Thursday, May 20, 2010

Barefoot in the Cunt

Today I continue the Bagwine Retrospective utilizing a post I wrote on February 16, 2008...

Seems that Jane Fonda had just uttered the "cunt" word. I'm aghast!!

Yesterday, in media outlets everywhere, fallout continued to rain down over Jane Fonda’s use of profanity on the Today Show…

Specifically Fonda’s use of the word, “c*nt.”

One of the morons leading the charge of turning this “shocking” incident into an Apocalyptic attack on the wholesomeness of our children is of course, Bill O’Reilly.

He has been all over Fonda’s back since Thursday, and the ratings whore continued his moral diatribe last night.

As I watched and listened to Falafel Boy, his rantings faded into the background, eventually becoming inaudible.

My thoughts turned into more of a wonderment mode. I began to ponder the following:

Exactly why is the word “c*nt” such an uber-offensive word? Why does the word “c*nt” elicit such rage in some women?

A lesser pondering led to me ask myself, why do I bother spelling the word “c*nt” with an asterisk when everyone knows damn well that I am talking about cunt??

Seriously…I asked Schmoop, who is indeed a woman, what is so offensive about this word. She had no clue. I suggested that it is no more offensive than bitch, prick, mo-fo, etc.

I postulated, that the word was somewhere at sometime, manufactured in to being the Grand Poobah of Offensiveness. (Probably by some cunt.)

I did some research, and sure enough, my theory was somewhat corroborated. I read an article that stated that the word “cunt” has been around for centuries, most notably used by Geoffrey Chaucer.

It has only relatively recently carried its negative connotation.

The word began to morph into being a disparaging term only after appearing in DH Lawrence’s 1928 novel, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”.

Interesting. ..


With that being said, I still would like to know from the women out there…If you find the word “cunt” to be highly offensive, why is that?

And if you do find the word “cunt” offensive, isn’t it ironic that it’s because a MAN’S writing made it so?

Ha. I dig irony. Still any haters? And if so, why?

Cheers!!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not that easily offended, but I just don't like that word. It just reeks of hatefulness to me. And when used as an insult it sounds even more horrible coming from a man. I know it's "just a word" (that's how I feel about curse words), but this is one you'll probably never hear come from my lips.

I did laugh about Jane Fonda's incident though, that was funny since it was on tv and she's older. LOL.

Jay said...

I think "cunt" became the really bad word to use when women decided that "bitch" wasn't an insult. As soon as they decided being a bitch was something to be proud of, (and decided that being a "whore" insult either) people had to move on to the next bad word, which happened to be "cunt."

Charlene said...

Lenny and I were discussing back in the day when we were going out in high school and I said, "Well you know I'm a whore." He said, "No, you're not a whore you don't charge for sex." I said, "How about a slut, can I be a slut?" He said, "Sure I always like sluts!" I said, "Yeah, as long as someone else isn't calling me one."

That's the difference. If you use cunt as a statement about someone being a cunt, it's ok as long as you don't know the person you're calling a cunt. If you know someone and say, "Mary Jones sure is a cunt." as in describing her character, that's bad.

I don't recall that far back, so I don't know what context Jane said that word. It's not offensive in conversation if the context is cool. BTW Billo just can't think of anything interesting to talk about.

Mike said...

From dictionary.com.

One of the oldest English four-letter words. Usually objectionable.

Origin:
1275–1325; ME cunte; c. ON kunta, OFris, MLG, MD kunte


Apparently it's not objectionable ALL the time. This is straight off the internet so you know it's true.

Scott Oglesby said...

How did I miss the Jane Fonda thing? 08…I was probably already here.

I personally don’t comprehend how any combination of letters can get anyone riled up. But I’m still afraid of cunt, the word not the ...nevermind.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

The hospital where I delivered (read: got cut open from stem to stern) both of our children at is called "CAMC Womens and Childrens". Locally, it's called either Cunts and Runts or Twats and Tots.

As far as insults go, I think calling someone a twat is far more insulting than cunt.

Dana said...

*giggle* I remember this post the first time around ...

I think the offensiveness comes from "cunt's" infrequent use. In fact, I think if we embraced it and used it freely there would be far less of a reaction to it.

Maybe I could talk Jay into using a new tag line - "Hola Cunts"

Schmoop said...

D: Your sentiments are not uncommon. I still find the cringe effect of that word odd. Cheers D!!

Jay: You do historical research the same way I do...You make it up. Cheers Jay!!

Charlene: I think she was discussing the Vagina Monologues in the interview. What's the big deal, ya know? Cheers Charlene!!

Schmoop said...

Mike: You are correct. As I mentioned Chaucer used it often and if I remember correctly he was talking about a chick's pussy during The Miller's Tale. Cheers Mike!!

Scott: Don't be afraid cunt. Embrace the cunt. Love the cunt. DO IT!! Cheers Scott!!

Evil: Hee Hee. Cunts and Runts. I like that. Twat? Offensive? Interesting. Cheers Evil!!

Schmoop said...

Dana: You are absolutely correct. The word "cunt" is used frequently in this househod and let me tell ya...It ain't me uttering it every other sentence. Cheers Dana!!

Phfrankie Bondo said...

...on a world stage full of words there must be some that play the villian,and I think 'cunt' does a pretty good job...

Schmoop said...

Phfrankie: Ha. Very well said P-Man. I like that. Cheers!!

Karen said...

I don't mind the word cunt really, but I hate the word "slacks". It gives me the heebee geebees.

Schmoop said...

Karen: HA!! Oh no you didn't!! I hate the word slacks when referencing a person's pants. Glad to know that I'm not alone. Cheers Karen!!

Anonymous said...

I'm totally LOLing at Karen's comment, hahaha. Slacks is a dumb word, I agree.

Schmoop said...

D: It is creepy, isn't it? Cheers D!!

Phfrankie Bondo said...

..."slacks" and "loafers"!...

Schmoop said...

Phfrankie: Ha. Loafers. I hate that word too. Very Good. Cheers P-Man!!

Schmoop said...

Phfrankie: I have another one: Galoshes. I hate that word. Cheers P-Man!!