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The C word - and I don’t means COVID or Christmas!

(199 Posts)
Atqui Thu 29-Apr-21 11:32:50

Last night while listening to a news programme , my husband called someone a C****. I was furious and upset. Logically, I suppose it is no worse than calling someone a dick or a prick ( where asterisks seem to be deemed unnecessary) . I’m wondering how many men use this word , especially in mixed company, and am I being unreasonable to make a fuss about it.
I can’t bear hearing it or seeing it win print, so coming from my husband who is supposed to be “ a gentleman” .........

mrsgreenfingers56 Sat 01-May-21 20:57:00

I was always taught that resorting to swearing was lack and command of the English language and not blessed in the brains department.

Juneandarchie1 Sat 01-May-21 20:42:47

I can f it and blind it amongst the rest of them, but the C word is not one I use. I really don’t like to hear it for some reason.

LuckyFour Sat 01-May-21 19:49:22

Disgusting word. My DH never swears I'm glad to say. His parents were vey straight - didn't drink, smoke, swear etc. He's not like them but he does have their moral standards as I do.

grannypiper Sat 01-May-21 19:14:04

Here in Scotland i have heard people call their children the "C" word, it is not unusual. Personally i can't stand the word.

tictacnana Sat 01-May-21 18:39:02

I’m not keen on the C word but not averse to swearing, in the right context. I do shudder when people blaspheme, especially little children. It just doesn’t sit right with me.

CBBL Sat 01-May-21 18:25:26

I hate swear words in general, and particularly dislike the f word and the c word under discussion. If my husband used either in my presence, I would expect an almost immediate apology (and I'm sure would receive it). Swear words, especially those above, seem to be used quite commonly these days, and I will turn a TV programme off, or leave the room, if I hear it/them constantly. I don't think I'm a prude, as I would discuss anything under the sun, if raised in company, but maybe I am old-fashioned, since my worst and only swear word is "pig"!

dogsmother Sat 01-May-21 17:52:55

I haven’t trawled through this as it’s reached seven pages however I’m probably alone in not being too concerned about it.......
DD had to use it in a play she was in so the both of us drove around and around and used it at the tops of our voices and said it a thousand times or more to desensitise her! That was it, never looked back, it’s just a word like any other and if you want impact. I’m not known for a foul mouth by the way, far from it.

Bridgeit Sat 01-May-21 17:19:31

I haven’t led a sheltered life , however I do find the word we are discussing when used as an insult seems to carry a particularly unpleasant connotation with it... which is why folks use it I suppose.

GrauntyHelen Sat 01-May-21 17:12:38

It's not any more offensive than any other swear word to me I don't find myself clutching my pearls and being overcome with vapours but then I'm considerably younger than most here and my professional life most certainly negated my sheltered upbringing

Nanananana1 Sat 01-May-21 17:09:22

There aren't many expletives I find offensive but this is THE ONE. Anyone who uses it goes way down in my estimation.

I am quite good at cutting people off if I find their presence or language unacceptable so it is up to them but they may find themselves with a smaller and smaller circle of friends as I am sure I am not alone in thinking this (judging by this thread)

Atqui Sat 01-May-21 15:34:49

Forgot to say, thanks for interesting answers to my question.

Atqui Sat 01-May-21 15:25:44

Oh since this post @ 02 this morning

lemsip
think this has been done to death now so calm down,
why don't you?

there seems to have been a lot of activity. As the Op I just wanted to say that I apologised very early on for using the wrong number of asterisks , and thought people ( the majority did) would realise what the word was from context and subsequent posts.
Also I have found people’s comments interesting . Afraid I shan’t be repeating it to my husband as someone suggested. Do I need therapy? ?( a rhetorical question by the way)

Jess20 Sat 01-May-21 15:24:44

Personally I think maybe, as it's supposedly a sexist and derogatory word about womens private parts, we should all start to use it in everyday language and get rid of the negative connotations. After all, those womens bits are not obscene or anything to be ashamed of.

GrannyGear Sat 01-May-21 14:58:42

I've come across lots of words in reading, even in our local book group that I wouldn't use myself either in speech or writing but find quite acceptable if they are quoted in fiction. eg the n-word in Mark Twain's stories. (See I daren't even write it in full in case my post is banned!)

timetogo2016 Sat 01-May-21 14:52:46

I was bought up a publicans daughter,and if the C word was never used in front of women.
That was over 45 yrs ago.
Today it seems the norm,even young females use it,i hate it as do most of the females i know.
But it is definitely used more than ever,sad but true.

grandtanteJE65 Sat 01-May-21 14:46:32

People can discuss this until the cows come home without getting anywhere at all.

What matters here is that OP has presumably been married to her husband for a good many years, so he should surely know that she finds the word he used distasteful, but he used it all the same.

I have given up trying to persuade my husband not to use what to me are the rudest possible words for sexual intercourse and certain bodily functions, but he either could not or would not take the trouble to try to realise that I found and still find them grossly offensive.

OP may be more successful, I hope so.

I have actually got to the stage of wondering whether those words we were taught were obscene aren't actually preferable to some of the newer euphemisms.

I personally cannot stand "lady parts" - when did "genitalia" become so rude that we couldn't just use it?

sharon103 Sat 01-May-21 14:33:23

I've heard it said, "see you next Tuesday"

Rufus2 Sat 01-May-21 14:17:02

I believe that she was born Sarah Cox, so you've got a whole new innuendo there
Fanny C What on earth do you mean? shock
I was about to congratulate you for divulging your "secret"; it must have taken a lot of courage, because it's raised the tone of this thread and lifted the IQ up several notches!
Unfortunately it appears to have been overwhelmed by a tsunami of "holier-than-thous" from self proclaimed non-swearers!
Never mind; Rome wasn't built in a day! grin
Good Health
OoRoo

Linnty Sat 01-May-21 14:02:25

The C word is the only one my husband draws the line at esp in my presence. I was brought up in a no swearing household and 1st hubby didn’t swear in front of me. To current (not that I plan replacing!) husband the others are commonly used words and I’ve had to get used to it. It did startle me when he was having an opposing discussion with his son when I first knew him, I thought they were having a blazing row! Just normal to them. I rarely swear even now after 11 years so current hubby knows I’m mightily annoyed if I do!

Hellsbelles Sat 01-May-21 13:57:13

I used to work in a prison B category approx 700 men . I was in charge of a certain area ( let's call it a workshop ) I would not have them say that word in front of me . They knew they would be back off to their cell if they did !

grannybuy Sat 01-May-21 13:55:13

I suspect that a lot of people who use the word don't even know the connection to female genitalia. It's possibly just the worst word that they can think of that suits the situation.

Galaxy Sat 01-May-21 13:51:46

It's an error with the number of asterisks it's the swear word for female genitalia. I cant believe how good I am being here, it would be so much easier just to write it.

Arty2 Sat 01-May-21 13:48:25

A C with 4 astericks WHAT is the WORD?

CrazyGrandma2 Sat 01-May-21 13:23:06

Atqui

Fannycornforth “What I really hate about it is that it's seen as ^the absolute worst thing that you can call someone^; as if a woman's genitals are that abominable.”
Sums up my feelings exactly

* Atqui* I completely agree with you.

poshpaws Sat 01-May-21 12:59:19

I'm afraid I use the C word whenever I'm very angry or have hurt myself badly - usually in with a string of other wholly offensive to many people words. I don't think of it in connection with female sexual anatomy - just as a cuss word. But I try not to use it in front of people whom it would upset, just out of basic consideration. You might find this article really interesting by the way!

edition.cnn.com/2021/01/26/health/swearing-benefits-wellness/index.html