Opinions on this crossword, please

What did you decide to do Stoker48?

Just wondering...

My sister in law is 75, she got pregnant and had a baby at 18. One of her grandmas told her ‘never bring that b****d over my threshold’. Shocking then, even more shocking now. It’s an awful word to use about children. I think I would complain.

I would find out if the crossword is AI generated.

Then you can blame technology.

I am a writer and do use that word in an historical context; but would never do so in an everyday situation.

I agree it's a horrible word which should not be used now or ever.

Out of interest....we used to live in the Netherlands. The word for brown sugar is bast*e*rdsuiker. A tricky one for us!!

I'm amazed, and frankly disgusted, at using the word in its historical context for a modern day crossword puzzle.
Whenever you hear it nowadays it's referring to someone who's a horrible person, nothing to do with birth circumstances.

My mother was a midwife and hated the word illegitimate applied to children. She always said there was no such thing as an illegitimate child, and railed against 'unknown' being put in the father slot on birth registrations. Nowadays I think that's just left empty if the father isn't present for registration or no longer around.

sodapop

When I was adopted in the 40s some members of my wider adoptive family would have nothing to do with me because I was illegitimate. My Uncle visited me when I married but his wife would not cross my threshold and his son would pick him up but not even come through my gate. Their loss of course.

That is so sad, sodapop. A friend of my mother was born out of wedlock in the early 30s, and was always treated badly by her family, as was her mother, who pretended to be her sister. When the mother died she wouldn't allow Mum's friend to use the usual wording in the announcement, on the lines of 'much loved mother of X' as she still refused to acknowledge the relationship. It was so cruel, but was a last wish.

It's a horrible word.

When I was adopted in the 40s some members of my wider adoptive family would have nothing to do with me because I was illegitimate. My Uncle visited me when I married but his wife would not cross my threshold and his son would pick him up but not even come through my gate. Their loss of course.

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.

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.

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.

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.

God point, grumpa

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.

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

Awful. I'd complain.

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

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

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