I only learned what the c- word was last year. I hadn't heard it before then, and still don't hear it much. Maybe that is why I don't find it personally offensive. I do, however, think it is inappropriate. But what makes this word so unacceptable and offensive? That it refers to a body part that shouldn't be mentioned in front of kids? Or that people are just overly sensitive? You don't have to let yourself be offended by things. Sure it is meant to be hurtful, but if you have self-esteem and are self-secure, you won't let most things bother you, like the use of that word. I haven't been called that word but if I was, why shouldn't I just shrug it off and laugh at someone trying to bring me down? It takes a lot more than a word to bring me down.
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c**t (knt) [P]
n. Vulgar Slan.
1. The female genital organs.
2. Sexual intercourse with a woman.
3.
1. Offensive. Used as a disparaging term for a woman.
2. Used as a disparaging term for a person one dislikes or finds extremely disagreeable.
(American Heritage Dictionary)
So you see, it's only offensive when it's taken out of context. I think it's because it's taken out of context so much that women find it an unpleasant word. Plus here in America we come from Puritain roots (mostly) and those people were WAY uptight about anything of a sexual nature so of course people will get uncomfortable with it. Just don't go around calling women c***s and you'll have no problems.
I don't think words themselves are offensive. It's how, why, and when people use them that determines whether they're "offensive" or not. I think people get offended too easily. As someone mentioned, it's quite Puritan, really.
Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.
Besides, we have all kinds of words in the English language. We may as well use all the ones we have at our disposal.
"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."
"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."
H. L. Mencken
Words are offensive because people make them offensive. Why the hell do people frown upon "shit" but not "crap"? They literally mean the same thing!
What's the c-word? Crap?
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