Which of these words is most profane?

[porphyrian]

As there seems to be a great deal of disagreement today about what constitutes acceptable language here on DU, I thought I'd continue to beat the horse with a poll because I can.

Which of the following words or phrases do you feel is the MOST profane?



(NOTE: No animals were harmed in the authoring of this poll.)

[Selatius]

1. You forgot the word with the ugliest history of them all: Nigger

It's the ugliest word in the English language, but the word now exists as a reminder to us of what happened.

[porphyrian]

3. Oh yeah, that's an ugly one.

I mostly try to block it out, but it should be on this list.

[The Straight Story]

4. Is it uglier than: spic, injun, chink, et al?

To me those words rank up there with it - to wit, racially charged words vs words that describe sex :)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. The word "dick" doesn't bother me much.

or "cock" or "balls."

[porphyrian]

13. Yeah, those don't really bother me, either.

Male genitalia words are kind of silly. Especially penis. Who the hell thought that one up? Anyway, that's the reason for the apparent disparity in my chosen terms with regards to genitalia.

[porphyrian]

9. Good point, although I'm not sure those are as universally despised...

...as the "n-word." Not to diminish how horrible they are, that is.

[lvx35]

12. yeah its all those words that's why cunt is offensive too.

because the hate they represent. totally.

[TwentyFive]

18. Agreed - demeaning a human being because of their race is the worst.

Anybody caught using these words (in earnest) should be forced to eat only McDonalds hamburgers until their liver explodes.

[Raine]

8. Yes

that is VERY VERY UGLY.

[readmoreoften]

26. I don't think of ethnic slurs as "cussing". I think of them as degradation

Curse words don't really have any meaning. They're just expressions of rage or irritation. Ethic slurs are often used calmly and with full intention of their meaning. Klan members use the word "nigger" with no expletive at all.

[greatauntoftriplets]

36. That is a racial slur.

n/t

[Kutjara]

2. Other: Republican. n/t

[porphyrian]

5. I thought about that one...

...but I was having problems capitalizing it.
;)

[Raine]

6. Freeper

someone calls me that and if I could get ahold of them they would be deadmeat. :mad:

[porphyrian]

11. I didn't put that one because I see it more as a condition...

...than just a profanity, like a form of mental illness. Or herpes.

[ReadTomPaine]

10. Words are not offensive, it's the people who speak them..

and their intent, that create the profanity.

[porphyrian]

16. While I feel similarly, there are many who don't.

Also, in a written format, it is not always apparent what the author's intent is.

[ReadTomPaine]

20. Every word mentioned here is innocuous in proper context..

but intent is often unclear, I'd agree. I would argue however that's more a fault of the speaker or the writer, than the language...

[undergroundpanther]

22. Verbal abuse is the problem

A verbal abuser can harm a person's emotions without saying a single cussword..It's the person's intention,not the letter sequences that cause the pain in words..

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. Twat Was Always The Most Vulgar And Disgusting Sounding Word To Me.

I don't know why. Just something about it makes me cringe when I hear it.

[ReadTomPaine]

19. Unless you're a Brit...

It's a common phrase overseas, used to describe a moron or a fool.

[RaleighNCDUer]

46. I think you're thinking 'twit' --

a whole other critter.

[ReadTomPaine]

49. Nope - the term is "twat" and the usage is different overseas.

It can also mean to hit someone i.e. - "I twatted him in the face".

[readmoreoften]

23. I agree. Twat is the worst.

My friends and I call each other cunt all the time. And we're women. It's used a lot in lesbian porn (I mean real lesbian porn not lesbian porn for men). I do think it's gross when it's used that way though, but it's just not my thing.

I've never heard "twat" used in anything but a derogatory context.

[Toucano]

27. Really? I think it's an interesting word, almost affectionate.

It's strange how it strikes people so differently.

[buzzard]

33. I remember driving up to cottage with my parents and 3 siblings and

I asked my father what twat meant, he almost drove off of the road. You just reminded me of that memorable drive.

[brmdp3123]

41. Twat you say? I cunt hear you.

[mark0rama]

15. I had to go with your third option...

...because my definition of "profane" falls most closely in line with this from Merriam-Webster: "Serving to debase or defile what is holy."

Lots of people treat "profane" as synonymous with "vulgar" or "obscene", which would allow in several more of your choices.

[Lost-in-FL]

17. Slut?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. That's a weird thing.

When I was a kid the word "slut" was no big deal but "whore" was just damn shocking. Seems to have reversed itself for some reason.

[readmoreoften]

24. I think that whores exist, but sluts really don't.

For example, I was once-- basically-- a whore. A lesbian stripper. Never had sex with the men, but I was definitely selling myself. Perfectly fine with it. Perfectly fine being called a whore too. Why yes, yes I am, I'd say.

