Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 ··· 6 7 8 ··· 12 13

Original poster

To wince at the C word on MN

309 replies

Yarboosucks · 06/10/2015 18:43

I am certainly no prude and have not lived a sheltered life…. But I am amazed at the use of the c-word on here. I just don't get the apparent acceptance to use a reference to female genitalia as an insult. Do people use that word in RL or is it just here?

OP posts:

sproketmx · 06/10/2015 23:49

My hubby's just came in the back door and probably caught me smoking and greeted me with "aye aye, what you upti cuntybaws?" I love him

queenMab99 · 07/10/2015 00:05

Swearing,the last resort of the inarticulate,(other than violence)

SenecaFalls · 07/10/2015 00:16

It's offensive in the US and Canada because it is only used in reference to women and it is always an insult. I'm American I can count on one hand the number of times I have heard it spoken aloud and have fingers left over. I understand that it resonates differently in the UK, but it is highly offensive in North America. It's actually on a par with the N-word, except that you hear the N-word more often.

IfNotNowThenWhenever · 07/10/2015 00:23

I can understand that senecafalls. In the US cunt seems to be a word used against women, whereas in the Uk it is actually used more towards men. I admit to feeling a little shocked in the US hearing a man call a woman a cunt, which, to be fair, rarely happens here.
I think, as has been mentioned, that cunt can often be used in certain areas as a term of affection between men. Which is quite nice in a way, as cunts are themselves really quite nice. Certainly, most of us came out of one.

TheDowagerCuntess · 07/10/2015 00:53

queenMab - RTFT; someone's already made that point, and it's been roundly denounced.

MistressDeeCee · 07/10/2015 01:24

I don't use it in real life or on here, I hate the word. Must admit I swear a lot tho (using other words..!) the liberal use of it on here seems a bit shouty show-offy to me at times, "Look at me Im oh so with it". Then again like some on here my culture isn't UK and back home its the worse thing you can call a woman, really derogatory and its fighting talk if you try it. So thats probably why it grates on my ears... never realised women used the word so much until I joined MN. The thought's just struck me that in real-life its extremely rare that I hear women use it.

But it seems part of Brit cultureIve watched some "ye olde English" films where they say it as easily as they say good morning, so I can live with it. I don't feel the need to scorn anyone who doesn't use certain swear words however

UngratefulMoo · 07/10/2015 03:30

To echo PP's, I strongly disagree that swearing denotes an inarticulate person or lack of intelligence. Over-reliance on any small group of words may signify lack of imagination, but swear words can massively add to the impact of what you're saying - they are descriptive, add emphasis and can be funny and shocking, as well as actually build connection or identity between people.

I love swearing, but am aware that many people of my acquaintance do not, so I am sparing. I accidentally got into a debate with my MIL and SIL about how much I love swearing - they do not swear and have never heard me swear so were v surprised! Cunt is a brilliant word - it is loaded with so much, as evidenced by this thread, but I save it for special occasions and very close friends (or when people really deserve it). Least favourite swear word has to be motherfucker, that really does mean something horrible. I don't use wankbadger enough though....

sproketmx · 07/10/2015 03:51

It's just part of the language. Where I grew up swearing isn't offensive. It csn be used in a derogatory way but the swearing itself isn't always geared at someone. Fifers are renowned for the c word, check out that cunt (look at that person) gone ask that cunt (go and ask that person) it's not always offensive. The exclamation here of 'ya cunt' is an exclamation of surprise like tonight I saw a huge earwig and said ya cunt that's massive meaning oh my it's massive. Except if I actualy said 'oh my' someone would put me to bed coz they'd think I was ill. It's just not our way

VulcanWoman · 07/10/2015 06:37

I'm not too keen on twat, pussy, sod and bugger either.

JeremyCorbynsStylist · 07/10/2015 07:06

It may not ( always ) be linked to low intelligence, but it shows a lack of class imo. Although in my area the only people you hear swearing all the time are the less well educated.

Dawndonnaagain · 07/10/2015 07:08

Swearing,the last resort of the inarticulate,(other than violence)
What nonsense, as others have said, read the thread.
I'm a retired lecturer, I am anything but inarticulate. Oh, and I've heard royalty swear.

