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” .........
I had a boss I hated who didn’t work on Fridays and I didn’t work on Mondays. I had a great time signing every final email of the week off with “bye, see you next Tuesday.”
I play Scrabble online and yesterday I started a game with a new person, a young "lady". I was a so shocked when after a few turns, her next word was c**t I nearly dropped my phone.
When I young I worked for the police I didn’t swear when I started the job. I soon learnt every possible word to throw back at abusive people without witnesses of course.
I agree with your logic, atqui. Surely the point is: was the person so called one of those, in your husband's judgment, and if so, why? Also, clearly, he was not using the word's literal meaning. Since your husband is a gentleman, he must have had a good reason to use that word.
I have yet to come across a word that shocked me. I've come across attitudes that shocked me, bad manners and that sort of a thing but that's about people not the words they use.
A lot of people would never use it, me, on the other hand. Mrs Potty Mouth, have been known to use it. This is one of my favourite posters! It is just a word!! Most political figures would be referred to as one in our house.
I was also brought up in a non-swearing home and first saw the f word as graffiti. I would not expect a man to use the c word in female company and would make it very clear it was unacceptable. I remember the first time the f word was used on TV and what a fuss there was, but of course that pushed the boundary as far as language goes and it is used far too casually now which is awful. The c word has began to creep in (After Life anyone?) which is beginning to make that acceptable too. The Americans frequently use 'mother-f*****' in their movies (quite casually) which I find horrible, really horrible. We have started to prepare the grandchildren that they will hear lots of swearing in movies when they get older, but that we don't like it and it doesn't mean it's okay to casually use those words. You can only hope they aren't influenced by movies, but young people seem to swear a lot now, so I'm sure they are.
There is nothing worse than casual swearing, if something goes wrong my limit is “oh shhhugar” or “stupid prat” never ever anything worse. OH is the same, both our families too, swearing is just not done.
How upsetting for you and no doubt a surprise if it was out of character for H to use such a word. Nothing surprises me 21C when you observe the lengths todays media will go, to get ratings, by bringing to the public certain words, or actions, once viewed obscene but now part of everyday life.
Fannycornforth ? He used the word many years ago and got a real telling off, so I agree could now be the losing inhibition thing .He knew I was there - beside him in bed. It wasn’t Boris ?, but another politician I think. I agree about blasphemy too Sodapop. BTW many other swear words are uttered in our house but not the one in question normally.
It’s a word that is only used in exceptional circumstances in our house.
It was last used to describe the c@@@s that broke in to our home, stole numerous items then took one of our cars and smashed it into 8 parked vehicles, damaging all of them and writing off ours!
Despite good insurance we were 10k out of pocket and numerous other people would have been greatly inconvenienced.
It is a grim word but occasionally the only one that will suffice.
It's a word I hate as well. Strange how some words evoke strong feelings whereas others not so much. I never use dick, prick or twat but my husband does occasionally. I dislike blasphemy as well, Hastings would get short shrift if he was in my house.