To Really, Really, Hate That Word?

[WhyDoesThatWordExist]

Call me an old prude, but, why does the 'C**t' word exist? And why do so many MNers use it? It HAS to be the most offensive, crude, word there is?

The way I see it, it shows exactly what sort of person you are, if you think it's okay to use it? Or is it my age showing?

Go on, flame me.....

You haven't seen the countless posts on relationships in which abusive men have called their partners a "fucking cunt"?
Almost a weekly occurence unfortunately.

If I ever heard a man say it I would wipe the floor with him.

If my DH hears any of his staff at work use it, he goes absolutely up the wall with them and tells them in no uncertain terms never to let him hear them say it again.

Some unpleasant people using the word cunt != using the word cunt makes you unpleasent.

i'm with dramaInPyjamas certain parts of scotland use it as a term of affection - even if it doesn't sound like it - eg "you're some cnt you".... "mad cnt", "daft c*nt", etc.

Personally its my last resort swear word and is reserved for those who really really really annoy me. Last used it on here in the thread about Maggie Thatcher (c*unting fuck i believe was the expression i used)

Love the word myself and use it occasionally. I take a childish joy in seeing its power to still upset people. Reminds me of annoying my Mum when I was a teenager by saying fuck.

My DP thinks it's awesome that I say it. His XW was in terror of the word and he still thinks it's cool that I laugh if he ever says it. I'm just hoping it's not one of the first things DD says. I don't care if she says it, but I don't think nursery will be best pleased.

stangirl are you in scotland?

But, but, but ..... I just don't get it!

Ok, I have twigged that the strong use of the C word on MN is probably linked to the strong feminist vibe of the site. "We will not have our vaginas made into the most obscene word in the english language so we are going to use it lots" type thing.

But words do change over time? Its how the English language, heck, any languge, evolves. It is how we have gone from grinning chimpanzees to a complex lnguage syetem that people dedicate thier whole lives to the study of.

So the C word (no, I can't even type it!) is an offensive word. It is also a vagina.

The word Knob is an offensive word. It s also a willy.

But you don;t see lots of men getting cross about thier willies being offensive? I for one think th C word has become so offensive because of the very 'harsh' nature of the word. You kind of spit it as you say it. I am sat here now trying to say knob in a really mean way, but just can't do it (child is in bad!).

So I take no issue with the fact my vagina is an offensive term, as willies are also offensive. I take no offense that slang for my vagina is viewed as more offensive ten slang for a willy. What I do find offensive is constrant use of crude languge for no apparent reason.

I am NOT anti swaeraing. I swear alot. It is just this word seems to be used to make some kind of point, and that point really confuses me.

I'm afraid that none of us can decide what the word 'cunt' means- it signifies what it signifies; ie a very bad person (more frequently male IME) and, more infrequently, a vagina. This does not mean that female genitalia are offensive.

It is merely a signifier. The debate arises from its dual meaning- yet the word 'bastard' originally meant illegitimate child; why on earth have we got nobody campaigning against the use of this word as if it meant that children with unmarried parents were offensive?

Quite simply, because 'bastard' is a less offensive word than 'cunt'.

In other words, the value (or offence) of the word 'cunt' is what it signifies, not the signifier itself.

In the English language, using slang names of genitals as a term of abuse has always occurred, and probably always will, although the words themselves may change. I am quite pleased that a word for female genitalia has the dual meaning of being the most offensive word (far more powerful/offensive than 'prick', for example).

Language is organic and changes gradually over time; deciding that we have our own meanings for words is futile. They mean what they mean by common consensus.

outnumbered No, London. Why do you ask?

interesting x-post, toddler

you have a name very similar to someone i know on a football board

Tis a marvellous word!

In London is it pronounced Caaaahnt.

As in "You faacking caaaahnt"

sorry forgot to add stangirl to that last post

outnumbered - nope sorry, not I.

tethersend - very interesting!

no problem stangirl lol

The only explanation is that we are psychic. Or that I love you and copy everything you do. You decide.

I am still sat here (in an empty room) trying to say knob in an offensive way , repeating it over and over... do you have the urge to do anything similar?

Seriously though, nice to know I am not te only one thinking on those lines!

No. I am in a room full of bastards

Ahhh, not bastads I CAN say in an angry way.

BBASSSSSSSTTTAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDDDDS.

I can only make 'knob' sound offensive if I tack the word 'jockey' on the end. And even then it's a bit meh.