# Did Mr Burns say W\*nker in Simpsons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077 "2002-11-16T23:04:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/1 "2002-11-16T23:04:13Z")
In the episode featuring U2 did Mr Burns indeed say w_nker. Apparantly he said it at the end of the episode on the plane when U2 threw plastic spoons at him. I’ve heard milder British English swear words being used on American shows because they aren’t really known in America but W_nker seems a bit much somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/2 "2002-11-16T23:11:03Z")
“Wanker” is considered worse than “mildly offensive” in the UK? I did not know that. I thought it was a pretty soft insult, like “dork” or “jerk.” Anyway, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen wanker more than once on US TV, although I can’t think of any specific instances off the top of my head. Probably heard it a few times in _Buffy: The Vampire Slayer._ ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/3 "2002-11-16T23:52:41Z")
Wanker is like bloody in US media. Or pissed, for that matter. A non-issue. I spend time on UK message boards and can never figure out why those three words get censored when I could let loose with a stream of more “American” cursing and have it all get past the auto-censor. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/4 "2002-11-17T00:56:00Z")
As a Brit living in the US, my perceptions are: - bloody and wanker can be used by US TV because they are not swear words in the US. Any English character must utter “bloody” in the first couple of sentences in case you can’t work out the nationailty from the accent. - pissed is a swear word in both countries but is much milder in the US. - ass and asshole are not really swear words in the UK, mostly because they are not used. Arse and arsehole are the equivalent, and they are pretty mild. I find it odd that a show like NYPD Blue will get a TV14 rating just because they drop a few “assholes” into the dialog. - damn is worse in the US, possibly because it is a much more religious country. Words like the f and c word are much the same in both countries. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/5 "2002-11-17T01:18:01Z")
In “Married With Children” Peggy’s maiden name was Wanker. It was really weird to see that, because down in this part of the world “wanker” is on a similar level as the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/6 "2002-11-17T01:39:27Z")
You’re referring the episode “Trash of the Titans”, also featuring the voice of Steve Martin. Wanker was said twice; first by Adam Clayton of U2 (said when the other members wouldn’t invite him out for drinks) and finally by Mr. Burns (it was at the very end). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/7 "2002-11-17T06:41:24Z")
Ok, so what’s a wanker in the UK? I’m not sure I even know what it means in the US, other than --like Miller said-- a dork or a jerk. Happy ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/8 "2002-11-17T07:17:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Probably heard it a few times in Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. Yep, Spike has been known to call people wankers when he’s not particularly happy. As far as British swears or slang goes on BtVS, here’s what else we have SPIKE: Oh, listen to Mary Poppins. He’s got his crust all stiff and upper with that nancy-boy accent. (everyone looking at him) You Englishmen are always so… (pauses) Bloody hell! (ticks off on his fingers) Sodding, blimey, shagging, knickers, bollocks, oh God! I’m English! GILES: (puts glasses on) Welcome to the nancy tribe. Giles: We few we happy few Spike: We band of buggered. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/9 "2002-11-17T10:27:44Z")
_Wank_ is British slang for “masturbate”, so a _wanker_ is literally a masturbator. In America, we’d say _jerk_ or _jerkoff_. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/10 "2002-11-17T11:45:42Z")
Don’t know. but you reminded me of one of my favourite scenes after homer recieves a thankyou letter sent to marge,maggie,bart,lisa,santa’s little helper, and snowball (omitting homer) Homer - “Kids? Please Leave the room…” Homer - “ **F!** ” (cut, immediately, to birds exiting the tree hurridly and the sound of a church organ) Flanders - “wow, that’s the loudest profanity I ever heard” (it’s funnier when you see it - trust me) ---
**Author:** ![Gartog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@Gartog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gartog)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/11 "2002-11-17T13:29:33Z")
In the U2 epsiode that aired here, I’m pretty sure nobody said Wanker . . .I have seen it on both BBC 2 at 6:00 (which definatly would have cut it out) and on SKY ONE (probably also before 9:00) On British TV I don’t think you would be able to say Wanker before the 9:00pm watershed (8:00pm on SKY?). ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/12 "2002-11-17T15:26:46Z")
