# 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:** 5
**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, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/81 "2010-04-11T04:57:01Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > Being offensive is a tool, an important tool… Uhhh, huh huh. He said “tool”…😃 Beavis & Butthead… ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/82 "2010-04-11T07:34:16Z")
As many have pointed out, trying to draw equivalence between cunt and nigger is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/83 "2010-04-11T10:28:32Z")
If one needed to be offensive to a black woman, what’s the recommended course of action? Which one should one chose? If one wanted to use both, what’s the right order? ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/84 "2010-04-11T12:42:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > …snip… > 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. They were acting like kids; got treated like kids, and responded by acting like kids. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/85 "2010-04-11T18:42:22Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Silly Bunt… > > 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. My SO is one of these. I’ve come to the conclusion the reason it’s so offensive is that it can be so apt. Bitch just lacks the gravitas we associate with cunt. One of my favorite lines was In the movie Stuck on You. Cher was contrite and apologizing for some previous “unreasonableness”. “I was a bitch with a capital ‘C’”. My SO never thought it was funny. ---
**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, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/86 "2010-04-11T21:13:19Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > My SO is one of these. I’ve come to the conclusion the reason it’s so offensive is that it can be so apt. Bitch just lacks the gravitas we associate with cunt. > > One of my favorite lines was In the movie Stuck on You. Cher was contrite and apologizing for some previous “unreasonableness”. “I was a bitch with a capital ‘C’”. My SO never thought it was funny. “Cunt” is indeed a good word. It has weight and feeling to it. I think “bitch” has similar weight, but its overuse has made it seem tame. Maybe some women want to disarm their detractors? 😛 ---
**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, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/87 "2010-04-11T21:34:21Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > If one needed to be offensive to a black woman, what’s the recommended course of action? Which one should one chose? > > If one wanted to use both, what’s the right order? How about _ **neither** _? “Dumbass” would seem to fill the bill without offending anyone else… I can think of many others. Shall we make a list of acceptable offensive insults? I’m fairly good at “tailor-made” insults in both “interwebz” flames and IRL. I will be happy to do the “Cyrano” bit, only insults, instead of “love poetry”, if someone will pay me for my “expertise” (heh, heh… Cyrano never got any, so why not throw a few “bombs”). The rules on vulgarity, here, are considerably weaker than the ones on boards I decided to leave, but the rules on “flames” are a bit stronger. The flames on the ones I left degenerated into nothing _ **but** _ spewing of “the allowed” vulgarities. No-one ever won one of those. Someone (frequently me) could _ **always** _ “out-obscene” you. I, for one, welcome our new \ overlords. [maybe:D] CH ---
**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, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/88 "2010-04-11T22:24:16Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > How about _ **neither** _? “Dumbass” would seem to fill the bill without offending anyone else… I can think of many others. Shall we make a list of acceptable offensive insults? I’m fairly good at “tailor-made” insults in both “interwebz” flames and IRL. I will be happy to do the “Cyrano” bit, only insults, instead of “love poetry”, if someone will pay me for my “expertise” (heh, heh… Cyrano never got any, so why not throw a few “bombs”). The rules on vulgarity, here, are considerably weaker than the ones on boards I decided to leave, but the rules on “flames” are a bit stronger. The flames on the ones I left degenerated into nothing _ **but** _ spewing of “the allowed” vulgarities. No-one ever won one of those. Someone (frequently me) could _ **always** _ “out-obscene” you. > > I, for one, welcome our new \ overlords. [maybe:D] > > CH BTW, I just realised, “CH” could be taken as “Cunt Hair”. “When correctly viewed, Everything is lewd”… “I can tell you about the 'Wizard of Oz, or Peter Pan [There’s a dirty old man]”… ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/89 "2010-04-12T00:07:33Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > How about _ **neither** _? How is neither offensive? I don’t get it. Yo mama is a neither. Nah. Doesn’t work for me. ---
**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 12, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/90 "2010-04-12T00:27:52Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > They were acting like kids; got treated like kids, and responded by acting like kids. Almost. They **may** have been acting like kids, got treated like kids, and now respond by acting like kids. If they were treated like adults, they may have wound up responding as adults. And even that’s not quite it, because getting all offended by the specific words someone uses, and trying to force them not to say those words is itself a childish thing to do. It’s the same thing as the sixth grade tattler. (Or actually, a bit younger.) Well. almost, because a sixth grade tattler would be told “Sorry, but that’s not against the rules. You need to work this out amongst yourselves.” ---
**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 12, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/91 "2010-04-12T03:52:53Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > How is neither offensive? I don’t get it. Yo mama is a neither. Nah. Doesn’t work for me. Dumbass Oh, and that was my suggested alternative. