to think 'bastard' should not be used?

[hoppingElephant]

It is an unpleasant and derogatory term for a person born to unmarried parents. As a 'bastard' myself, and knowing many 'bastard' children I object to the word still being used fairly commonly. You wouldn't use the 'n' word or many other outdated derogatory terms, so why is it still acceptable to use this offensive term, including on MN to describe undesirable things 'bastard neighbours/drivers/insert word'?

Aibu?

I once took my little girl to see Much Ado About Nothing - one of those where the cast talks to the children about the language used in Shakespeare. They talked about the word bastard (a lot) and when her daddy came home, she gave a cherubic grin and said, 'Hello daddy you bastard.' She is the child of an unmarried couple.

Personally, I love the word. It has fire behind it.

My mother didn't swear as a rule, except for saying 'bugger' when something serious happened. I'm certain she didn't know the literal meaning of the word, and I never had the courage to tell her. She would have been mortified!

What would we on MN use to encourage poster LTB.

Words change meaning over time in all languages - it's just what happens.

This word has change it's meaning - it's original most well know meaning is now offensive and irrelevant in UK society today.

There is a even south park episode about the word fag changing meaning over time.

It not even a odd concept - toilet once meant lady getting ready with perfumes and stuff - and washing - now it means something else.

YABU.

YABU. Thats not the meaning it has for the majority of people now. Terminology moves on. Hardly anyone notices or cares whether anyones parents are married.

and yabvvvvu to analogise it to the n word. not at all comparable.

Is this a joke thread?

While I wouldn't use n word :

The word nigger was first used as an adjective denoting a black person in the 17th century, and has long had strong offensive connotations. Today it remains one of the most racially offensive words in the language.

However, it has acquired a new strand of use in recent years: it is sometimes used by black people as a mildly disparaging way of referring to other black people, in much the same way that queer has been adopted by some gay people as a term of self-reference, acceptable only when used by those within the community.

oxford English dictionary

YABU - like punkatheart I love the word & am not giving it up!

There've been plenty of children born outside marriage in my family too, including back in the days when there really was a stigma attached.

My great grandfather was born to a single mother in Scotland back in the late nineteenth century & they actually used to write "illegitimate" on the birth certificate then. Like other posters I just think the meaning has changed.

Interesting parallel with bugger, as mentioned above. My grannie, who used to proclaim loudly about the "unladylike" nature of swearing would use this word quite happily - & I imagine, like sallyingforth's mum, without any idea of its literal meaning.

It not even a odd concept - toilet once meant lady getting ready with perfumes and stuff - and washing - now it means something else.

I still use it in that context. "I shall attend to my toilet before we leave'. Also, is perfume still called 'eau de toilette'?

What would happen to the bastard trout?

I use bugger - as it seem less offensive than fuck - but I do know it means.

I don't know why I deem it less offensive - perhaps it's all the older ladies using it ?

I think it's a spoof thread, but as it's not a funny one, it's hard to be sure.

"Much like 'gay' - no one uses that to mean happy these days, do they?" - that depends on your age - over about 75 and you probably would have that as first meaning. And if under 15, the first meaning is probably "lame". Language changes with each new generation.

I don't think "bastard" is closely associated with actual illegitimacy any more (and the whole context of illegitimacy mattering has all but vanished too) - to the extent that it's a bit of a shock if I do ever come across it used in that context.

"Much like 'gay' - no one uses that to mean happy these days, do they?"

Oh God, this is one of my FIL's favourite things to rant about - he's brought it up literally loads of times, out of nowhere. What a terrible shame it is that the meaning of 'gay' has changed, it used to be such a lovely, happy word, etc. etc. FFS!

its called evolution of language and you need to get with it

Could have combined it with a parking/dog poo story for better wind up potential??

I'm a bastard, my dc's are bastard, and I don't give a fuck.

I love the word bastard, and use it lots and lots as a term of insult.

Bastard, bastard, bastard

YABU.

Nothing like a rant about the designated bastard of the day to clear the bile.

I still use it in that context. "I shall attend to my toilet before we leave'.

In my house it would be assumed I would be cleaning the dam thing or checking little buggers had flushed. I should have insisted on a classier household.

All my children were born out of wedlock, my answer to the OP is nonetheless

Oh give over

Fenton "Oh give over" - are you Dick Emery? (Can I claim £5?)

YABU. What would we do over on the relationships board without giving the succinct and meaningful advice to LTB? LTSOAUM just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Maybe the OP still has hang ups pertaining to her family and community about the fact she was born out of wedlock, regaurdless of what word or phrase is used to refer to a situation.

So beyond the use of the word bastard I still think YABU as many people do not see it as a shameful thing anymore to be born out of wedlock.

It's a swearie word,I don't associate with illegitimacy

I always read you posts SM with a scottish accent that one sounded especshlly good in my head....bit like Mrs Doubtfire ....

Bastard was my father's favourite expletive! He would shout it at people parking outside his house (out of earshot!).
I love that word, it reminds me of him and his eccentricities. He died 5 years ago.