Usage of the "C" word - Just how vulgar is it? (To Americans)

Kraken said:
OMG LOL

here Quintessential Choad!!! (whistle) Here boy! Heel Quintessential Choad!
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If only the dog knew...but I bet he'd be the happiest dog, completely oblivious.;)

I was thinking the other day just how passive cable TV has been getting with language. Some stations will still bleep out or over-dub words like damn, and bitch, but other stations will leave in words far worse than that. Comedy Central, late weekend nights, will have completely uncensored movies and stand-up comedy. Do you think this passive attitude lately will have an impact on kids, and if it's a bad impact?
 
I read somewhere that c**t is the most offensive word according to a survey of American women.

I think one thing that makes the c word a bit different than the f word or the s word is that it is just not used nearly as much. In fact, I don't even remember hearing the c word until I was quite old. Yes, I had a sheltered childhood. But I was very familiar with the s word and f word. (I myself am not someone who uses that language but I've never really been offended by it. I was in the Navy, after all.) Anyway, I suppose what makes the c word more rare than the f word or s word, at least in America, is that the f and s words are used as interjections, often with no serious meaning. Usually when the f-bomb is used, it's not meant in a sexual way or even with the intention of insulting someone else. But the c word, at least in my own experience, is usually used with the conscious desire to insult someone, either directly or in third-person.

On the one hand, I can see the point of people who think society is better off when people keep their language clean, especially when children are around, but even when they are not. I'm not convinced we wouldn't be worse off if any word were allowed anytime anywhere. On the other hand, hangups with swear words can be sort of silly, and I admit that I play along with it. For instance, I don't use the s word, but I have no problem saying 'crap'. They mean the same thing, of course, but one word is not to be used in polite conversation and the other can often be used almost anywhere. Most of my friends are about as clean in their language as I am, and I don't know any of them who are afraid to use 'crap' in conversation. I think it's also interesting all some words are taboo in one part of the English speaking world but not another, such as shag. And of course there are the words that can be totally G rated with one meaning and vulgar with another. There's nothing offensive about talking about a nurse who happens to prick the finger of my friend **** or a farmer who wakes up with then **** crows, but use those words with other meanings, and moms will want to cover their kids' ears.
 
Oh wow. The automatic censor in the board software seems to be making harder for me to make my point. Then again, maybe it's making my point for me.
 
FunctionalTrain said:
If only the dog knew...but I bet he'd be the happiest dog, completely oblivious.;)

I was thinking the other day just how passive cable TV has been getting with language. Some stations will still bleep out or over-dub words like damn, and bitch, but other stations will leave in words far worse than that. Comedy Central, late weekend nights, will have completely uncensored movies and stand-up comedy. Do you think this passive attitude lately will have an impact on kids, and if it's a bad impact?
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Well, cable channels never were required to beep out curse words. I really don't think hearing "bad words" is going to make my children delinquents
 
oh, I wasn't referring to making them delinquent, but obviously teachers don't approve that kind of language and so on. Personally I think there's too much censorship trying to "protect" children, mostly by tight-assed parents, but somewhere in their lives will be exposed to that type of talk. It almost seems like parents don't have faith in letting their kids, as they get older, determine for themselves what is deemed socially acceptable.
 
Hey Streamline, I had heard that the Australian government was considering banning the show Hell's Kitchen because Chef Gordon Ramsey swears a lot. In America, there is no talk whatsoever of saying that show can't be on the air, but the swear words are just bleeped out. That makes me wonder---in Australia, are certain vulgar words bleeped out? Or is America unique in basically letting anything be shown but agressively bleeping out swear words and obscuring nudity and obscene gestures?

Another thing about bleeping---I once heard a radio show that would do a segment where they'd take an innocent song and bleep out words just to make it sound dirty. For instance, "Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you" becomes "Every night in my dreams, I *** you, I *** you."
 
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FunctionalTrain said:
oh, I wasn't referring to making them delinquent, but obviously teachers don't approve that kind of language and so on. Personally I think there's too much censorship trying to "protect" children, mostly by tight-assed parents, but somewhere in their lives will be exposed to that type of talk. It almost seems like parents don't have faith in letting their kids, as they get older, determine for themselves what is deemed socially acceptable.
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Thats what I'm saying. My kids are young enough to use those words in the wrong settings. I just don't want some angry phone call from the school telling me what my kid said.

Really what difference does it make if my son called his teacher a slut or a ****?
 
God I hate that word. I only use it under my breath or when I'm driving. Oh and talking ****. But I use it for the worst of the worst and that's really what it's supposed to be used for.
 
subdude said:
Or is America unique in basically letting anything be shown but agressively bleeping out swear words and obscuring nudity and obscene gestures?
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Yeah, that's one thing that doesn't make sense to me about censorship. Nudity is this horrible thing that will automatically make a movie rated R. But violence really isn't censored at all. Yeah, let the kids watch people get shot and get their heads blown off, but don't show them the naked human body. Oh no! That will traumatize them for life.
 
Where im from, c*nt is an everyday word. I call loads of people it lol. Its just like calling someone a ****head or something.
 
Well us Aussies use it at least 50 times a day , it's seems to of turned into a term of endearment here lol. When i was in seattle a few weeks ago , we was following fellow aussies and one said to the other "HEY WAIT UP C**T" and this guy on the street (native seattle) said "What did you call him?!" and he is like "It's ok he is my friend" and dude said "You cant call people that" and Chased him down the street trying to punch him up. We just had a good old laugh :)
 
thekow said:
Well us Aussies use it at least 50 times a day , it's seems to of turned into a term of endearment here lol. When i was in seattle a few weeks ago , we was following fellow aussies and one said to the other "HEY WAIT UP C**T" and this guy on the street (native seattle) said "What did you call him?!" and he is like "It's ok he is my friend" and dude said "You cant call people that" and Chased him down the street trying to punch him up. We just had a good old laugh :)
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that's pretty funny, although i doubt the bit about him chasing you down the street. To be honest, i think this kind of usage of the word is localised within Brisbane. I mean, I doubt they'd talk like that in NSW.
 
in america we have certain words that we dont use that are used in other places. as well as words that we dont use that are common in other places. nature of geographic i suppose.
 
Its used the same here as it is next door stream. I use it quite alot because everyone else does. Including my parents. I only use it where appropriate. I would never say it in a supermarket or somewhere where other people were about but I use it frequently when I am with my mates etc.
 
I totally missed this thread before. I think the C word has only been 'acceptable' here in the last 10 years or so and only with people who are fairly young. I've only ever heard it used between friends in a playful way and never said to a woman.

I use it most when I’m doing DIY, watching football or taking the piss out a mate. It’s also pretty commonly used by women these days

Americans are so weird about what they consider explicit or offensive. Most rap videos on MTV glamorise killing, crime or disrespectful attitudes to women but call your mate a c*** out of affection and apparently that’s offensive

It’s weird, if you read the classics like Shakespeare or Chaucer and swearing/sexual talk is pretty explicit, so why do we find bad language distasteful today?
 
Typhon said:
I use it most when I’m doing DIY
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thanks for sharing your thoughts when you masturbate
 
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