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?

We tell people our dog's kennel name is "Cunty McFlaplapper". She's not even a pedigree!

this thread is just an MNHQ free swear pass

LIke your dogs name,Iklboo.
Reimnds me of a mate's cat (long since departed this mortal world, bless his little stripy tail) Ted. Short for Shithead

I love twunt. My non-Mning friends use it but they all know its roots lay in MN.

(They take affectionate piss out of me and call me a sad anorak-y cow with my little online community of fellow saddos .. but I know they have a good healthy respect for Mumsnet and that they're frightening of the scathing wit and humour that abounds )

DS1 (15) uses twunt sometimes. I can't really protest as it's not an actual word...

fine as long as it's not used as a specific insult/attack on someone on here

Cunt - " "female intercrural foramen," or, as some 18c. writers refer to it, "the monosyllable," M.E. cunte "female genitalia," akin to O.N. kunta, from P.Gmc. kunton, of uncertain origin. Some suggest a link with L. cuneus "wedge," others to PIE base geu- "hollow place," still others to PIE gwen-, root of queen and Gk. gyne "woman." The form is similar to L. cunnus "female pudenda," which is likewise of disputed origin, perhaps lit. "gash, slit," from PIE sker- "to cut," or lit. "sheath," from PIE kut-no-, from base (s)keu- "to conceal, hide." First known reference in Eng. is said to be c.1230 Oxford or London street name Gropecuntlane, presumably a haunt of prostitutes. Avoided in public speech since 15c.; considered obscene since 17c. Du. cognate de kont means "a bottom, an arse." Du. also has attractive poetic slang ways of expressing this part, such as liefdesgrot, lit. "cave of love," and vleesroos "rose of flesh." Alternate form cunny is attested from c.1720 but is certainly much earlier and forced a change in the pronunciation of coney (q.v.), but it was good for a pun while coney was still the common word for "rabbit": "A pox upon your Christian cockatrices! They cry, like poulterers' wives, 'No money, no coney.' " [Massinger, 1622]"

I always thought it came fron the same word root as 'cuneiform' writing - meaning 'wedge shaped'.

I don't think it should be banned. As others have said, where would it stop?

I don't supposed you aimed for this Justine but I have just pmsl reading this thread.
To ban it would be ridiculous and would the start a vicious circle.
The linked post is not the first time the word 'cunt' has been used and nor will it be the last ..... or else Custy wont be able to post anymore .

FWIW, I think it's a great word !

I HATE twunt, it's so fecking twee

On second thoughts, no matter how much I detest the word as it is used now, it shouldn't be banned, as freedom of speech is very important.

It would then be up to an individual to decide whether a post is offensive and should be deleted.

I think it's an ok word to use

agree with most of the other posters. i don't particularly like the word and rarely use it, but it's useful to convey an extreme feeling where shitfuckitywankybollox just doesn't cut the mustard

perhaps not in thread titles though.

(must point out dog's real name is Candy - would have a hell of a time shouting her 'pedigree' name in the park! )

I prefer it to twunt thats for sure.And when i see the 'cave of love' I am liking it more and more.

lol, you might want to re-phrase that last bit of your post noddy !!

Not really relevant but round these parts it's common to interchange 'twat' and 'twit'.

I didn't realise it was a Bad Word until well into my thirties

I firmly agree NDP - would far rather have cunt than twunt

please dont partially censor the swear words.

no CUNT isnt a nice word - but i dont see how a person can say - cunt is worse than twator cockwhacker.

please dont let there be a higherarchy as voted for by the previous cockwhackers below - who are now arguing the merits or not of swearing

hats cos they ar as thick as a donkey donger.

I don't like the word much but am not offended by other people using it (unless it is directed at me.Actually, I don't think I've evere been called that).

I don't want MN to start censoring & restricting what we can post.

OMG - I had no idea that CLINT was used on other sites as a substitute for cunt.

We give all our projects names, and I have just completed Project Clint for a very well respected financial institution. All our e-mails and documentation was headed up 'Project Clint'

were headed up, obviously

see i have been saying it all afternoon now

and i have come to the conclusion

that i really fucking like it

cunt

custy

@ cockwhackers.