To think that 'fart' is NOT a swear word!

[FartingIsntSwearing]

OFSTED came to our school and I had my year 7 books taken in. One homework had been to write about an embarrassing incident and a boy had written about farting in class.

I was told the work in the books was a high standard and so on but inspector was surprised I hadn't 'pulled a child up for swearing in his book.'

Since WHEN was 'fart' a swear word!?

Lecherrs, I'm from the south east and pushed to think twat was harmless til I moved up north (although there is a place in Shetland called Twatt!)

My gran told me off once for saying I was knackered, but when she was very tired she would exclaim loudly that she was 'shagged' (she was horrified when I politely explained it's more recent meaning

And just in case anyone else is sad enough to be interested in this.

This is a rank order of top 25 offensive swear words in UK. I think it was used by OFCOM or something. Interestingly Crap, bloody and balls appear but fart does not!

www.badscience.net/2006/03/cunt-fuck-wanker/

lecherrs

nope, Belfast over here.
But I find swearing over here is a national hobby

'Sodding' is on that top 25 most offensive words list. Can't imagine someone being shocked at sodding. Does it have a sodomy link I'm not aware of?

I definitely wouldn't call it a swearword, but it seems a bit slangy for an essay, in the same way that something like "booze" or "bum" or "footy" would be. I don't think year 7 is too young to be aware of the existence of a slightly more formal expression like "break wind" for times when you need to be on your best behaviour.

Incidentally, in my time as a dinner lady I had children ask me if "shut up" was swearing and if "fat" was swearing!

Interesting how slag is there but not slut, when the term 'slagged off' is not that offensive by my book

I'm from norn iron and know absolutely what twat is as a swear word

I do think that people in general swear in a more off hand way here and find/think it acceptable in different scenarios

Fart, twat, dickhead etc are not polite words but are perfectly acceptable in most school staff rooms when discussing Ofsted.
Are there any Ofsted inspectors on Mumsnet? ??

A "fart" is a message from the brain.........it tells you that poops on the next train

Ha ha @motherofferal

Though, to my mind, fart is not rude, twat is a bit rude, dickhead is very rude.

As you say - 'twat' can be very innocent, same as 'twit'

but can also mean 'vagina' (in very vulgar terms)

A fart is a fart in this house. I would hope that ds would not find it necessary to write about farts in his school books, but if it was, then fart is the word I'd expect him to use.

My son once used the word "shit" in a writing assignment (y5). I got a call home, of course. I asked the teacher to read me the sentence - it came out of the mouth of an adult that was exceedingly angry. Since it was used in context, I had no problem with it and I didn't want my son punished in any way - but to let me know if my son himself ever said it! That is strictly forbidden in my house.

My brother used to use the term "shape fart" for those solid-feeling "lumps" of gas that make you think you've pooed yourself

We said "done a wind" when DS was little, mostly fart now though.

It's really interesting isn't it.

Fart - I grew up thinking it really was v rude to say and early 20s thought it was just rude people that would say it. I hfound "pull my finger" from boys at uni seriously gross and don't get why it's funny. Mildly upsetting if someone purposely farts at you. I wouldn't want my children saying fart. I don't say it but would type it.

I thought twat was the same as twit until the age of the internet too...it's a word I could possibly slip out without meaning to be rude!

But crap was really really rude as a kid and now I wouldn't think twice about saying "a crap day." Or "that was a bit cral." Having a crap would seem vulgar tgough

I don't consider fart a swear word. I think my parents' generation did, but they don't seem to mind it so much now.

I call a spade a spade, so a fart is a fart and nothing else.

Fart is so not a swear word. Some people are bonkers.

My son says 'Bum Noise' - he came up with that himself.... But I wouldn't blink if he said fart.

I'm Irish & we swear .... A lot! I grew up being able to use words but never at people, as that was offensive. So I could for example describe something as shitty but not call someone shit. Making the distinction was never an issue.

I had only one Ofsted inspection before I retired, but the terrible stress and pressure is burned into my brain forever. Honestly, is the word 'fart' so vastly important that the inspector made such a fuss? I used to wonder if they were struggling for something to comment on. One I had (several came to the classroom during that hideous week) didn't much like the mounting paper I'd used to put artwork on the walls, the fool. I used to doubt whether any of them could actually teach!

Mine (2 and 4) say poo noise cos that's what it is and it sounds a bit nicer. We talk about them A LOT. Fart is fine for older DC though.

On what planet is poo noise nicer than fart?

Maybe not

Definitely not...

I once used 'fuck' in a GCSE. English story, was deemed perfectly acceptable in the contex it was used by my teacher / head if department, so can't imagine they'd have any problem with such a minor term as fart if also used in context, part of the idea of English classes is surely to learn about contex of use of different words / phrases?!

"I can't think of a single situation where any person would need to discuss their flatulence ."

Did anyone else read this in the voice of Hyacinth Bucket?

Fart
Raspberry (Rhyming slang. Raspberry tart = fart)
Poot
Toot
Blow off
Trump
Whizzpopper
Trouser cough
Let one rip
Love puff
Parped
Dropped an air biscuit
etc