How do we feel about the c-word?

[JustineMumsnet]

Generally, as you know, we take a fairly relaxed view about swearing on MN but we do in our Talk Policy promise to remove postings that are obscene.

We've had a complaint about the c-word as posted here and are rather torn as to whether to leave it or not - it's not a personal attack so were it your average term of abuse, we'd usually let it stand. But some people hate the c-word and view it as much worse than traditional forms of abuse - beyond the pale as it were, others argue that it should be reclaimed...we're somewhere on the fence and it's not comfortable

Would be good to garner your thoughts, so we can jump off one way or t'other?

Has anyone heard Arthur Smith talking about swearing?

It is a shame it has become a term of abuse and there are those who think women should reclaim it.I think censorship in any form is wrong so i think leave it.It is a word which always shocks me when I hear it but in some contexts it also makes me laugh esp when someone you wouldn't expect says it

Ha, Jv, I dislike the gusset word too, should we start a club.

Doesn't bother me, bemused that a word for the female genitalia should/could be so offensive. Nobody sniffs at cock do they?

So to speak.

UQD, yes, I love Arthur Smith.

I read the post and didn't think twice.

You let lots of other stuff go by, it would be precious to ban it.

Most women won't use it anyway. If you get lots and lots and lots of women saying "it should be banned" then you need not ban it at all as hardly any of use will ever use it.

This is from someone who HATES the word and in spelling it out says "see you next tuesday"

I absolutely despise that word, will never use it, and if someone uses it in my company then I let them know how I feel.
However, having said that, I know people find other things offensive that I don't. Remember the thread recently entitled "oh my f god" about someone finding a huuuuge loofah in her house? I didn't find the title even remotely offensive (and I am religious) but lots of people did.
I guess that I'm trying to say that if you apply the rulw to the c-word then you need to apply it to the f-word and all other swear words.
If something offends me I don't read it, or respond to it. Full stop.

It's not a word that I use myself (and I am a bit of a potty mouth away from the DCs)but it doesn't bother me so please don't ban it.

I would, however, really like swear words banned from thread titles as my five year-old is often reading over my shoulder and we've had a couple of 'near misses'.

Kitty we agree to disagree then as to me they are just words and it's very patronising to suggest people that swear are less intelligent than those that don't. Judging by people I've met (and some online) ones that don't swear are particularly mindless and far too up themselves. BF ds2 so typos galore I imagine.

Don't ban it

Slippery slope

And Cunting Sainsburies was one of my fave thread titles ever

Don't mind it. It's just a word.

Oh I love it! The sheer offensiveness of it amuses me.. DH and I use it to each other (out of ear shot of others!) for pure shock & amusement value!

So just us! Are we thick scum?! LOL

*judge.. not just!

No shiney we're cunts

(Having said that; I would be shocked to hear it used routinely.. even when no kids about.. but someone I didn't expect to hear it from IYKWIM and I expect others would be shocked to hear ME say it! )

Never use it myself but don't always feel offended by others' use of it. Potentially it is the most offensive imaginable word, packed with viscious misogyny. But I can imagine it being sometimes ok when used by a woman on mumsnet. I wouldn't want to ban it, except in thread titles

Doesn't bother me at all, but I suppose it would be a good idea not to have it in thread titles, if we're trying to teach our kids not to swear.

Agree that banning things is the slippery slope.

ooh no kitty i know some very intelligent people who swear like troopers.

no to censorship. lovely word too cunty cunt cunt

Have no problem with it - we seem not to be arguing over twat or fanjo. kittywise - the swearing/limited vocab thing is a bit of a red herring - have you read "Bad Language" by Peter Trudgill and Lars Gunnar-Anderson? Interesting analysis by two fairly high-brow linguists.

UQD - loved the Chaucer. Have you fit the second ready yet?

Woman? Say the C word? Well really!!!!

I would never utter such a foul word!!!!!!

C U Next Tuesday

Oh do grow up dear

Please do not ban a swear word because someone doesn't like it
It will be a downhill sprial to more being banned

I hate the word and try never to use it ever
BUT
I dont mind seeing it on mn, I just dont say it in my head as I read it

Did like the ladylike comment. Perhaps there should be an offshoot called ladiesnet.

Yes Stephen Fry curses all the time. Everybody loves him don't they.

I guess it must just be my experience then.

Put it this way the people I know who are intelligent do swear, of course, but not nearly as much as those with fewer brain cells.