I saw an interview with Madonna on british TV recently. She said one of the things that shocked her the most when she moved over here was our liberal use of the C word.
She said in America, using the C-word would cause people to have seizures, but over here in the UK, everyone is a cunt.
Its true that we use the word Cunt without any problems. Strictly speaking it is still one of the strongest swear words, but we still use it regularly. i mean my mum wouldn’t use it, but if you cut me up in traffic, I’ll be using it.
You wouldn’t use it in front of kids, (mind you, they would probably use it in front of you) but apart from that no-one would really notice.
I have noticed in american movies the word never seems to be used, even when every other word is motherfucker. i just assumed it was one of those words that we used but you didn’t, like wanker.
So, was Madonna right? Is this the worst word in america? What sort of reaction would do you get if you used the word? Do you guys have the word twat as well?
I use the word in my circle of friends but I was berated the other day for it. I wouldn’t use it in public or at work.
Over here, it’s reserved for dirty talk or the ultimate swear that you don’t use in normal conversation.
Twat is used rarely. Everybody understands it but it’s just not used. Probably used more by pre-teens to early high school kids. At least that’s probably the last time I heard it.
This is based on an unfortunately small sample size, but I know adult women who use the word twat in sort of an affectionate way (like you might call a friend who did something stupid “doofus”) but who consider uttering the c-word in any context to be a mortal offense. And I know adult men who will use the word in conversation with other men but dare not utter it in a woman’s presence.
Hmmm yeah, it’s pretty much more offensive than fuck. Lots of people say fuck or fuck you or even call someone a bitch but if you call someone a cunt she is most likely going to kick your ass.
We do use the c-word, unlike, say, “tosser.” I can certainly think of a number of words far worse, but the c-word is a rather strong thing to call someone here or sling about haphazardly, much worse than in the British Isles. It implies that the person is, among other things, incredibly stupid, unpleasant, and worthy of the basest derision.
Anecdotally, there’s a certain amount of exaggeration in the OP’s suggested use of the C-word over here.
I’ve never heard a child use it in front of an adult, for instance; it’s not used on television at any time of day or any channel I’ve ever watched (although lip-readers may have occasionally picked it up beyond the bleep); and plenty of people, especially women, would be very shocked to hear it used in open conversation.
Y(or H)MMV of course, but it’s nonsense to say that “over here in the UK, everyone is a cunt” or “no-one would really notice”.
I don’t even think it’s that derogatory over here. It can be, but it can also be used in the way “Doofus” is described, above. Definitely far, far more offensive in America.
When I was a kid, I used it all the time, as did everyone else at my school. Admittedly I wouldn’t have used it in front of my parents, but I’ve seen the harder kids in the class use it to a teacher.
The “over here in the UK everyone is a cunt” line was actually a quote from madonna. It was on the Jonathon Ross show, as she was obviously going for a laugh. The fact that the BBC beeped the word, but still let it go out seems to suggest the word is in more comon usage in the UK than the US. I mean, I’ve never even heard it on an eminem record or a tarantino movie.
I’m trying to think of an actual unbeeped use of the word on the tv. The closest I can think of is Julian Clary spelling it out on a panel show at about 9:30 in the evening.
I think that the reason it’s considered offensive in the U. S. is that it’s so often used synecdochally. That is to say, the whole is referred to by one of its parts. By using that term to refer to a woman, the implication is that a woman’s only worth or importance lies in her vulva, which of course is a very offensive thing to imply.
I’m not sure what sort of figure of speech it is to use the term to describe a man (in the U. S., a man can be referred to as a “pussy”, which I assume has much the same meaning), but that obviously doesn’t carry the same implication. On the other hand, a man might be referred to as a “dick” or a “prick”, which does seem analogous, but those aren’t very offensive at all.
I can’t speak for all women … obviously … but even though I am guilty of using the ‘c’ word (especially while in the throes of road rage), I personally find it offensive 99% of the time. Considering it refers to a beautiful part of a woman’s body, it’s unfortunate that it’s usually used to convey a range of really ugly, hateful emotions.
Well, that brings up an interesting issue. Why is considered only a mild obscenity to refer to a man by slang terms for his private parts (he’s such a dick, he’s a real prick), but to refer to a woman by a slang term her private parts (she can be a cunt) is considered so much more offensive? Anyone ever examine this apparent sexism?
The Cword is used as a lyric in the Police’s song Rehumanize Yourself from the Ghost in The Machine album (IIRC).
Radio here never (YMMV) played the song – even on college radio of the early eighties without an MTV-like bleep. I heard the song played about 3 years ago on an 80’s hour & the lyric was still bleeped then. I have heard almost every slang for body part (save D^ck & MF) broadcast in song – usually urban contemp. songs – on the radio over the last 5 yrs or so – that they chose to bleep this one tells you about standards and practices here.
(^ used to make post safe for work – too late I know but didn’t want to undo anybody)
I use it occasionally, more often to describe a man than a woman. When I do use the word to describe a woman, it’s usually someone I absolutely hate and consider completely worthless, stupid and selfish, even malicious. If I use the word for a man, I consider him completely thoughtless, stupid, selfish and unconcerned whether he harms someone else or not.
That said, it’s pretty clear why I use it infrequently; I don’t associate with or talk about cunts.
Oh, and if you want to get an american woman to punch you, call her a cunt to her face.
I’ve been alive in these United States for 33 years and only recently learned (from this board) that the “C-word” is of such stature to join the F-word and N-word, but I’m still perplexed by it. I always thought it was just another word for the female bits. When used in reference to a woman, I assumed it was equivalent to calling a man a dick or an asshole and no worse.
So now when a woman is being an asshole, I just call her an asshole.
She’s right. Well, about the first part, anyway, I haven’t been to Britain in a while.
It’s considered an extemely offensive word - in fact, even I don’t like to use it - because yes, most people take a huge degree of offense.
Some feminists are making an attempt to reclaim the word, a la ‘fag’ as an acceptable self-reference for some gay men, ‘dyke’ for lesbians, and ‘nigger’ for black people, etc. I’d say in terms of strength, it’s comparable nigger (over here). I support the effort, but it’s not a word that comes up in casual conversation, and you’d really have to know the person you were using it with.
Let’s put this another way - Madonna says she was shocked. What’s THAT tell you? :eek:
Wow,Do you mean cunt is an anatomical term? I was told it stood for Can’t Understand Normal Thinking. That’s not even gender specific and just refers to a dumbass. Guess I learned something new today.
