The word being “cunt”, obviously. Because it keeps cropping up as a divisive issue on the board…
I would like to ask IF it is being objected to for a reason that is quite other than “it’s a bad wordydirty and offends people”. I think if such were the case, perhaps even people who disagree with the stated reason might be less resentful of the ban on the use of the word as insult than if it is (or is perceived as) “that word is just too ugly for our delicate eyes & ears”.
Can we confine this thread to a discussion of whether there is a philosophical objection to the word versus just a gut dislike / disapproval of it, and what the objection is? And discuss those issues in Great Debates style rather than whether or not Ed is a bluenose or the board motivated by this or that pragmatic concern or whether it’s being enforced even-handedly and so forth?
I really don’t know why this word in particular was given any difference than the other words. Were there some overly-sensitive women? Were there some overly-sensitive men who thought they were standing up for women?
Really, profanity, as I’ll continue to insist in every thread like this that I see, is a superstition. By deciding “well, you can use profanity, wait, what? You said cunt? No, no, THAT one is too dangerous!” you’re only reinforcing a painful ritual that has little meaning.
My understanding is that many, perhaps most, women find it highly offensive. More so than most other obscenities that refer to women. I hardly ever use it for that reason. Others may differ.
It’s complicated, and will just derail the thread. Try searching this forum for the word that must not be spoken. Find anything that references the Pit, new rules, and Ed et al screwing up back in March of last year.
No, I’ve never reported it. No, I am not too delicate to use profanity. However, it is highly offensive, especially to women and, as such, does not significantly contribute anything. There are many other colourful and ‘acceptable’ profane words that could as easily be used in it’s place.
I don’t feel much sympathy for those needing to defend it’s use. It lowers the level of discourse and adds nothing to any discussion. If you can’t express yourself without use of this highly offensive word then you have other issues, in my opinion.
Substitute the word nigger in each place where it’s use is being defended and I think you’ll see it’s just not necessary. Since it is highly offensive and it isn’t really necessary, I say let’s go without it.
For some people, ‘cunt’ is the ultimate profanity. Or, at least, it should be. The problem lies in the fact for others it is used, more and more often, as just a form of disapproval or reasonably strong annoyance. And this is where the twain don’t meet. For the former it is, by definition, beyond the pale; it is at the top of the tree of insults. For the latter, it doesn’t have anything like the same power or effect, and will be used without the intent that the former see in it.
If I’m wrong, and those people also see it as an ‘ultimate’ curse, I wonder if they realise that by using it so frequently that they are diluting its power. Eventually, I suppose, something else will take the place of cunt. And the cycle will begin again.
But why - on a message board - would you want to offend? Disagree - yes; but offend? And, I disagree that there there isn’t another way to put across those feelings. Cunt is basically shorthand, and a pretty blunt instrument.
My post above was originally going to say that I hate that words have this much power, but I still try to avoid it.
And yes people know that, if they use it enough, it will lose its effectiveness. I think that’s what they want. At least, it seemed that way with every other word. One thing I dislike about this board is that I absorbed stuff from here and now use profanity a lot more often. I used to pride myself on never using it.
As a woman, I believe that cunt is NOT the ultimate profanity and is NOT equivalent to “Nigger” or any other racist hate speech, and I believe if you’ve got a problem with it, there’s a greasemonkey script or add-on for firefox that you can use to filter the interwebs so you’ll never have to see it again.
…which makes it all the more like the word nigger. There are people who do not find the word nigger offensive, I’m sure. That doesn’t defend it’s use or make it acceptable.
I’m not easily offended I just happen to think that this particular word belongs on the same garbage heap as nigger.
Please demonstrate instances where this word alone will do, because I’d like to know, if that’s the case.
I’d say gut dislike rather than philosophical objection. It’s got a mean onomatopoetic feel to it like “slit” or “snatch” or something. I’d bet even someone for whom English isn’t their language would immediately get that it’s a pretty bad word.
Moderator hat should come off before complaining about it though.
I also agree when a word takes on a superstitious power for you, you should probably take a deep breath, relax and think about why you’re letting a word take on magical properties.
We have already done the “is cunt offensive” debate before. I don’t think there is any need to repeat it once again.
The point is, if TPTB decide that the word is verboten, then let them ban it across the board with a clear rule that leaves no room for interpretation. “Thou shall not say cunt” is fine. Arbitrary rules are not intrinsically wrong, people. Most of our rules are already arbitrary.
The problem comes when the rules is that you can use it in some cases but not in some others. Or when individual mods decide when it is ok and when it is not. “No cunt outside the pit” is clear enough, just as “no cunt, period” (gee, where did I hear that before?).
The “you can say cunt but not as an insult” rule could work but not here. Fine lines are the natural habitat of dopers and there will always be someone using it in a way that defies the spirit if not the letter of the rule.