The 'c' word

[Terfing]

As in, the 4-letter word that refers to female genitalia.

I have started a thread in 'Site Stuff' asking them to ban the use of this word on Mumsnet. Personally, i find the word hugely offensive. It is shocking that one of the worst insults in the English language involves comparing someone to female genitalia. Even worse, I've seen it many times on the feminism boards.

What are other people's thoughts on this?

I meant boor and bore, can't even keep them straight myself.

"Boor" is a word I thoroughly approve of and use. "Boor" and "boorish behaviour" are generally applied to men although not expressly gendered.

How will we be able to refer to ourselves then > women on the original type (cunty) works well for me.

Cunt is a long long way from being the most offensive word in the English language. It's maybe the strongest late-night-tv-acceptable word, but that's it.

The really strong racist slurs are much more shocking. Probably these are already banned on Mumsnet.

The thing is, the various derogatory words for penis are not as serious as the c-word. Women are the oppressed sex, and our genitals are often seen as dirty, shameful, and problematic. Penises are not seen in this way.

Poople of teh cunty variety and people of teh dicky variety

Given than boy/girl/man/woman/girl/boy give no biological indications any more and sometimes you want or need to discuss something that is relevant for teh cunty but not the dicky.

DH is still calling me "Glorious Becunted One" and he's my little dicky

By banning it, in a way, you are agreeing that calling someone a cunt is beyond the pale. You are agreeing.

It's also fairly common vernacular.

Men get more pissed off if you call them something bad but not too bad. "He's just a bit of a pratt". So I advocate this IRL

Ponker is good too. Thansk Rodney. Like they aren't even important enough to waste a good angry swear on

Love the word. It's flexible and adaptable - matter of fact ("my cunt") or angry ("You utter cunt!"- a bit like cunts themselves. Chaucer used the word, it's old fashioned and earthy. Still has the power to shock too.

Sorry, have to disagree that it isn’t used as term of affection in Scotland - it might not be in your circles, but it is in many (no doubt those considered beneath you). It isn’t even a term of affection so much as just a synonym for person This cunt, that cunt, any cunt want to, nae cunt wants to, he’s a gid cunt. I’ve heard it twice on this train journey. I’d rather be called a cunt than a bitch but I wouldn’t seek to ban either. Bigger fish to fry, surely?!

Sorry, have to disagree that it isn’t used as term of affection in Scotland - it might not be in your circles, but it is in many (no doubt those considered beneath you)

It is not used amongst people I know. It was not an expression I heard used when I grew up in rural north- east Scotland. Your last comment is out of order.

Does anyone else remember "CAT me, you cunt!" Who was it now? Told the story to DP and he is horrified we used to have to pay £5 p.y for PMs when MN was ad-free.

Pink, as I’ve said, there are many examples on google books of cunt/coney.

Obviously if you use urban dictionary as a source the examples will be recent!

The other one was some sort of feminist/academic blog. I'm not really that interested as coney/cunny/cunt aren't words I need to use.

However you posited this theory- Bertrand asked for more information (a reasonable enough request as she was unfamiliar with it) but you can't or won't provide it.

Ffs, I thought it was easier for her to choose for herself what interested her from looking at google books!

books.google.co.uk/books?id=CabyAAAAMAAJ&q=Cunt+coney&dq=Cunt+coney&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjx59-a8M_fAhXt8eAKHcvqD5s4ChDoATAGegQIARAe

books.google.co.uk/books?id=qn-DASgdhiAC&pg=PA251&dq=Cunt+coney&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi396OS8c_fAhU7ThUIHZBeCCUQ6AEIQjAF#v=onepage&q=Cunt%20coney&f=false

It is also mentioned (with four other references) on the Wikipedia entry for cunt.

PLenty of English streets used to be called Gropecunt Lane.

I have read that Cunt didn't used to be so rude (although I suspect it was always fairly coarse! not a language expert though).

And I did not posit a theory. I stated a fact. Which you chose to question based on looking up something you claim not to care about on that well known source of history, Urban Dictionary.

I hate the internet, and all who sail on her. It’s endlessly ridiculous.

Most posters when asked about something like this will provide an explanation- not "google it yourself" . You are the one who knew this. Bertrand and I didn't. On another thread today 2 posters were puzzled what a poster meant by an "Orange Walk". I know what it means. Explaining it with a link took no more time than "google it yourself".

I posted 2 links which I found which were in the top results- one being a feminist blog. Neither seemed particularly convincing.

Gropecunt Laneis astreet nameused in English towns and cities during theMiddle Ages. It is believed to be a reference to the prostitution being carried on in those areas in the same streets with other "trades" have names referring to the business being carried out.

According to Wiki It fell out of usage as a street name in the 14th century with existing streets being renamed Grope/ Grape/ Grove.

You’re spending an awful lot of time discussing something you don’t care about.

And it’s referenced on the same wiki page you’re currently discussing.

And I suggested looking it up in google books, not google, which is why you ended up with urban dictionary as one of your top results.

Funny how attitudes towards words can change. I came from a family where the worst word ('bloody') was only ever used in the most extreme circumstances. Even when my kids were little swearing really offended me. Gradually though, I changed (chilled out?) and now use 'fuck' very frequently! But I would never ever have used the word cunt. Until we lost the simple word 'woman', and the qualifier 'the cunty kind' has a strength and an assertiveness that appeals to me. So I would never use it as an insult as that would be demeaning to women in my eyes, but I would now use it to define myself (or women generally).

m.youtube.com/watch?v=GDJutaFuVD0

Nice post Bloody

I come from quite a sweary family but no cunting -

I do think that the word has become much more widley used. 30 years ago it was super-strong, now you sometimes hear it at work when people are chatting. I think it is "toning down".

Bowed - not Bloody!

I was thikning about your post when I wrote your name!

Why is it worse?
No, it shouldn't be banned.
I use it, (to my dh) no more worse than any other swear word.