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/92 "2010-04-12T08:36:44Z")
There is an issue here that I am just not getting. I have always believed that the use of the word cunt is designed to be offensive. In the [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunt)entry for the word, there several references to that: > [@](#): > > _Scholar Germaine Greer has said that “it is one of the few remaining words in the English language with a genuine power to shock.”_ and _The word “cunt” is generally regarded in English-speaking countries as unsuitable in normal public discourse. It has been described as “the most heavily tabooed word of all English words.”_ I obviously recognise that a person’s upbringing, and the mores of the section of society that he frequents will condition his view of how offensive the word is and should be. But it would be disenguous to not recognise that for many people it is a deeply distasteful word. Therefore, in a mixed society, such as the SD, those who choose to use the word must surely accept that it will offend some people. The society should then decide whether the need for freedom of speech should override the sensibilities of the offendees. There are people who have claimed in this thread that the word is not offensive. Fair enough, that’s you’re opinion, and I accept it. But I asked one poster - twice - if it is not being used offensively, what is its purpose? Both times he didn’t answer that. Can anyone educate me? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/93 "2010-04-12T21:25:57Z")
My personal observation on the use of cuss words as insults… Men get called everything: dick, cocksucker, penishead, asshole, bastard, etc. Women used to typically get one universal word\*: bitch. Doesn’t matter what a woman did, she was a bitch. Somewhere along the line, bitch morphed meanings. Instead of meaning a “difficult woman with extreme attitude”, it came to mean “subjugated person” - “He’s my bitch.” When that happened, people needed a new insult for women, so cunt became the replacement word. Pussy, while referring to the same article of genitalia, was directed at men who act weak, wimpy, cowering. Thus it wasn’t appropriate for replacing bitch. My experience is that cunt is directed at women, not at men. Apparently YMMV. **Drain Bead** said: > [@](#): > > I also think the word cunt is a lot less loaded in the UK than it is in the US. You will almost never hear two guys refer to one another as cunts in the US. Bing bing bing, winner. The word isn’t applied to men, like pussy, it’s applied to women. **malkavia** said: > [@](#): > > Using the same insult on a man is a bit bothersome to me because I’ve noticed that ascribing anything feminine to a man (i.e. bitch, cunt, “I can see your vagina from here”) is apparently an insult. On the flip side, if I tell a female friend “Wow, you have balls the size of Texas” it is likely because she’s done something wildly courageous. Weird, that. That’s some other inherent cultural sexism. Male traits are “strong”, “bold”, “daring”; female traits are “meek”, “submissive”, “helpless”. * * * \*Actually, that’s not entirely true. Women would get labeled for sexual promiscuity with whore or tramp or hussey, but that was for a specific kind of beef. All other situations were “bitch”. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/94 "2010-04-12T21:33:32Z")
> [@SoulFrost](#): > > I can’t get behind the “cunt” == “nigger” thing because I almost never hear two white guys calling each other niggers, but they call each other cunts all the time. “Nigger” has pretty much one specific meaning. Not when two black guys are saying it to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/95 "2010-04-12T22:18:26Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > 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. Beautiful rant, **Cheshire.** People need to learn that accidentally causing offense to someone\*\* is not only not the end of the world, but actually necessary to get all this shit straightened out. I’m female and not offended by the word cunt. I actually like the word; it’s handy in erotic fiction. Bitch bothers me a little more, actually, because it’s a far more common insult that tends to be thrown around with little discretion. To some people, a bitch is a seriously awful/mean woman. To other people, a bitch is an assertive woman or a woman who doesn’t find their sexist jokes funny. And then there are men who casually use ‘‘bitch’’ interchangeably with ''female"–they do exist; I’ve known them. In general, I don’t understand why people are so afraid of words. I understand why they are offended by them, but I don’t understand why they’re so afraid of them that they have to control the speech of other people. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/96 "2010-04-13T08:13:41Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > …In general, I don’t understand why people are so afraid of words. I understand why they are offended by them, but I don’t understand why they’re so afraid of them that they have to control the speech of other people. I don’t think it’s that people are afraid of words. It is that those who control a group (I don’t know if you were specifically referring to the SD) are aware that some words are offensive to some people, and have decided to legislate on their behalf. But they won’t be able to please everyone, so they are damned if they do, and damned if they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/97 "2010-04-13T10:04:36Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Would that the women in my family were as easy to please. I love this and I can’t believe everyone else let it go… You call the women of your family cunts and bitches and you think they’re hard to please?! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/98 "2010-04-13T10:39:53Z")
My favourite swearword is “shitstain”… when can we have a thread about that? ---
**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 13, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/99 "2010-04-13T12:03:03Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > My favourite swearword is “shitstain”… when can we have a thread about that? Suggested title: On the use of that S (compound) word and WHY it is _ **not** _ an issue… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/100 "2010-04-13T12:08:34Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Suggested title: > On the use of that S (compound) word and WHY it is _ **not** _ an issue… > > 😃 So, **GD** or **GQ** - which one should it go in then? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625.md?page=6)