Why is the F word considered offensive?

**Richard** · September 29, 2007, 12:42 AM

I've been thinking on this and can't find a reasonable explanation. That n word that refers to black people, sure, that's offensive (well, to them anyway) it carries the implication that the subject is somehow less or inferior to the speaker. Things like using the name of Jesus or any other revered figure as a curse I can understand, as that's taking the name of someone's prophet/savior/whatever and using it as a curse.
The F word, and S word (I'm sure I've seen that censored here) I can understand being offensive IF they're used to refer to a person or their actions or something they hold dear or whatever, but that's because of the context it's used in.

What I don't get, however, is people being offended when I exclaim F when I stub my foot on a rock, or use it in a friendly manner (ie jokingly telling a friend to F off at a foolish suggestion), or referring to a turd as an S. Beyond their parents telling them so, why are these words considered offensive by some?

**jankren** · September 29, 2007, 12:48 AM

I dont ****ing see no ****ing problem with using the word **** because it is just a ****ing word for ****'s sake.

**boofhead** · September 29, 2007, 12:55 AM

I think it's more an old-fashioned notion that children will be harmed by such references more than anything, or the posh upper-classed "polite" society who saw public expressions of "base" concepts as beneath their dignity.

I've read some Chaucer (14th century) and this guy is quite rude - arses, penetration and farts etc. The thing is - it was for adults.

When used as a verb (don't ask me the definition when you say "this ****ing giant avalanche"), such words are quite meek. When used as a noun, the connotations vary according to tone used, and the audience sought.

e.g. If I called somebody here a "****" (f-word), that is quite a different usage to the norm.

**Richard** · September 29, 2007, 02:43 AM

Heh that reminds me there was a street in 13th century London called Grope"c word" Lane. Wikipedia told me that so it may have been lying, I didn't check. I believe it was in the article for the C word.

**boofhead** · September 29, 2007, 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

Heh that reminds me there was a street in 13th century London called Grope"c word" Lane. Wikipedia told me that so it may have been lying, I didn't check. I believe it was in the article for the C word.

I wouldn't be surprised at all, considering the Chaucer I've read

If it talks like a duck, call it a ****ing duck

**Anarius** · September 29, 2007, 03:55 AM

Thought about it too. It seems that the good old words are naughty, while latin ones are allright. I think that's a shame. It's good people are still using my favourite english word: C ***.
Asterisks, our old enemy..

**Richard** · September 29, 2007, 04:22 AM

Well, if I were to call you a faggotpenis in Danish (not that I can, but swearasaurus.com probably could) you probably wouldn't realise it, I imagine that's the same reason people don't object to swearing in Latin lol.

EDIT: Seems the autocensor on here doesn't realise it either....faggotpenis.

**boofhead** · September 29, 2007, 04:41 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

Well, if I were to call you a faggotpenis in Danish (not that I can, but swearasaurus.com probably could) you probably wouldn't realise it, I imagine that's the same reason people don't object to swearing in Latin lol.

EDIT: Seems the autocensor on here doesn't realise it either....faggotpenis.

I love it

oops!

**Spurius** · September 29, 2007, 04:53 AM

It's partly toilet training on the rampage. Anything even remotely 'dirty' becomes taboo. Vagina meant sheath for a sword, originally, and penis just meant tail. Been goin on for a while, this. Euphemisms are OLD.

Everything we lock away, like death, too becomes subject of euphemisms. 'Sterben' in German for instance meant 'sleeping' in Old German, now it means dying.

"Want to come upstairs and see my stamp collection, dear?" is pretty clear, but can be said in the presence of children, indeed.

**Mig el Pig** · September 29, 2007, 07:45 AM

What I don't get is why the come up with substitutes.
Like Frag, friggin, ... because it means exactly the same so it should be equally repulsive.

the F word isn't a bad word, it just has a meaning which some would consider offensive. Coming up with another word with the same meaning is one of the retarded/hypocritical things to do then.

**Chaigidel** · September 29, 2007, 07:47 AM

**** is just a comma in my every day speech.

**Dayman** · September 30, 2007, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by Chaigidel

**** is just a comma in my every day speech.

Same for me **** same for me.

**hellheaven1987** · September 30, 2007, 02:13 AM

Actually I am more interesting about the middle finger thing. Why point someone with middle finger is classified as "offensive"?? When did it come from??

**Dayman** · September 30, 2007, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by hellheaven1987

Actually I am more interesting about the middle finger thing. Why point someone with middle finger is classified as "offensive"?? When did it come from??

It's apparently very old. I've read articles that said it went back to Roman times, and it's vulgar since it resembles a dick.

**hellheaven1987** · October 01, 2007, 02:21 AM

Originally Posted by Boeing

It's apparently very old. I've read articles that said it went back to Roman times, and it's vulgar since it resembles a dick.

The oldest practice I can find is during Hundred Years War. The English bowmen would show their middle finger towards the besiegers, especially knights, to insult them "hey, you ****ing French! I thought you want to cut off my middle finger?? See, it is still here you coward!!!!" (it is about the French practice toward capture English bowmen; since it caused them so much frustration the French sweared they would chop off every captured bowmen's middle finger, so they would not be able to use bow again).

**Mathias** · September 29, 2007, 09:25 AM

Cencoring is just silly, because when someone writes "f ***" everyone knows that the f is followed with a "u", "c" and a "k". When i read "f ***" I don't read it as "f-asteriks-asteriks-asteriks" I read the word that I know it is supposed to be, just like everybody else does.

**MattErickson** · September 29, 2007, 09:52 AM

Maybe this will shed some light.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

It was done by Monty Python.

**MaximiIian** · September 29, 2007, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

why are these words considered offensive by some?

Because some people are prudish gits, and unfortunately, the prudish gits hold all the money and power.

**Cluny the Scourge** · September 29, 2007, 12:45 PM

Weak-minds instinctively revolt against their inferiority and yearn to find ways to control the thoughts and actions of others. Control of language, designating things that can and cannot "permissibly" be said (though who they think they are to give or deny permission is unclear) is one way to do this. You know the kind of person I'm talking about - you must have met many of them during your journey through life. They gravitate towards very low-ranking positions of authority - low enough for their inferior natures to qualify themselves for, but placed just sufficiently to exist as an irritant to stronger minds.