# Fighting misogyny - but "cunt" and "bitch" are still okay words

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-misogyny-but-cunt-and-bitch-are-still-okay-words/853769>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [May 14, 2020, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-misogyny-but-cunt-and-bitch-are-still-okay-words/853769 "2020-05-14T04:16:52Z")\
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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-misogyny-but-cunt-and-bitch-are-still-okay-words/853769/39 "2020-05-14T22:38:17Z")

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> [@JRDelirious](#):
>
> To quote myself from another related thread:
> 
> I would rather bear the responsibility for what I say, what words I use to say it, and in what context and what consequences it may carry, than be given an ever-expanding Index of Zero Tolerance words and phrases that will (a) encourage the more obnoxious to find ever more creative ways to dance at the edge of the line and give more ammunition to those who decry the injustice when one of them gets busted; and/or (b) burn those who may not mean ill but just momentarily lose composure in a moment of pique, and shut down any appeal in defense.
> 
> That said people with the inclination to abuse will at some point provide enough rope to hang themselves, and it may be good to make it a shorter length thereof, thus speeding up the self-corrective effect, but still leaving some margin for discretion (of course, provided the Mods are on target)

I understand your point, but it seems to me that the mods do have a concept of an Index of Zero Tolerance words. That’s what I took from **Jonathan Chance** ’s warning to **Shodan** that triggered the banning:

> [@Should Homeschooling be banned?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-homeschooling-be-banned/853721/78):
>
> **We’ve had the discussion about ‘harpy’ before, Shodan**. Let’s keep the sexism to a minimum, everybody.
> 
> Warning issued.

Sounds to me like it’s an \*ipso facto \*sexist word, when used to describe a female public figure. May not always trigger a banning, depending on the poster’s history, but certainly a Bad Word.

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