But I wasn't a "slut"-- which is a woman who debases herself for male attention, usually by having sex, and does not get paid. I was getting paid and I did not care one whit about male attention.

I don't think that women are "debasing" themselves if they like sex or even if they want male attention. Why can't a woman like sex? Why can't a straight woman want male attention? Straight men love attention from women-- it's called being a "ladies man". So I think that the term slut is necessarily offensive and says more about the "condemner" than the "condemned"

Except for "slut" meaning "i like every type in the category and i go gaga for it": cakeslut, bookslut, fashionslut, etc,

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Yeah.

Usually today the word "whore" (or often "ho" same word) is used affectionately. Between friends as gags. While "slut" is downright offensive, something that will start fights.

It was sort of the opposite years ago.

But yeah, there's definitely that sexist double standard. Any given guy would love to have sex with lots of different partners.

[blogslut]

39. Uh oh, guess I'm guilty

As you can see by my nick.

The reason I chose it? Because I work for the Internet porn industry and I have blog and I think that by using this nick, I take some power away from those that wish to call me names.

I would imagine that I'm on many ignore lists here at DU -simply because of my handle. Their loss, I say.

Here's what I told my kid way back in the day:

THERE ARE NO BAD WORDS.

I went on to explain that there are words that hurt people's feelings. One must respect the power behind words and have empathy for those that are offended by them.

[Grey]

48. in 'olde english' a slut.......

was a dirty or filthy person. ie; the cow herd was a slut. (unisex)

not to put too fine a point on it, My 10 year old grandaughter uses republican
as an insult, as in " you rebublican...... how stupid."

rebublican has my vote for 'best cuss word....'

[mark0rama]

25. On a much less offensive front...

I noticed the same reversal with "nerd" and "geek". When I was growing up in the late-80s-early-90s, my more technologcally inclined friends and I favored "nerd".

Today, we're all geeks.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

34. "dork" used to be vulgar.

It was a penis.

Then it was synonymous with "geek" and "nerd."

Seems to have disappeared off the map.

[mark0rama]

37. I'd forgotten about "dork"

I remember reading a "Far Side" book where Gary Larson's syndicator made him change a caption because he used the word "dork".

I'd rather be a geek AND a nerd than be a dork.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

38. I call people dorks quite frequently.

[treestar]

28. Bush

the most profane word in the English language

[Generator]

29. They allow the "C" word in a poll?

I used a word that rhymes with it, to express my feelings for a certain secretary of state some time ago.It was deleted. Didn't even USE the word.

Which reminds me, in America it is the dirtiest word you can use. In Ireland, it's as common as damn in many quarters. After some time I got used to hearing it, "that c...t of a car wouldn't start this morning".

Maybe it has to do with the shela na gig. There's an image for you.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. Obviously you're sexist to Condaleeza Rice.

You must want to keep her down. You pig.

:P

[hopeisaplace]

31. A way to world peace

all profanity to become "poopies"

"What in the poopies are you talking about"
"Go poopies yourself", (said Cheney)

[greatauntoftriplets]

35. Only God damn is profane.

The others are obscenities.

[Gormy Cuss]

40. Hmm. Beat me to it.

That's the way I viewed it too.

[sandnsea]

42. I really, really hate you

I can't believe people think there is anything more profane than to be told they're hated. :cry:

[Maven]

43. What about BOOBIES!

Nah, I'm just kiddin. It's not dirty, but it IS fun to say!

Go ahead, say it. BOOBIES! See? Fun! :crazy:

[Endangered Specie]

44. Seems like "Cocksucker" should be an option...

Some others that could make the list:

-Faggot/Fag (and the like)
-Kaffir (yes, its not a "curse word" but considering the history behind it, its pretty bad... worse than our N word)
-Shag/Shagger etc...
-Wanker, at least in the UK.

(I should say that Ive used all of the poll options while stuck in traffic at one point or another)

[Justice Is Comin]

45. Did you ever see that episode of Candid Camera where

their woman was supposedly giving a class on what they thought was just going to be a group solicited to give opinion on free speech? They were all in this room, and she started asking them to use the most vulgar swear words in a sentence.

Demure, unsuspecting ladies. Some of the expressions on their faces was priceless. "Who would like to use the word motherfucker in a sentence for me?" :rofl:

[Endangered Specie]

47. heres a 'complete' list (view at your own discression)

racial/ethnic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs
http://www.rsdb.org/

sexual/orientation/gender:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sexual_slurs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual-slang

standard profanity and naughty words
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_profane_words

1700 euphamisms for masturbation:
http://www.worldwidewank.com/synonyms.html (may want to use adblock or block images for this one)

Toilet humour (see theasaurus links):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_humour

[rasputin1952]

50. Locking

This horse has been beaten far to many times, it ain't getting up...