EdithWeston · 07/10/2015 07:19

How MN describes itself:

"Oh you know, that website, for parents. No, not that one, the other one. With the biscuits. And the swearing."

Bit of a clue there about the language that can be found here.

Gottagetmoving · 07/10/2015 08:56

If you live with and around people who use the word cunt a lot, then you are part of that crowd I suppose, but even if other people say nothing to you when you use it - you can probably be sure they go away thinking you are a bit scummy. Doesn't matter though if you don't care, and why should you?

TheDowagerCuntess · 07/10/2015 09:05

'Scummy', you say...?

Mintyy · 07/10/2015 09:10

I think it is tiresomely overused on Mumsnet.

I don't know anyone who uses it a lot in real life! Maybe occasional use in adult company - in a similar way to "Oh Monty, you terrible cunt" from Withnail and I .

But, no, with my friends, family, dh and colleagues I hardly ever hear the word spoken and I'd certainly move away from a loud group shouting it at each other when on a night out. I went through that phase when I was, oooh, about 16.

Sparklingbrook · 07/10/2015 09:12

I have to agree Mintyy.

ssd · 07/10/2015 09:18

I think swearing is used a lot by middle class folk who like to pretend they are street-wise and its the same on here, its like oh amn't I big and hard I swear like a trouper, whilst sitting at the laptop wearing twee Boden gear in their detached houses

DrDreReturns · 07/10/2015 09:19

A friend I used to work with used to sing a song about me being a massive cunt. I took it as a massive compliment, he wouldn't have said it if he didn't like me!

queenMab99 · 07/10/2015 09:20

I am a retired lecturer well I am impressed
I have heard royalty swear that's a recommendation?
I just find it a bit juvenile, when swearing is used so regularly it has less impact and sounds like toddlers trying to out do each other with bad words.
So poo poo poo.

JeremyCorbynsStylist · 07/10/2015 09:21

Absolutely ssd - when the middle classes swear it's so cringey.

Goodforsolong · 07/10/2015 09:26

I'd certainly move away from a loud group shouting it at each other when on a night out

You see I agree with that, I would also move away from them, but I'd be moving away because they were loud drunken gobshites. Basically they could be shouting anything at each other, I'd still move away.

It always comes down to context.

Gottagetmoving · 07/10/2015 09:33

If someone calls you a cunt, they immediately become .... a cunt.

pinkfrocks · 07/10/2015 09:43

Someone has to say they are a retired lecturer? Wow- that really impresses. That could be someone who lectures hairdressers or trainee car mechanics, doesn't have to be an Oxbridge don.

And Royalty swear too- crikey, we all must then.

In my view there are two groups of people who swear like troopers:
the upper classes who do it in a kind of 'I'm a toff and I don't care if this offends you as you are all plebs', and working class people traditionally dockers, builders, workers in heavy industry (though not all because some are very mindful of their manners and behaviour).

Middle class people who swear like troopers are IMO trying to ape the upper class as a kind of social climbing exercise, or conversely mimic the good old working class with their call a spade a spade approach.

I'm afraid I regard excessive swearing and the use of cunt as anti social behaviour because it usually offends someone and there just is really no need for it in every day conversation. A friend of mine almost divorced her DH for calling her a fucking cunt - and cited it as unreasonable behaviour, even though she is happy to use 'fuck' herself quite liberally.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 07/10/2015 09:48

I think it's a good thing that it's coming into more common usage in here, and in general, tbh - because it does remove that "last linguistic taboo", as you put it. Which then brings it down to the same level of abusive as "fuck", "bugger", "sod", "bastard", "dick" etc.

I quite agree with you that it is odd that a name for women's genitalia is seen as the "worst possible insult" - so let's work together to stop that being the case.

You are, however, entirely NBU to wince if that's how you feel about it.

Goodforsolong · 07/10/2015 09:49

Ok pinkfrocks you have established that the upper class use it, and the working use
But the middle class are not allowed to use it? Is that right?

So who made that rule?

Flip

1 2 ··· 6 7 8 ··· 12 13