# What's the difference between calling a poster a c\*\*t and... **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 19, 2014, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718 "2014-05-19T06:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/1 "2014-05-19T06:50:40Z")
suggesting they stuff [a cactus up their cunt](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17382452&postcount=47)? _Obviously_ there’s a difference. But in terms of “directing” the word at other posters? This must get a pass, since mods posted quite happily to that thread without a murmur. I just like to know where to draw the line - so it’s A-OK to refer to other posters’ cunts, but not call them cunts, is that the bright line? We’re saying the one kind of misogynistic slur is just peachy but the other, isn’t? Or it’s OK to be misogynistic to misogynists? Not that I am in the least agreement with the poster being attacked, but I think that particular post deserved a Warning. Not even a Note, because that was clearly a very deliberate, malicious word choice to use, against someone who has particular views about women. As wrong as we may think those views are. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/2 "2014-05-19T09:26:36Z")
Traditionally the Pit language rules are enforced verbatim, to the letter, and no more or less. So this would be allowed. A while back it was decided that “go fuck a cactus” is allowed even though “fuck you” isn’t, and that was probably the inspiration behind the unique choice of words in the post you mention. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/3 "2014-05-19T09:39:16Z")
Yeah, but we were told “cunt”, specifically, was a special word in the eyes of Ed, and there’s been that push to be a bit less misogynistic in general. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/4 "2014-05-19T09:47:56Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Yeah, but we were told “cunt”, specifically, was a special word in the eyes of Ed, and there’s been that push to be a bit less misogynistic in general. In terms of the Pit rules we’re told: > [@](#): > > The following expressions should not be directed at other posters. > > cunt and variants, e.g., cuntlapper Telling someone to put a cactus in one isn’t the same thing as calling them one in the eyes of the law. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/5 "2014-05-19T09:51:01Z")
I guess, if we were in a court of law, that would matter… and calling someone a cuntlapper is also not the same as calling _them_ a cunt, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/6 "2014-05-19T10:09:14Z")
This has been the subject of quite a few threads over the years. Here are two examples from the recent past. [Why didn’t these posts in the Pit warrant any mod notice at all?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=660084) [Restricted language in The Pitt](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=711120) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/7 "2014-05-19T10:20:23Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I guess, if we were in a court of law, that would matter… No, this is no court of law. For all their faults, courts of law do not—at least in this country—typically see random citizens show up to tattle on their neighbors and demand justice for petty slights that in no way involve them. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/8 "2014-05-19T10:22:02Z")
Like I said, I thought Ed considers _cunt_ a special word, and those examples are just about _fuck_ ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/9 "2014-05-19T10:26:30Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > No, this is no court of law. For all their faults, courts of law do not—at least in this country—typically see random citizens show up to tattle on their neighbors and demand justice for petty slights that in no way involve them. Misogyny doesn’t “in no way involve” me. It very much does involve me. And “tattle on their neighbours”? What is this to you, high school? Because to me, it’s a community, one where _I’d_ prefer things like misogyny, racism and homophobia wasn’t tolerated. So I report instances of those things. And I ask for a Mod response here when I don’t get one to my post reports, so that I can be clear on whether I should be clicking that red exclamation in the future, or I was over-reacting. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/10 "2014-05-19T10:32:58Z")
Have any BBQ Pit Mods seen the post in question? (I realize the Marley has participated in the thread, but we tend to not Mod fora for which we are not directly responsible. Each forum has a “culture” that is more consistently Modded by those who routinely watch them.) (Since I do not Mod the Pit, I too will refrain from speculating.) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/11 "2014-05-19T10:38:28Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Have any BBQ Pit Mods seen the post in question? I did report it yesterday. > [@](#): > > (I realize the Marley has participated in the thread, but we tend to not Mod fora for which we are not directly responsible. He not only participated, he replied to that very post, without batting an eyelash. So\* he’s \*obviously A-OK with that particular style of vitriol. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/12 "2014-05-19T11:01:00Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > No, this is no court of law. For all their faults, courts of law do not—at least in this country—typically see random citizens show up to tattle on their neighbors and demand justice for petty slights that in no way involve them. Thanks for the laugh, I’m so glad that theatre of the absurd isn’t dead. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/13 "2014-05-19T13:49:59Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I did report it yesterday. > He not only participated, he replied to that very post, without batting an eyelash. So\* he’s \*obviously A-OK with that particular style of vitriol. I also reported it. As I now know they’ve seen it (due to the report) and know that they haven’t acted upon it, I’ve got no beef with the decision. I thought it was a borderline statement, just didn’t know which side of the border it was on. That said, it was a tough one to report, given the target. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/14 "2014-05-19T14:05:19Z")
True enough - but if we only cared about abuse when it happens to people we _like_, well, what good would we be? AS it stands, I’d like a Pit Mod (or Admin I guess )to at least reply before I could say I was satisfied (or not, depending on what they say) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/15 "2014-05-19T14:14:19Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Thanks for the laugh, I’m so glad that theatre of the absurd isn’t dead. Theatre of the Nonny, more like. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/16 "2014-05-19T14:22:44Z")
The word Cunt as a description of female anatomy has actually be claimed by feminists as one of their own proud terms for a long time. They even have [a coloring book]([http://www.amazon.com/Cunt-Coloring-Book-Tee-Corinne/dp/](http://www.amazon.com/Cunt-Coloring-Book-Tee-Corinne/dp/) 0867193719) (Amazon link but nsfw probably so I broke the link.) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/17 "2014-05-19T14:23:36Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > The word Cunt as a description of female anatomy has actually be claimed by feminists as one of their own proud terms for a long time. And rappers have reclaimed nigger - i dare you to use it in a Pit thread, though… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/18 "2014-05-19T14:48:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Theatre of the Nonny, more like. The Bard of Avon! _Much Ado About Nothing_, I think it was? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/19 "2014-05-19T15:01:12Z")
I was thinking more Greek tragedy - with the anonymous masked chorus and all… ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718/20 "2014-05-19T15:33:02Z")
Maybe the mods realize the rules about “fuck you” and “cunt” are pretty ridiculous anyway, so if there is any technicality or loophole that gets them out of enforcing it, they take it? No, this is the dope. Never mind… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-calling-a-poster-a-c-t-and/688718.md?page=2)