# On the use of that C word and WHY it is an issue **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 10, 2010, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625 "2010-04-10T12:27:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/61 "2010-04-10T21:50:45Z")
Your solution has already been mentioned. vBulletin, like ALL FUCKING MESSAGE BOARD SOFTWARE WRITTEN IN THIS CENTURY has an available nanny filter. So that the whole, entire list of naughtybadevil words will be censored. SO INSTALL THE FUCKING NANNY FILTER ALREADY, SO THOSE WHO HAVE SANDY CUNTS CAN HAVE THEIR FUCKING HAPPY FUNTIME G-RATED FUCKING BOARD ALREADY. Then, if you wanna be REALLY WHIZBANG about it, you can turn on the option in the individual UserCPs to either have the nanny filter on or off, depending on the relative size grit of the sand in each individual poster’s cunt. Jesus Fucking Christ on a whole wheat cracker, just implement the fucking filter already. Or, y’know, just keep faffing about with this whole cunting nonsense indefinitely, FFS. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/62 "2010-04-10T21:54:02Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Your solution has already been mentioned. vBulletin, like ALL FUCKING MESSAGE BOARD SOFTWARE WRITTEN IN THIS CENTURY has an available nanny filter. So that the whole, entire list of naughtybadevil words will be censored. SO INSTALL THE FUCKING NANNY FILTER ALREADY, SO THOSE WHO HAVE SANDY CUNTS CAN HAVE THEIR FUCKING HAPPY FUNTIME G-RATED FUCKING BOARD ALREADY. Then, if you wanna be REALLY WHIZBANG about it, you can turn on the option in the individual UserCPs to either have the nanny filter on or off, depending on the relative size grit of the sand in each individual poster’s cunt. > > Jesus Fucking Christ on a whole wheat cracker, just implement the fucking filter already. Or, y’know, just keep faffing about with this whole cunting nonsense indefinitely, FFS. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/63 "2010-04-10T22:44:24Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > … might indeed say “you nigger!”… it’s not an insult to a black person, it’s just reminding them of what they are, if that makes any sense. Many cultural “rules” make no sense to someone from another culture, who doesn’t understand the first culture. That’s a big problem/danger of “multiculturism”. It encourages people to “avoid giving offense” to people of a different culture, rather than _ **understand** _ that culture. I’ve had black friends (and their relatives and friends whom I’ve met and talked with) who _ **HATE** _ (figuratively) white people who walk on eggshells around them, in an attempt to “avoid giving offense” because of “political correctness” & “multiculturalism”. Those “white people” mostly come off as clueless, rather than “inclusive” or “tolerant”. I get pissed [for you Brits, in the US that doesn’t mean (even remotely) what it means to you] at all the politicians who say we need “an honest conversation on race in this country”, who then proceed to avoid the issue. I’ve _ **had** _ those “conversations” with people of other races and cultures, for real, and the one conclusion we keep coming up with is that PC & MC are destructive, rather than helpful, for “them” _ **or** _ “us whites”. What’s the relevance to this thread? We (meaning males) have a hard time bridging the linguistic gap between “our own” “racial” females. What chance do we have bridging the gap between “races”, or even “southern redneck culture”, if we can’t even bridge the gap between “sexes” within our own culture? “Cunt”, “Bitch”, “Dick”, “Prick”, it’s all the same as “Nigger” or “Cracker” between male/female vs. white/black. We _ **ALL** _ need to stop seeing people of other cultures as someone to “not offend”, and rather see them as from a culture we want to understand and could, if only we would _ **honestly** _ try, learn something from. End rant. ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/64 "2010-04-10T23:01:51Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > Cunt, please. Would you like to Super Size? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/65 "2010-04-10T23:08:02Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > You might want to check out the [lyrics](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Oliver%27s-Army-lyrics-Elvis-Costello/10B0BB2F9597FDE9482568AF00206026) of the Elvis Costello song “Oliver’s Army” for one example. _ **Elvis Costello** _!!!one!!!eleven!!! **not\_alice** , I’m your fan!!! ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/66 "2010-04-10T23:13:56Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Can you imagine someone becoming upset over the letter “J”? In fact, I can point out to you a specific group of people who _ **DO** _ get upset ‘over the letter “J”’, as long as you put the “J” in quotes, like that. You would be _ **amazed** _ at what people can be offended by. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/67 "2010-04-10T23:17:51Z")
