lake is a daft talk show type (I have no excuse for watching it …I just did).

As an Aussie do you really feel bitch is demeaning? I know as a kiwi I don’t. It just tells me whoever called me it is pissed off (mind you I swear like a trooper so maybe that’s why it doesn’t offend me).

Slut is a whole other thing though and is most definitely insulting and demeaning.

4

In America bitch is definitely a naughtier word than slut, but women (that I know, at least) are more offended by being called a slut than being called a bitch.

5

The thing about “bitch” is that had officially been relegated to the category of “Curse Words” by whoever is in charge of that kind of thing. “Slut”, although quite a rude word and not a very nice thing to call someone, was never an “official” Curse Word.

On American Television use of certain words is generally not decided on a case by case basis. Broadcasters feel much safer having a list of words they know they can not use. All of the Curse Words are on this list. Of course there are plenty of other rude words, “slut” being one of them, but they still get to be on T.V.

In social interaction “bitch” has evolved a broader meaning. Women have begun using the word as a term of empowerment and endearment much like the way many young black people use the term “nigger”. “Bitch” is now used enough that much of the fire has been taken out of it.

“Slut” is not defined nearly as broadly as “bitch”. Slut has a very direct and definite meaning so it will pretty much always be received negatively- but since it was never an “official” Curse Word, we get to use it on T.V.

So, odd though it may sound, “bitch” is worse on T.V., “slut” is worse in social interaction.

HOWEVER

“Bitch” has been used in primetime broadcast T.V. for at least 10 years now. I am surprised to hear that it was censored. Perhaps, this is because it was daytime T.V., or perhaps the producers of that particular show have their own, more strict, set of standards.

OR

Are you sure the word was “bitch”? If it was beeped out how can you tell? Did you get a clear view of her lips, making out a clear “b” formation? It is possible that instead of using the word “bitch” she used the word that, to American ears, is undisputably the most offensive pejorative word applied to women:

Cunt

Run a test sometime. Call an American woman a “bitch”, then call her a “slut”, then call her a “cunt”. Note the difference in reactions. I guarantee you that the strongest reaction will come in response to “cunt”. In fact, in the U.S., “cunt” may be the final taboo. I distinctly remember in one of Cecil’s columns (I’ve tried seaching it with no luck, maybe someone else can find it), the word “cunt” needed to be referred to. It was directly related to the subject matter and yet Cecil spelled it “c*nt”. Now, I’ve seen in many Straight Dope columns the words “fuck”, “shit”, “asshole”, and when relevant to discussion “nigger”. Yet, when it came to “cunt” they wouldn’t print it without replacing one of the letters with an asterisk.

Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt Cunt

6

I’ve often refered to some of my GFs as bitches they’ve never seemed to mind.

But call them a cunt; you better run for the hills. My last GF, you weren’t even allowed to say the word cunt in her presence; wheather if it was talking about someone else or not. You had to refer to it as the “C” word if the word cunt was deemed necessary in the conversation.

7

Well unless son-of-a-cunt has taken off recently…

I was not trying to say Americans never said bitch on tv. just struck me as odd that bitch was worse then slut.

Here we do do things case by case. Someone says something (seems to be ads doing the challenging lately) some “cunt” complains and the case is heard. Most recently bugger and bastard (now as soon as I typed bastard I’m not sure that was the word, though it was something similar) have been given the all clear for prime time, though we are a few years off slut.

8

Obviously I am thick. The fact that I heard the word slut obviously means we don’t censor it.

It is official. I am a doofus

9

“Bastard” has been O.K. for T.V. for a long time. We’ve never minded “bugger” since we don’t use it, ditto for “bloody” “git” and “poofter” (“pufter”?, “puffter”? It occurs to me that I don’t know how to spell this word.)

10

bienville, it’s “poofter” usually, and occasionally “poofta”.

