# Can we start calling each cunts in the pit again please? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 29, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148 "2009-08-29T13:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/41 "2009-08-31T20:06:35Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Can we describe people as “cunty,” or describe them as behaving “cuntily”? No. Did you read the sticky? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/42 "2009-08-31T20:13:16Z")
Haha, yes, I just thought it was funny to ask again. And the word “cunty” makes me laugh. But apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/43 "2009-08-31T20:17:52Z")
I guess it’s true, then. You cunt always get what you want. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/44 "2009-08-31T20:30:40Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I guess it’s true, then. You cunt always get what you want. TWAT you say?! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/45 "2009-09-01T00:30:46Z")
> [@true blue jack](#): > > twat you say?! 😉 SOMEONE SET US Up THE BOOB! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/46 "2009-09-01T01:26:57Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > No. > > This was not an “experiment” to please anyone’s ego, this was an attempt to remind people that there are limits, even in the Pit. That had always been in the Registration Agreement, but enforcement was uneven and it wasn’t clear where the limits were. Now it’s clearer, and we believe the boards are better for it. > > Neither are we going to reverse the rules on racism, threats of violence, illegal acts, spam, links to pornography, etc. > > If you are unable to conduct a discussion without using words like “cunt” and “nigger,” then perhaps you should seek other boards where such things are viewed as “appropriate” (using your word.) Just as a matter of curiosity, who has requested that the bans on racism, threats of violence, illegal acts, spam, or links to pornography be rescinded? Where in the OP is there a request to be allowed to call other Dopers “nigger”? Or are you simply using false equivalence in order to support an otherwise arbitrary decision? Personally, i think the rule against using “cunt” was, an is, retarded. But i’d actually prefer that they bring back the ability to say “Go fuck yourself” and its associated variants. Removing those was ridiculous pandering to fuck-knows-what. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/47 "2009-09-01T01:28:52Z")
> [@True Blue Jack](#): > > TWAT you say?! 😉 If you say tit a groin, maybe I can finger it out. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/48 "2009-09-01T01:48:57Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Just as a matter of curiosity, who has requested that the bans on racism, threats of violence, illegal acts, spam, or links to pornography be rescinded? Where in the OP is there a request to be allowed to call other Dopers “nigger”? Or are you simply using false equivalence in order to support an otherwise arbitrary decision? > > Personally, i think the rule against using “cunt” was, an is, retarded. But i’d actually prefer that they bring back the ability to say “Go fuck yourself” and its associated variants. Removing those was ridiculous pandering to fuck-knows-what. Man speaks the truth. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/49 "2009-09-01T02:13:37Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > You cunt always get what you want. But if you try real hard, clam you get what you need? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/50 "2009-09-01T02:38:47Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Personally, i think the rule against using “cunt” was, an is, retarded. But i’d actually prefer that they bring back the ability to say “Go fuck yourself” and its associated variants. Removing those was ridiculous pandering to fuck-knows-what. It was ridiculous pandering to the astounding concept that people can have polite discussions, and that even when flaming or insulting each other, the insults need not sink below a certain level of civility. The Straight Dope adheres to that ridiculous concept. There are, as noted before, lots of places on the internet where “Go fuck yourself” is normal discourse. I suggest anyone who has the overwhelming, uncontrollable urge to yell “Fuck you” at other posters should go to those sites to relieve that urge, and then come back here after flushing and washing their hands. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/51 "2009-09-01T02:44:30Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > It was ridiculous pandering to the astounding concept that people can have polite discussions, and that even when flaming or insulting each other, the insults need not sink below a certain level of civility. > > The Straight Dope adheres to that ridiculous concept. There are, as noted before, lots of places on the internet where “Go fuck yourself” is normal discourse. I suggest anyone who has the overwhelming, uncontrollable urge to yell “Fuck you” at other posters should go to those sites to relieve that urge, and then come back here after flushing and washing your hands. But if you really believed in the model you’re suggesting here, why not ban insults altogether? We can still call someone a fucking asshole, a raging douchebag, and a syphilis-infested whore without running afoul of the rules. My point was not simply that those insults should be allowed, but that their banning, in the context of all the other insults that are still allowed, is completely pointless, and nothing more than for-show busywork. It’s like the TSA screeners who made a mother drink from a bottle of her own breastmilk, or who confiscated nail-clippers; it did nothing to enhance security, and had no effect except to annoy people and make the rulemakers appear stupid and capricious. ETA: I realize that this battle is over. I never expected the OP’s request to be granted, and i don’t really care that much either. But your _post hoc_ rationalizations will never convince me that the change was a good idea, or that it made this place any more civil. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/52 "2009-09-01T03:40:16Z")