> [@SoulFrost](#): > > Would you like to Super Size? Nigga, please! ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/68 "2010-04-10T23:22:50Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > Nigga, please! I like that. “Please” and “thank you” just aren’t said enough these days. You’re welcome, cu… nah, I better not go there. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/69 "2010-04-10T23:26:56Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > In fact, I can point out to you a specific group of people who _ **DO** _ get upset ‘over the letter “J”’, as long as you put the “J” in quotes, like that. You would be _ **amazed** _ at what people can be offended by. I am offended by capricious of bold and italics. Not to mention underlining, triple quotes and the use of the phrase “not to mention”. ETA: Oh, shit. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/70 "2010-04-11T00:29:02Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > I am offended by capricious of bold and italics. Not to mention underlining, triple quotes and the use of the phrase “not to mention”. > > ETA: Oh, shit. Awright, beotch, point out where I used the phrase “not to mention”!!!one!!eleben!!! I _ **“”“DARE”“”** _ ya… :D:D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/71 "2010-04-11T00:38:26Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Your solution has already been mentioned. vBulletin, like ALL FUCKING MESSAGE BOARD SOFTWARE WRITTEN IN THIS CENTURY has an available nanny filter. So that the whole, entire list of naughtybadevil words will be censored. SO INSTALL THE FUCKING NANNY FILTER ALREADY, SO THOSE WHO HAVE SANDY CUNTS CAN HAVE THEIR FUCKING HAPPY FUNTIME G-RATED FUCKING BOARD ALREADY. Then, if you wanna be REALLY WHIZBANG about it, you can turn on the option in the individual UserCPs to either have the nanny filter on or off, depending on the relative size grit of the sand in each individual poster’s cunt. > > Jesus Fucking Christ on a whole wheat cracker, just implement the fucking filter already. Or, y’know, just keep faffing about with this whole cunting nonsense indefinitely, FFS. AMEN! And when the filter starts to edit words like \*\*\*ume, \*\*\*_tail, etc and doesn’t know that the \*\*\*\* in “cock and bull” isn’t a penis reference, well, should we start a new thread to see which Mod gets [del]stuck with[/del] the privilege of editing the "bad word list_"? CMC fnord! \*Is the vBulletin software multilingual? 'Course, I’m sure as merde no one will start throwing the bad words through Babel Fish just for the 性交ing fun of it! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/72 "2010-04-11T01:06:52Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > I’m sure as merde no one will start throwing the bad words through Babel Fish just for the 性交ing fun of it! :rolleyes: Actually, “seiko” tranlates as “sexual intercourse” though Babelfish, and “fuck” through Google. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/73 "2010-04-11T01:10:00Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > AMEN! > > And when the filter starts to edit words like \*\*\*ume… Er…vol? res? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/74 "2010-04-11T01:23:14Z")
**Guin** , I foolishly promised one of our Dopers not to use the word “niggardly” in my posts. This Doper knew that it was not based on the more familiar term, but felt that people used it just because they wanted to be offensive anyway. > [@](#): > > **Malacandra** : But of course Zoe knew this already - mere mortals such as you and I cannot hope to teach her anything about the use of English. I think this is the first time at the Straight Dope that I have seen ignorance encouraged and knowledge ridiculed. Guin’s comment was appropriate. **Malacandra’s** unprovoked and irrelevant comment is not in keeping with the spirit of the message boards. > [@](#): > > **AClockworkMelon** : I haven’t used “cunt” anywhere on the board outside of this thread, I don’t believe. But I think an understanding of the myth of profanity is a mark of maturity, not a sign of immaturity. Yes. That’s what all that “hippie BS” was about. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/75 "2010-04-11T01:27:52Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Yes. That’s what all that “hippie BS” was about. I’m aware. I was being sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/76 "2010-04-11T01:34:10Z")
One cunt, Two cunt, Red cunt, Blue cunt, Black cunt, Blue cunt, Old cunt, New cunt. This one has a littlecar. This one has a little star. Say! What a lot of cunts there are. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/77 "2010-04-11T01:46:58Z")