Calm Kiwi, I must be as big a gutter-mouth as you :wink:
“Bitch” is definitely not a word that is very insulting (IMO). I often hear it as a term of endearment, or admiration, though also as an insult. The thing is, when I hear “bitch” as an insult, my first reaction is a yawn, as it’s pretty lame as far as insults go :slight_smile:
“Slut” tells me more about the person choosing the insult, IMO. It’s not a term I’d ever use, simply because I don’t consider females having sex as something that is bad. Then again, I have friends who think it is a nasty term, so it may depend on the audience.
“Cunt” is not a word that bothers me. I don’t see it as any different than “dick” or “cock”, but I know I’m in the minority on this one.

11

Fuckin Oath mate :wink:

12

I’ve seen “Ho” used in the same way, as well as “skank”. Personally, I’d perfer not to be called either of these, but they seem to be multi-use words.

I agree with you. It’s only derrogatory if you think the femal genitals are an inferior thing. Posessing said equipment, I can say that it’s vastly superior. Hey, maybe it’s a compliment! :smiley:

13

I am reminded of the old joke… “a slut sleeps with everyone, a bitch sleeps with everyone BUT YOU.”

I think slut is worse. I’ve actually seen women wearing ‘I’m a bitch, and proud of it’ t-shirts. I haven’t seen the equivalent with ‘slut’.

thwartme

14

Mid-west USA checking in here. Here is what I see.

Bitch has pretty much been redefined to apply to an attitude. Bold/brash/opinionated. The “I’m a bitch, and proud of it” statements are a way of saying that you are willing to express an opinion, usually loudly.

Slut is a comment on sexual promiscuity, or personal habits related to it (ie choice of clothing or makeup)

15

I remember the first time I heard someone say “cunt”. Must have been back in the 4th grade or so. That night, as I sat at the table eating dinner with my parents, I so innocently said . . .

“Hey Ma, what’s a cunt?”

SMACK! Right across the cheek.

I’m pretty sure my father was snickering.
As for the OP, I don’t see any difference in offensiveness between bitch and slut, but I’m another one who curses like a motherfucker. :wink:

16

Skelji, thanks for making me spew my Dr. Pepper all over my computer!! :slight_smile:

17

Yeah, I’ve seen a highschool-aged girl in a t-shirt that simply said “SLUT” on it.

Reclaiming the word proudly isn’t done as often as with “bitch” but there are those who do it.

I don’t get the strong visceral ick that so many folks feel about “cunt”. It sounds just right for what it denotes—it actually sounds wedge or triangle-shaped in my mind, like a V. To me it’s nowhere near as derogatory-sounding and ugly as “pussy”, which to me always sounds contemptuous.

18

I have a shirt that says “Slut.” Glows in the dark, too. :smiley: It’s part of the whole “reclaiming the word” thing. I wouldn’t actually consider myself a slut in the general sense of the word, but it makes people think.

19

So, here’s an interesting new wrinkle: the other day, Dr. Phil was on (no, I’m not a fan, my fiancee is), wall to wall with married couples in crisis. The interesting part was, when Phil went over the stuff they’d called one another, “bitch” was bleeped out, but “dick” was not. “You called her a bBEEPch, isn’t that right?” versus, “You called him a dick.” Seems odd to me, but there it was.

20

Personally, I don’t find either of them particularly insulting. I and the people whose opinions actually matter to me know that slut is patently untrue, and anyone who is stupid enough to try that particular insult on me isn’t worth anyone’s time or attention. By the same token, I sometimes am a bitch, and I don’t see anything offensive in calling it like it is. (Besides, I’ve noticed that for a lot of people, bitch is shorthand for “person who won’t put up with my bullshit” so sometimes I take it as a compliment.)

Still, as others have pointed out, bitch is considered a cussword, and cussing gets bleeped out. Slut, regardless of its power to insult, isn’t considered cussing, so it doesn’t get bleeped.

As for one speaking to someone’s character more than the other, I think that’s a load of crap. They both go to one’s character, just in different ways. Slut impugns the decisions you make about your sex life, bitch impugns the way you treat other people. I think it’s easier to call someone a bitch in the heat of anger (unless you’re arguing about sex), because arguments tend to be about how we respond to situations and treat other people. Saying that you’re being unfair or unfeeling (calling someone a bitch) is generally more germain to most arguments than saying that you sleep with too many people, but it’s still an attack on your character.