to think the use of the term C****** is really not necessary

[merrywidow]

Well ?

Has it really become acceptable to use that word so liberally.

Atswim, I agree

I like to save it for really special occasions - makes it much more satisfying. I have always found it a bit strong to accept for everyday use. Twat is a nice softer version...

Atswim there is an arguement that women are "taking it back" iykwim. Cunt has long been the most shocking insult whist 'dick' and 'cock' are fairly jovial. It's only mysogonistic if you think calling someone a name for female genitalia is the most degrading thing you can imagine. I'm not making a great deal of sense, I know. Hungover.

Totem, I see it used quite liberally on MN.

Its one of the few swear words that retains a shock value; but can be used negatively as in hes a c or positively as in hes a lucky c.

I too think its vile and never use it

Well, just carry on as you are then merrywidow. No-one is insisting that you use it or even like it. Can't see much point in starting a thread to huff and puff over such an inconsequential thing tbh.

Hate it. But I am not a fan of swearing generally. The only funny swearing I've ever come across was a "poem" in Private Eye. [pmsl at the memory]

Share the poem then!! So we can all piss ourselves laughing at it.

If Dick and cock are too jovial male insults in the UK just use "spunk trumpet" or "jizz gargling cum guzzler" instead.

Far more satisfying......

Although bad language aside I enjoyed the op who called a guy an "odious toad" now that would have been enjoyable.

"Why use instead of the right letters. either you mean Cunt or Cunting or Fuck rather than inserting as in F or C*t

what's the difference between writing Cunt or C you are thinking the word so why not use it. Is C any better? we all know you mean Cunt.

so threfefore c* is as bad as Cunt and F** is as bad a Fuck.

if you dn't like it don't use it at all rather than putting in twee ** to try and make it look better."

I think it was Russel Brand who did a bit in one of his stand-ups about how the tabloids use the F etc and it's actually worse than just using the actual word. Because everyone know what it means yet if you use the you're allowed to put it in size 22 font on the front page of a national paper, even though they are now synonymous.

Mayor quimby, I don't think my ds5 knows what it means, and he sometimes reads the fronts of the papers in the supermarket as we pass to read Grazia and put it back pick up our publications, as he is so proud of his ability to understand anything written now.

I am hoping we won't hear kids in school telling other kids to eff star star star off.

I know the reclaiming argument, but why choose such a word to reclaim?

What is the reason you don't like it? Is it the word itself, which is merely a word it's meaning?

Or it's meaning

A word and its meaning are inseperable and words conjure a 'picture' in the readers/listeners minds. It is by definition an offensive word and in my mind I find it distasteful.

Its meanings vary but it is universally understood that it is a derogatory word derived from a description of female genitallia, and originally used against women.

I find it odd that women who wish to live within an equal society would chose to reclaim and perptuate the use of such a word

My DH goes all po faced when I use it but it's OK for him to bandy it around. Oh the hypocrisy of it all

It started:

Bum, shit, bollocks and wank
There goes that twat Bush in a tank

Sadly, I can't remember the rest of it well enough to quote it in all its glory. If I find it, I will return with it. It was taking the mickey out of Andrew Motion, if I remember rightly.

I agree with posters who find this word or variants misogynistic
how to promote positive body image and high self esteem amongst dds (or ourselves for that matter) when the word for our most intimate parts is the foulest swear word imaginable?
I'm in the recalim camp, I prefer to think of it as an older and potentialy more friendly word for vulva. Hard to reclaim except in...ah... special circumstances, tho

i agree with AtYourCervix who MyorQuimby just quoted, by the time you've written all those stars i still read it as cunt, i don't read c star star star

so you have in fact just used it in your own title ironic

What a stupid argument MrsButler

I think its a bit yesterday and do wish people wouldn't use it in thread titles.

But have no wish to see swearing banned on Mumsnet at all. I quite like a good swear, sometimes.

I don't expect Mrs R B gives a damn.

I'm with you. But then again I can't be one of the cool kids...

Bibbity - a bit yesterday