# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/121 "2010-04-13T20:53:52Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I’ve had this discussion with some of my black friends before and they all seem to fall into one of two camps: > > 1.) **The word is horrible and nobody should use it, including black people.** > 2.) It’s “their” word. > > That being said, when I get a text message or IM from a few white friends of mine I respond “My nigger.” It makes me laugh and I tend to do what makes me laugh. 😛 Bolding mine; Aclockwork, your description is so alien to me, that our communication has just grinded to an absolute halt on my end. I can’t even conceive of a ‘youth’ culture in America where blacks think the word shouldn’t be used \*even amongst blacks!! \* Wow. That blows my mind right out of this conversation. You gotta understand…almost every black person I know uses this word, or finds it completely normal to hear in music, or the barbeque or on the street or whatever. From doctors to street hustlers. Color me astonished. But not to let the hijack get too far away from us, I would say to blacks that get all weak and faint when they hear ‘nigger’ the same thing I say to women that press the report button when they hear ‘cunt’. Don’t let the word bother you. Disarm it; you have the power. ---
**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 13, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/122 "2010-04-13T20:55:53Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Bolding mine; Aclockwork, your description is so alien to me, that our communication has just grinded to an absolute halt on my end. I can’t even conceive of a ‘youth’ culture in America where blacks think the word shouldn’t be used \*even amongst blacks!! \* Wow. That blows my mind right out of this conversation. You gotta understand…almost every black person I know uses this word, or finds it completely normal to hear in music, or the barbeque or on the street or whatever. From doctors to street hustlers. Color me astonished. The majority of black people I know use the word. But yes, I do have black friends who don’t like the word at all. > [@](#): > > But not to let the hijack get too far away from us, I would say to blacks that get all weak and faint when they hear ‘nigger’ the same thing I say to women that press the report button when they hear ‘cunt’. Don’t let the word bother you. Disarm it; you have the power. Word, nigga. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/123 "2010-04-13T21:02:15Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Word, nigga. Protip: when white people say ‘nigga’ they tend to over-emphasize the ‘ga’ part. It should roll nicely off the tongue, more like ‘niggeh’. Hard to explain. Practice, practice, practice, though! ---
**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 13, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/124 "2010-04-13T21:07:02Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Protip: when white people say ‘nigga’ they tend to over-emphasize the ‘ga’ part. It should roll nicely off the tongue, more like ‘niggeh’. Hard to explain. Practice, practice, practice, though! And all this time I’ve been saying it like Uncle Stinkbeaner! “NeeeuuKKKAAA!” ---
**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, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/125 "2010-04-13T21:27:43Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > But why would a white man want to use it anyway? It’s not big, and it’s not clever! Maybe not, but them niggaz got bigger dicks than us whities. We gotta protect our wimmin from finding that out, or we won’t ever git laid again! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/126 "2010-04-13T21:43:56Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Being the possessor of my own personal cunt… Cite. 😃 ---
**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 14, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/127 "2010-04-14T04:57:27Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I am happy to notice that the younger hip hop generation is taking it to a new level, and whites are much more likely to feel comfortable using the word. As an anecdote, I was listening to a friend’s Sirius radio once. He had it on the hip-hop station, which had listeners calling in between songs. Every other word was “nigga” even though you could easily tell by the voices that the callers were predominantly white. The DJs (who were black) didn’t give them any kind of shit for it even though they must have known it was nothing but white guys calling in just for the thrill of saying “nigga” on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Joanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@Joanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joanie)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/128 "2010-05-29T10:24:39Z")
FYI … On a tangent … I have found that some people are now using terms like “F-word” or “C-word” instead of the original objectionable word and proceeding to flame or quarrel exactly as before with this one small substitution. If people generally understand what “N-word” and “C-word” means and they understand they are just being used as replacement strings for the original word, then how much of an objection can people have to the original word? It may sound less offensive to call someone a “C-word” than it is to call them the original ugly word. But, if everyone knows what is going on, then how much less offensive is it really? My feeling is that it is a fun way to poke fun at people who consider the word itself to be offensive and not the context in which it appears. As some moderator here said in a previous thread, offensive language is all about context. A word, in and of itself, can’t really be considered to be offensive just because of the word itself - at least, not by a rational thinking person. It is the context in which it appears that makes all the difference. You could create a bot (robot) that goes through this board and simply deletes all words considered offensive. But, I think we have all seen the problem with trying that. Certain words that are usually used in an offensive manner can also be used in a completely inoffensive manner. Then again, someone can get offended by most anything if they set their mind agin’ it. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/129 "2010-05-29T11:23:01Z")