That episode aired in Australia at 7pm or so. “Wanker” was definitely said. I was quite surprised at the time. “Wanker” is about as offensive in Australia as it is in Britain, IMO. Less offensive than “fuckhead” and the c- word; more offensive than “dickhead”, for example. ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/13 "2002-11-18T00:17:50Z")
I always thought _wanker_ was on the same level as _dork_, until the day I used the w-word in a UK trivia chat room. I was reminded by the host that profanity was not tolerated. Oops!:o ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/14 "2002-11-18T00:31:43Z")
Wanker is not considered a curse word in America **at all!** Nobody here has a clue what it means. In fact, you could probably say it as a joke on a kid’s show because its just a funny sounding word. It’s like a fight sound from the old Batman series. Bam! Biff! Wank! On one of Monty Python’s records there’s a bit about learning to say embarrassing words. The big puchline is **“Wankle Rotary Engine”** which us Americans still found hilarious, even without getting the whole ‘wank’ part. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/15 "2002-11-18T05:23:42Z")
Yeah, then there’s that whole thing about “fanny”. I got to sit down our visiting Australian girl while on the church trip and tell her about our differences concerning that word. I was worried, because she had just barely missed a pastor making a loud announcement about a missing “fanny pack.” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/16 "2002-11-18T10:35:54Z")
In _Billy Elliot_, there is a scene where Billy has just successfully (and finally) mastered a particular ballet element. His teacher gives him a wink to indicate praise. Then, Mr. Braithwaite, the piano player, sneaks up behind him and whispers in his ear, “You seemed like a right wanker to me.” For those who understand the Northeast England dialect, what does it mean in that context? I had assumed that it was along the lines of “you seemed like a doofus to me” rather than a comment on the boy’s sexual practices. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/17 "2002-11-18T10:48:24Z")
I would have thought it had been mentioned by now. ‘Wanker’ in the UK (not just the north-east) generally means prat, ‘doofus’, idiot, ninny, nonce, pranny, oh heck I can’t describe it without using another questionable word. it doesn’t mean “you like to masterbate” (well it does) it more closely means “you are an idiot” or “you are annoying” or both. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/18 "2002-11-18T10:53:19Z")
> [@](#): > > On one of Monty Python’s records there’s a bit about learning to say embarrassing words. The big puchline is “Wankle Rotary Engine” which us Americans still found hilarious, even without getting the whole ‘wank’ part. It does sound a funny word. I expect most brits found it funny without connecting it to/thinking about the wank/wanker/masturbation issue. in fact it would be _less_ funny if we did becauce wank/wanker/masturbate is more embarrasing than funny. speaking of wankers… **ALAN PARTRIDGE IS ON TONIGHT FELLAS! 10PM BBC 2 (I think)** ahhh… that’s a point. if any American wants to see a perfect specimin of a wanker, try to get hold of an episode of Alan Partridge. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/19 "2002-11-18T10:58:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I always thought wanker was on the same level as dork, until the day I used the w-word in a UK trivia chat room. I was reminded by the host that profanity was not tolerated. > > Oops! I’d say wanker is just slightly above dork. It depends on what situation you are in. It has sexual connotations so it is probably quite string. If you say it in a public/televised/respectable situation it is a profanity so it is not liked. If you say it amongsts friends 13 or older it is completely mild, in fact you might be surprised what a collection of 13 year old boys will consider as ‘mild’ ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077/20 "2002-11-18T16:54:38Z")
> [@](#): > > That episode aired in Australia at 7pm or so. “Wanker” was definitely said. I was quite surprised at the time. > > “Wanker” is about as offensive in Australia as it is in Britain, IMO. Less offensive than “fuckhead” and the c- word; more offensive than “dickhead”, for example. I remember that. I was excited because U2 was going to be on. I wasn’t shocked by the language - maybe it’s an age difference. I don’t think wanker is any more offensive that dickhead. Frontline based a whole joke in an episode around the word softcock, and i think that is worse than wanker, [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mr-burns-say-w-nker-in-simpsons/137077.md?page=2)