# Is the C-word allowed outside the Pit? {Answered: not in a misogynistic way or to insult. Not even with a letter changed} **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 11, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325 "2022-02-11T18:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/21 "2022-02-12T02:00:51Z")
I don’t know what the title used to be, but i agree that the issue is that she was called a cunt, and I’m pretty indifferent to the spelling. Although, trying to connect her to Q-anon is an interesting theory, and might matter. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/22 "2022-02-12T02:02:51Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > It’s misogyny. It’s reducing a woman to a single body part to dismiss and insult her. Absolutely. We should be better than that. Even in the pit, I’m not sure “cunt” should be tolerated in reference to anyone. (I’d have to dig, but I’m pretty sure in the last few weeks I saw the word “cunt” being used in reference to a poster. No, I didn’t report it, because I’m not sure what the rules are in the Pit in regards to that.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/23 "2022-02-12T03:17:27Z")
I object to the c-word, would not mind if we totally banned it again. But sometimes “bitch” is the right word. But used with caution. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/24 "2022-02-12T03:39:58Z")
Do we have a similar disapproval for the frequent use of the word “dick” to describe an obnoxious person (usually male for some reason)? I tend to see “dick” as being roughly on par with “bitch” when used as an insult. (Calling someone a “prick” is stronger language.) > [@puzzlegal](#): > > Although, trying to connect her to Q-anon is an interesting theory, and might matter. This is obvious. Consider the precedents we have (and not just on this board), using GQP or QOP for GOP, and names like Qevin MqQarthy and MqQonnell. Maybe everyone’s forgotten, by the way, but we’ve had problems with naughty words appearing in thread titles outside the Pit, and even in the Pit because those thread titles can show up elsewhere. When Trump left office, I started a Post-Clusterfuck thread somewhere outside the Pit, which caused some objections to having Clusterfuck in the title. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/25 "2022-02-12T03:47:28Z")
24 posts to get to “what about the men?” > [@DrDeth](#): > > But sometimes “bitch” is the right word. If you are a dog breeder and need to refer to one of the breeding stock? If that’s not it, please elaborate. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/26 "2022-02-12T04:01:45Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > we’ve had problems with naughty words appearing in thread titles outside the Pit, and even in the Pit because those thread titles can show up elsewhere. The “more jokes” thread now having NO RAPE JOKES in capital letters in the thread title is a bit disturbing when it keeps popping up and catching the eye. I can imagine why it was done, but isn’t there a better way of enforcing this? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/27 "2022-02-12T04:07:39Z")
And if a racial slur was used with a letter substituted I doubt that rules-lawyering would be tolerated. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/28 "2022-02-12T04:14:11Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > No, she was not. You misrepresented what happened. _Qunt_ was what was written. I think you’re off base here. I can’t envision how any word that is disallowed would ever pass muster through creative spelling. It really does not alter the primary question that was raised in the original title. ETA: ninjaed by @octopus ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/29 "2022-02-12T04:18:18Z")
He got banned because of using the word ‘harpy’ to describe a woman. That was a warning and then a ban. You can’t honestly claim otherwise. Furthermore, he also got a warning for something that was explicitly allowed by Ed. Which led to some interesting fallout if I do recall correctly. One of which is a farcical sticky in the Pit. C’mon man. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2022, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/30 "2022-02-12T04:24:49Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > One of which is a farcical sticky in the Pit. No, that was related to a different incident, also involving **Shodan** , but not related to gendered insults. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/31 "2022-02-12T04:34:25Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It was reported and my take is that it was considered to be on par with “F@ck” or “Sh%t” or “N-Word”. If someone ever said “take that n-word down a peg” I would really hope they would be instabanned. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/32 "2022-02-12T04:48:16Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It might be like”n-word,” I don’t think so. I think it would be like saying “Barack Obama is a migger” and the Mods saying, “That’s OK because it used an ‘m’ instead of an ‘n’ so it’s not the same word.” To this point, a mod changed the title to imply the thread is about letter changing and not what the implied word was and I am on record as saying when I wrote the title, that is what I meant. OR It could be that calling a non-member a migger with an n is acceptable outside of the Pit. As of yet, no mods have answered that question. You know - the question I asked before my title was changed. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/33 "2022-02-12T04:59:31Z")
Yup, “n-word” is a way of _referencing_ the word without saying it, it obviously doesn’t circumvent the taboo on _using_ the word as a slur. Just as @DeadTreasSecretaries said. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/34 "2022-02-12T05:02:48Z")
Yeah, the thing that makes the word use a slur/insult is that it’s directed at a target. Qunt and cunt have the exact same meaning in that context (obviously besides the qanon allusion). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/35 "2022-02-12T05:08:37Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I don’t think so. I think it would be like saying “Barack Obama is a migger” and the Mods saying, “That’s OK Yeah, i can guarantee the mods would not be okay with that. Speaking as a mod, I’m really certain of that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/37 "2022-02-12T05:17:53Z")
A female dog. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/40 "2022-02-12T05:36:24Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I don’t know what the title used to be, but i agree that the issue is that she was called a cunt, and I’m pretty indifferent to the spelling. Although, trying to connect her to Q-anon is an interesting theory, and might matter. Seconding, mostly. I assumed the spelling was a weak attempt to avoid being noted or warned for misogyny. But even if it was a bad pun from Qanon, it’s still misogynistic. > [@Riemann](#): > > The “more jokes” thread now having NO RAPE JOKES in capital letters in the thread title is a bit disturbing when it keeps popping up and catching the eye. It also led to rather a burst of ‘hey look I’m not making a rape joke’ jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/41 "2022-02-12T06:22:24Z")
Here’s a previous moderator decision on the subject: > [@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. > [@What's the mechanism of action of a massage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mechanism-of-action-of-a-massage/836529/18): > > **[Moderating]** > > I’m charitably assuming that you’re British, and are somehow unaware of just how offensive the word “cunt” is in American English. And it’s clearly not directed against a person, in this context. So this is not an official Warning. But do not use this word on the board again. [And here’s the ATMB discussion that resulted.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-allowed-to-use-the-word/836588) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/42 "2022-02-12T06:33:19Z")
I’ll admit. I saw it and was disturbed. I can’t stand MTG but that doesn’t matter, I don’t like that word used in any context to describe a person. It’s not okay to be a misogynist when it’s aimed at the “right person”. I was tempted to report it, but I searched for the C word as it was used in P&E and saw numerous uses against specific women and not one instance of it being moderated. Based on that, I figured it was explicitly allowed. I don’t like it, but I’m not reporting something that isn’t against the rules. I even checked the P&E rules post and as far as I can tell, there’s nothing prohibiting its use as long as it’s not directed against another poster. So I really don’t like it, but it seems pretty clear it’s not against the rules. It really should be, though. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2022, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325/43 "2022-02-12T08:53:51Z")
The use of “harpy” was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. He’d been warned repeatedly for insults, trolling, and other violations. I’m not sure how many he’d accumulated prior to that incident, but it’s disingenuous to suggest that it was just the use of “harpy” that was the ban catalyst. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-c-word-allowed-outside-the-pit-answered-not-in-a-misogynistic-way-or-to-insult-not-even-with-a-letter-changed/959325.md?page=3)