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Opinions on this crossword, please

(12 Posts)
Stoker48 Mon 20-Apr-26 09:13:36

We are currently on a cruise.
Mostly over 70s.
UK departure.
They have a daily “ newspaper” with a crossword.
One of today’s clues is :
Illegitimate child -7 letters.
We have some of the letters so know it starts with a B, second letter S and ends in a D.
It is obvious what the word is.
I’m very broad minded and rarely, if ever, get on my high horse, but we were shocked at this word being used in a crossword in 2026.
“It’s no longer used in legal context and is considered an offensive and seaming term” so say Google.
What do you think?

AGAA4 Mon 20-Apr-26 09:20:02

I think it's unacceptable in today's world. No child is illegitimate. Horrible outdated word that is now a swear word.

Beechnut Mon 20-Apr-26 09:25:24

A name for a file, I’ve recently learned.

NotSpaghetti Mon 20-Apr-26 09:26:21

I think I'd make a formal complaint about this.
What are the compilers thinking???

Marzipan22 Mon 20-Apr-26 09:27:41

Awful. I'd complain.

grumppa Mon 20-Apr-26 10:10:32

I assume BUSTARD would have fitted as well. No need to have used the word they did,

Stoker48 Mon 20-Apr-26 10:15:45

Thank you for you prompt replies.
Reassuring that we are not the only ones who thought this was well out of order.
Is a formal complaint too strong?
Hate making a fuss but think it’s well out of order.

Stoker48 Mon 20-Apr-26 10:19:48

God point, grumpa

nanna8 Mon 20-Apr-26 10:23:47

Stuck in the nineteenth century, aren’t they ? I do ancestry research and it still makes my skin crawl to see people described as ‘ bastards’ on the church baptism rolls. I wouldn’t complain, just feel sorry for people with this attitude.

Magenta8 Mon 20-Apr-26 10:31:52

I am sure I am not the only GN born out of wedlock and I agree, it is offensive to use it in this context in this day and age.

As far as I am concerned, it has come, through common usage, to be a relatively mild swear word that means somebody who has done something one disapproves of. I use in this context myself occasionally.

NotSpaghetti Mon 20-Apr-26 10:48:10

Well if nobody complains they will go on using such words and see it as OK

By not speaking up we are complicit, as Niemöller would have said.

Septimia Mon 20-Apr-26 10:59:45

nanna8 in our local baptism records the b-word isn't used and "illegitimate" is rare. Where the record asks for the names of the parents it's just the mother's name and the comment "single woman". It's likely that many such women went on to marry, possibly the father. In a few cases the father's name is also given - I wonder if that was with his consent or just because it was common knowledge!
My grandfather was illegitimate and was adopted. His mother married someone who was clearly not his father and went on to have other children.
The b-word and even "illegitimate" are derogatory terms and unfair to the child because the situation is obviously not their fault.