> [@Joanie](#): > > FYI … On a tangent … > > I have found that some people are now using terms like “F-word” or “C-word” instead of the original objectionable word and proceeding to flame or quarrel exactly as before with this one small substitution. > > If people generally understand what “N-word” and “C-word” means and they understand they are just being used as replacement strings for the original word, then how much of an objection can people have to the original word? > > It may sound less offensive to call someone a “C-word” than it is to call them the original ugly word. But, if everyone knows what is going on, then how much less offensive is it really? > > My feeling is that it is a fun way to poke fun at people who consider the word itself to be offensive and not the context in which it appears. As some moderator here said in a previous thread, offensive language is all about context. A word, in and of itself, can’t really be considered to be offensive just because of the word itself - at least, not by a rational thinking person. It is the context in which it appears that makes all the difference. You could create a bot (robot) that goes through this board and simply deletes all words considered offensive. But, I think we have all seen the problem with trying that. Certain words that are usually used in an offensive manner can also be used in a completely inoffensive manner. > Then again, someone can get offended by most anything if they set their mind agin’ it. In what context is ‘cunt’ not offensive? Surely its purpose \*is \*to be offensive. You don’t hear people going around saying ‘God, you’re a vagina’, do you? Without the offence, it becomes meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/130 "2010-05-29T12:08:39Z")
Heck, they’re called euphemisms, and they’ve been a feature of the English freakin’ language since, dang, whenever. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/131 "2010-05-29T12:18:47Z")
If you’re saying “freaking” everyone knows you mean “fucking.” That means that it’s not the meaning of the word that’s offensive, but rather the arrangement of letters and sounds. That’s superstition. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/132 "2010-05-29T12:54:19Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Heck, they’re called euphemisms, and they’ve been a feature of the English freakin’ language since, dang, whenever. I’m sorry to be pedantic, but cunt isn’t a euphemism for vagina: the opposite, in fact. It’s an offensive word for vagina. From Wiki: _A euphemism is a substitution with an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the receiver._ Your examples are euphemisms: heck is a watering down of hell, freakin’ is fucking, and dang is damn. (I believe.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/133 "2010-05-29T12:54:41Z")
You may consider it superstition, but you don’t get to decide what other people are or aren’t offended by. That’s the underlying issue here, as has been stated many times. The fact that you don’t think people should be offended by certain words is utterly irrelevant. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/134 "2010-05-29T13:04:33Z")
What if a large group of, say, Muslims or Christians, came onto the boards complaining about how offensive they find all the religious discussions that take place here? What makes their case weaker than someone who’s offended by the use of the word “cunt”? Would the board’s rules change to reflect all the offended parties? ---
**Author:** ![Joanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@Joanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joanie)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/135 "2010-05-29T13:19:57Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > In what context is ‘cunt’ not offensive? Surely its purpose \*is \*to be offensive. You don’t hear people going around saying ‘God, you’re a vagina’, do you? Without the offence, it becomes meaningless. It seems to me that you have just answered your own question. You used the word and it was not offensive - at least not to me - not in the context you used it. In that context, I can’t imagine it being offensive to any rational person. But, of course, anyone is free to draw as much offense as they would like from your post. I found your post to be not at all offensive and the context in which you used the word is one of the situations in which I believe it can be used in an inoffensive manner. There are other uses of the word that would not seem to be offensive. For example, in a dictionary or an encyclopedia. An inquiring mind that has heard the word for the first time should be able to go somewhere and learn what the word means. But, I’m curious why you wrote that post. Did you want to get into a discussion/debate/argument/quarrel with me? I certainly don’t want to get into any of those things with you. I hope you are willing to now shake hands and go to neutral corners. I certainly am willing to do that. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/136 "2010-05-29T13:20:23Z")
There’s a difference between areas of subject matter and specific words (which themselves may or may not be offensive, depending on the subject matter). ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/137 "2010-05-29T13:33:38Z")
**Joanie** : I would very much like to respond (discuss, debate, not to argue or quarrel) to your post - after all, this is a message board where we have discussions - but if you’d rather not, I won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/138 "2010-05-31T07:05:58Z")
**NineToTheSky** said: > [@](#): > > I’m sorry to be pedantic, but cunt isn’t a euphemism for vagina: I do believe that **twickster** was replying to **Joanie** , not you. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625/139 "2010-05-31T12:11:15Z")
Yes, I was, specifically to her saying > [@](#): > > It may sound less offensive to call someone a “C-word” than it is to call them the original ugly word. But, if everyone knows what is going on, then how much less offensive is it really? “C-word” _is_ a euphemism, and **Joanie** seemed to think that euphemisms were some new and unusual function of language. My apologies, **Nine** , I somehow missed your post about that the first time around. In any case, I should have clarified at the time who I was responding to, since I did see that you had said something else before my post, in which I failed to quote the material I was responding to, was up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-that-c-word-and-why-it-is-an-issue/535625.md?page=6)