> [@](#): > > **AClockworkMelon** : I’m aware. I was being sarcastic. Oops. Sensitive old hippie here. I _thought_ we were in agreement and that one left me scratching my head. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/78 "2010-04-11T02:05:22Z")
I’m struck by the number of people who think being offensive is not a valid goal of communication. It certainly _is_ a valid goal. People do or say things that we feel deserve a strong response, and sometimes we feel as if they should be punished or have their attention drawn to the strength of our reaction. Using offensive language is one way to do so. It is a fact that offensive words are stronger by definition, even though those words are fairly arbitrary – the offensiveness of words is nothing more than a social construct, and calling someone a less offensive word will not have the effect the speaker wishes. While a juvenile philosophy of communication might emphasize being polite and non-contentious, the role that offensive words play must be filled in _any_ mature communicative scheme. Other curse words will spring up due to social use; words that aren’t offensive unless we make them so, like “troll” or “sock” or “retarded” or “gay”. As amusing as it would be to read a message board filled with things like f\*\*k or posters expressing outrage by calling each other “grontarg”, there’s really no reason to go there. Having rules against posters being purposefully offensive to other posters is fine (except in the pit). Having rules against using offensive language simply because the very existence of a word is enough to offend is not fine. Note that the first is more about propriety to other posters, whereas the second is about trying to change the very essence of our communication with others. It won’t work, and it’s silly. Being offensive is a tool, an important tool, in communication. Trying to deny that is just banging your head against the wall – it doesn’t really do anything and after a while it will make you stupid. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/79 "2010-04-11T02:28:10Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Er…vol? res? Ass. ETA: Oh, and that was the word, too. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/80 "2010-04-11T02:38:27Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:54, topic:535625”] So, just to make sure I understand you (speaking as an individual, not in my moderator capacity), the argument is that people should be able to say “cunt” on the SDMB because it’s an effective way to offend people? Yet, at the same time, it’s being argued that the word isn’t really offensive? Our #1 overriding rule is “don’t be a jerk.” If you’re using a word with the intent to offend someone, that’s being a jerk, right? And if it’s not being used with the intent to offend someone, then why not use a different word? _sigh_ I was attracted to the SDMB in the first place because it seemed to be a whole bunch of smart, _mature_ people. For the most part, it still is. But this whole “I want to say cunt, dammit, just because I can” argument reminds me of 6th grade. [/QUOTE] You misunderstand. My choice of wording was probably inappropriate. What I mean is that the word is designed to be insulting TO THE PERSON IT IS DIRECTED AT. In the Pit, being a jerk and doing that is SOP, which is why I hate the restriction in the Pit. On the rest of the board, we’re allowed to be insulting towards non-Dopers. I don’t understand why we can be insulting up to, but not including, this one word. Yeah. it’s more insulting (for whatever reason). But why is that an excuse for its lack of use? Most of the people that object to it seem to be taking it as if it were directed toward them. It is they who are offended. Since it’s not a personal insult, I don’t understand why their inability to not be offended is relevant. If we’re going to start that, then we’re going to have to pull a lot of words out. For example, a fundamentalist could pop in and get y’all to make fundie off limits. A Christian: how about sky wizard or pink unicorn? They’re pretty offensive to me, since their being derogatory towards my God. How about a proctologist objecting to asshole being a bad thing? Or sex therapist with the word Fuck? Or how abut a certain author who writes books about excrement outlawing shithead and similar insults? Finally, the maturity comment goes both ways. While the metaphorical sixth grader may use profanity because he can get away with it, he’s also going to be the one immature enough to go tattle when he has something against someone else who says it. And the reason why the anti-profanity rule exists is because people don’t trust the kids to know how to use it in a mature manner. Said rules make people feel like little kids, so don’t be surprised when people respond by acting the way they’ve been treated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625.md?page=5)