@ C K Dexter Haven You wrote: > [@](#): > > If you are unable to conduct a discussion without using words like “cunt” and “nigger,” then perhaps you should seek other boards where such things are viewed as “appropriate” (using your word.) And: > [@](#): > > It was ridiculous pandering to the astounding concept that people can have polite discussions, and that even when flaming or insulting each other, the insults need not sink below a certain level of civility. If I may, in all humility, contradict you, please. Your “certain level of civility” goal is not (and cannot) be met with your current strategy. Your elimination criteria are too arbitrary. In maintaining your certain level of civility, you are allowing one poster to tell another to go feltch a constipated goat. That makes no sense, if you don’t mind it being pointed out. Like mhendo, however, I’m expecting no change. Please pardon my frankness, but I’m only making you aware of the fact that a thinking person simply cannot take your reasoning seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/53 "2009-09-01T15:23:39Z")
Really, you can use no otherwise strong language at all and still offend someone in much greater terms than with a simple “cunt”. Hell, you can use such words and still be civil, much like that. The idea that banning strong language will mean greater civility is simply silly. Posters will just act uncivilly in different, acceptable ways. I know I do. Beyond that, I find it pretty funny that the two messages **Dex** has posted in this thread both mention this idea that apparently people just can’t go without using whatever language in their posts, and yet he apparently isn’t able to forego sarcasm and hyperbole. So far as lack of control goes, i’m not so sure he has the high ground on this particular point. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/54 "2009-09-01T15:56:50Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > It was ridiculous pandering to the astounding concept that people can have polite discussions, and that even when flaming or insulting each other, the insults need not sink below a certain level of civility. > > The Straight Dope adheres to that ridiculous concept. \ I agree, it is a ridiculous concept, and the pandering is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/55 "2009-09-01T16:50:57Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > But if you really believed in the model you’re suggesting here, why not ban insults altogether? > > We can still call someone a fucking asshole, a raging douchebag, and a syphilis-infested whore without running afoul of the rules. My point was not simply that those insults should be allowed, but that their banning, in the context of all the other insults that are still allowed, is completely pointless, and nothing more than for-show busywork. It’s like the TSA screeners who made a mother drink from a bottle of her own breastmilk, or who confiscated nail-clippers; it did nothing to enhance security, and had no effect except to annoy people and make the rulemakers appear stupid and capricious. > > ETA: I realize that this battle is over. I never expected the OP’s request to be granted, and i don’t really care that much either. But your _post hoc_ rationalizations will never convince me that the change was a good idea, or that it made this place any more civil. For some of us, the difference between calling someone a “fucking asshole” and saying to them directly, “fuck you!” is quite apparent. And I agree: if you cannot engage in discourse without the latter, you should go elsewhere. Of course, if it were me, I’d preclude the former, too, but then if it were me, there would be no Pit. But I can certainly understand the difference between the two. And so should most rational people. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/56 "2009-09-01T16:58:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t think this is really that complicated. 😛 My post was not in Aramaic. I don’t know where I’ve seen more weaseling. Just fucking show it to me, if it’s that easy. Or admit that you cannot be bothered to answer a direct question with a straight answer. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/57 "2009-09-01T17:08:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I wouldn’t play this game unless I thought **Gfactor** had the reading comprehension of a small rock. 😉 Wonderful. [Shakespeare banned from the Pit.](http://www.definition-of.com/country) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/58 "2009-09-01T17:09:33Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I don’t know where I’ve seen more weaseling. Just fucking show it to me, if it’s that easy. Or admit that you cannot be bothered to answer a direct question with a straight answer. I’ve answered you directly twice and at this point I don’t know what you are confused about. [Would](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [help](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [if](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [I](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [posted](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [the](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [some](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [more?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/59 "2009-09-01T17:12:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’ve answered you directly twice and at this point I don’t know what you are confused about. [Would](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [help](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [if](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [I](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [posted](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [the](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [some](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) [more?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) No, because I am asking for \*your \*words, not the words of someone else. I have no idea why this concept is so difficult for you. Where did YOU say it? Understand? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148/60 "2009-09-01T17:16:43Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > No, because I am asking for \*your \*words, not the words of someone else. I have no idea why this concept is so difficult for you. Where did YOU say it? Understand? That would still be post 20, where I quoted the rule itself to answer your questions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-calling-each-cunts-in-the-pit-again-please/508148.md?page=4)