Can we ban the 'c' word?

[Terfing]

By 'c word', I mean the word 4-letter word that is another word for female genitalia.

As this is a female-dominated forum, I find it highly inappropriate that this word is allowed to be used so liberally. Personally, I think that it is one of the most disgusting words in the English language. As a feminist, i find it highly offensive, and i would like to see it banned from these forums. From what I have seen, it is usually used to insult people (See the current Jordan Peterson thread, for example). However, I find this an insult in itself. Why is being compared to female body parts considered a gross insult? It shouldn't be at all. Mumsnet, as one of the UKs female-focused websites, should take a stand on this word, i think.

I think that swearing in general is okay, but a small number of words are unacceptable because of their literal meaning.

what do people have against the word 'moist'?

@PristineCondition

Cunt is just a word, I don't see the issue. I'm all for banning moist though.

"We can't say cunt but we can call someone a prick, cock, knob, bellend. It's just a word. I find the word moist more offensive"

Omg yes!!!

Exactly this^

I’ve no idea why The word cunt is considered to be so offensive, it’s just a word.
Why are prick and dick considered barely swear words but cunt is the most offensive word in the English language?

There are far more offensive words than cunt IMO.

Why are prick and dick considered barely swear words but cunt is the most offensive word in the English language?

Prick is an actual word, you can prick your finger, & Dick is a mans name. Neither word is offensive.
The ‘C’ word should be banned yes.

@Danglyspider the op is a regular poster on the feminist boards. I disagree with her on this subject but she's not a troll,

I also agree that it shouldn't be insulting. Why is part of a woman insulting. It used to be a sacred word!

Like pp, I find it odd that one word is seen as massively taboo when "equivalent" words are just fine.

It's just a social convention that one is allowed and one not. It could just as easily be the world "nong" or "filb" etc.

I don't tend to use it as I don't like the way my mouth makes the 1 syllable sound of it, I find other expletives (or even non-expletives) more satisfying. But I'm not going to get all catsbum about 1 arrangement of 4 letters over another.

What about "blinding" - that's supposed to be hugely offensive too? Are you outraged about that as well?

My cousin had a one night stand and the guy said front bottom during sex.

I find front bottom more offensive than cunt.
It’s reduces the amazing part of a woman’s body to nothing more than a hole.

Anglo-saxon words are simply more satisfying to say than words from romance languages.

I propose that when we need to insult someone who deserves an extreme epithet we say "you are too despicable to call a cunt. calling you a cunt would be an insult to the female body. you are not worthy."

Seriously?

Prick, dick etc. are in no way equivalent, because there isn't the same history of oppression behind them. It's like saying that calling a white woman a 'Becky' is the equivalent of calling someone the n word.

What about twat pussy fanny hundred

Dick is a mans name

Oh come on when people say your husband is a dick tjey arent sa

Dick is a mans name

Oh come on when people say your husband is a dick tjey arent say your husband is a richard

The use and acceptance of the word cunt on MN is a deliberate (and arguably) a political act.

It would be highly retrograde to repress it.

Your offence doesn’t trump another person’s choice to use a word. Cunt is a great word imo.

Nope.

On Mumsnet you can call a cunt a cunt.

Other forums are available.

I find bitch far more offensive.

MN uses the strapline 'the one with the swearing'

If you want a site that does not permit swearing, or which limits it, then there are simply oodles out there. No need to change this one.

And no reason to think that one body-part swearword is worse than others. (But even if you have idiosyncratic reasons which means it is different to you, presumably you also know that not everyone shares those views, and that you're on a bit of a hiding to nowhere to come onto a site which explicitly expresses a difference stance and expect its thousands of users to change)

Germaine Greer would disagree:

I love the idea that this word is still so sacred that you can use it like a torpedo: you can hole people below the water line; you can make strong men go pale....It is a word of immense power

No I don't think MN should police everyone's language because you don't like the word. I imagine the moderators are already pretty busy.

Bet you wouldn't want to be my friend, Op

I have a book called cunt. It discusses all the reasons why we should use the word cunt.

Mnhq - I would like to suggest that we ban all posters who don’t use the word cunt.

......and I thought the word was going to ‘Christmas’......

I too hate the word ‘bitch’. If anyone thought it was appropriate Tom restrict our language as women and feminists on a predominantly female forum, I’d say this word can go.

Why, OP, do you feel you have the right to restrict us in this way? Are you going to come back?

....and I thought the word was going to ‘Christmas’....

Now there's a campaign I could get behind!