Can we ban the 'c' word?

it's worse when used by women in that way.

Now that really is a stupid sexist thing to say! Why on earth would it be more offensive if I were to use it than my DH, for example?

Or is this some outmoded belief that women should be 'lady-like'?

I'd hazard a guess you'd have more support if you wanted to ban the world vulva

Never before has a single word managed to sound so utterly condescending every time it appears here.

Sounds quite powerful if the worst word is female-based. Just saying.

jessstan2

No body needs to use it. same as no body needs to use knob, dick, wanker, twat. (twat also means a woman's genitals) or any other profanities. How many should we ban? and who gets to decide what's acceptable to say and what's not?

Many offensive things can be said without going anywhere near a swear word.

I hate it too. I can't even type it let alone say it. 41 this month and grew up on a rough council estate so I'm not some wannabe princess or anything
I just can't say it.

Have no problem with twat though for an insult which is probably ironic.

There's no need to use the c word though, is there. Plenty of other words. Why a word which means part of the female anatomy is used in such a vile way I do not understand. It's worse when used by women in that way.

What ThereWillBeAdequateFood said. Plus I'm rather fond of an ancient expletive when needed.

I must stop it though

My dad is a proper old school gentleman, i think it might actually be knocking years off his life

shirley

Oh i bandy the f word with full abandon around my dad now

I quite like the way he uses my full name in shock...

@Rufusthebewilderedreindeer oh same here!! Am 30 now and still not allowed to swear at all in front of mum and dad etc! I don't dare think what would happen if I walked in now and said the C word!!! 🤭

I would definitely be offended (and quite likely complain) if I heard dick, prick or knob on the radio if it was pre-watershed! I don't want my children hearing those and thinking it's ok to use them.

They think the 'c word' is "crap" not cunt

Ok, i see you arent interested in real debate pink. sigh

I don't use the word because I've been brought up to see it as the 'harshest' swear word

I wasnt even allowed to use bloody

And now my dad says 'oooh your mum used to accidentally swear in front of granny'

Yeah...i said bloody !!! Dont be giving my kids the impression i used the s or f or c word !!!

I don't use the word because I've been brought up to see it as the 'harshest' swear word. But it's not for me or you to police others' language.

If individuals are allowed to ban everything they deem to be distasteful, for whatever reason, where would it end? It's just words made up by someone. You can either CHOOSE to take offence, or let it wash over you.

And of course you know better than anyone else.

British media to boot!

Its a simplistic idea, that language use in the media provides the definitive hierarchy of words.

edit button would be good!
*intimidated not intimated

I agree it’s horrible! I judge anyone who uses it. I get so (maybe irrationally) offended when I read it. Everyone I know would never dare say it in real life.

However if it gets banned people will find a way around it or just find something equally horrendous.

could someone link to the other thread please? I looked briefly yesterday but couldn't see it.

As someone else said though: if you can't express yourself without using the c-word, you need to improve your vocabulary. I agree with this

Actually people who swear tend to have larger vocabularies than those that don’t swear.

I struggling with the idea of a feminist telling other women what words they can and can’t use.

So far as hierarchy of words here is what Ofcom has to say about knob, prick, dick and cunt. Knob, dick and prick are problematic pre- watershed but with the qualifier that they are less problematic when used in a humorous context. No qualifier was used for cunt which was described as Strongest language, problematic for some even post-watershed. Vulgar, derogatory and shocking for both men and women. Especially distasteful and offensive to women and older participants.

I suppose Ofcom is just a bunch of pearl- clutchers too.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/read-what-ofcom-thinks-47-8987533

Oh come off it "stupid dick" or "stupid knob" sound nothing like "stupid cunt"

Thing is this is were people's interpretation of the word comes in, how they have taught or experienced the word in the past.

For me stupid cunt really is no more aggressive the stupid knob, wanker, dickhead or bastard.

It's more in tone and delivery of a word that shows the aggression meant behind it.

If I did something daft and someone said you stupid cunt it wouldn't bother me anymore than them calling me a silly Billy.

But if someone directed anger at me calling me useless, cunt, bitch, wanker, dick, tosser, woman, bastard, cow, twat, knob, low life, idiot, imbecile. Then I would be offended upset and angry and possible embarrassed and intimated.

Same with if someone was trying to cheer me up and said "oh come on ya daft twat/cunt/sod/sausage let's get the kettle on"

KlutzyDraconequus That's made me laugh so much! My in laws are lrish, and never in a million years could l imagine my MIL saying that!