I heartily recommend How Westminster Works and Why It Doesn't. It sits comfortably next to Chris Bryant’s book Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament and Rory Stewart’s book Politics on the Edge, the latter two providing personal accounts that back up Ian’s thesis as well as leaving us with a sense that Parliament is over-populated with cunts.
Cunt should be the highest praise, not the worst insult. Calling someone a cunt should be like saying they are a really good egg, a truly decent person. I don't like one of my body parts being the very worst thing you can call someone, although I have to admit hypocrisy on this point: I have no such scruples about calling someone a dick
Fine piece as always. Your mention of ‘damn’ being even “lightly forbidden” reminded me of being hugely puzzled when I was a teenager and we had to read some Dickens book or other in English lessons. This would be in the late 1970s, but the edition was evidently very old, and the word ‘d-n’ appeared several times (I can’t render it correctly here, but the dash was a long dash, so it was impossible to know how many letters it concealed). Neither I nor any of the other kids had a clue what it might mean, despite racking our very (very) extensive vocabulary of extremely offensive words, and eventually asked the teacher, who explained it was ‘damn’. It literally didn’t occur to us, even 50 years ago, that there could be any prohibition on its use.
Anyway, that aside, there is one practical problem in using any swearword, and certainly those seen as the most offensive, in things like blogs. I don’t know if it affects you, but I’ve discovered that some people don’t receive email alerts for my blog and/or that it doesn’t appear in some search engine lists, if a post contains such words. Apparently, there is some kind of Prudebot which sifts them out, much as the Lord Chamberlain used to ban plays detrimental to good manners and decorum. It annoys me as although I don't use swear words much, when I do I dislike being reduced to coy little asterisks as if I were a strait-laced Victorian confronted with an unusually suggestive piano leg. Chris
I’m an American who moved to the U.K. over 18 years ago. Cunt is definitely much more commonly used here than in the US. And it’s unique and wonderful! Thanks for this!
"Describing someone as 'fucking cunted in your eyesockets' is also charming, because you got both in and then docked them with some barren, fractured imagery" and a happy Easter to you, if it didn't hurt my infected chest to laugh I would at this heartily. My favourite use of Cunt ever is in In Bruges especially about Ralph Fines' character children which is even more powerful at to which point he responds "don't you talk about my cunt kids" I have loved the word since I was 19 as a tomboy it was always my special power and got me extra kudos when I exclaimed typically "Die you cunt" it sounds even better in a welsh accent, as the only girl in a group of shocked boys usually when playing Halo. I also think there is nothing hotter than when a guy you are attracted to calls someone who deserves it a cunt especially if they are quite a shy person - seriously lads nothing hotter especially if it's about her male boss. Thank you Mr Dunt happy cunting Easter x
What a lovely chucklefest this brought me…..I would add in the emphasis that regional accents give some swear words - hearing Kathy Burke or Danny Dyer deliver a cunt has so much more venom than other accents, and twat similarly, such delicious words!
Thank you, Ian, for a piece I had no idea I needed but clearly did, as it prompted me to think through why I’ve always disliked the word. If you’ll forgive a novice’s timid attempt, perhaps what the world needs is more cunts like you?
Also very much looking forward to a treatment on our ‘pathological aversion to sincerity,’ which has baffled for as long as I’ve been aware of it.
Yeah, no. Calling someone “female genitalia” and meaning it as the biggest most violent and aggressive insult you can throw at someone is definitely sexist. It’s no less sexist than using the same body part to mean someone who is weak and pathetic. Same shit, different angle. It’s quite a feat of mental gymnastics to view it as anything else. Telling in itself when men are more unwilling to give up “cunt” than “pussy”. I don’t know many countries where calling someone a women’s vagina isn’t the worst insult. Connotations might be slightly different. But it’s still extremely negative. I’m more inclined to call someone a massive dick. Seems a much more appropriate insult.
I remember dropping a big American cooker on my foot while helping an ex-girlfriend move in New York. As an Irishman I instinctively called the cooker a “Fucking cunt”. The room fell silent as her housemates began to take offence. I felt the requirement to apologise but also suppressed the need to explain why the stupidly oversized cooker was in fact a fucking cunt.
Dropping the C bomb effectively requires great skill and a little artistic flair. I think the folks who don’t appreciate swearing are the ones lacking imagination for sure - daft cunts 😁
I heartily recommend How Westminster Works and Why It Doesn't. It sits comfortably next to Chris Bryant’s book Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament and Rory Stewart’s book Politics on the Edge, the latter two providing personal accounts that back up Ian’s thesis as well as leaving us with a sense that Parliament is over-populated with cunts.
Perfect intro to the Easter weekend [you cunt].
Cunt should be the highest praise, not the worst insult. Calling someone a cunt should be like saying they are a really good egg, a truly decent person. I don't like one of my body parts being the very worst thing you can call someone, although I have to admit hypocrisy on this point: I have no such scruples about calling someone a dick
Fine piece as always. Your mention of ‘damn’ being even “lightly forbidden” reminded me of being hugely puzzled when I was a teenager and we had to read some Dickens book or other in English lessons. This would be in the late 1970s, but the edition was evidently very old, and the word ‘d-n’ appeared several times (I can’t render it correctly here, but the dash was a long dash, so it was impossible to know how many letters it concealed). Neither I nor any of the other kids had a clue what it might mean, despite racking our very (very) extensive vocabulary of extremely offensive words, and eventually asked the teacher, who explained it was ‘damn’. It literally didn’t occur to us, even 50 years ago, that there could be any prohibition on its use.
Anyway, that aside, there is one practical problem in using any swearword, and certainly those seen as the most offensive, in things like blogs. I don’t know if it affects you, but I’ve discovered that some people don’t receive email alerts for my blog and/or that it doesn’t appear in some search engine lists, if a post contains such words. Apparently, there is some kind of Prudebot which sifts them out, much as the Lord Chamberlain used to ban plays detrimental to good manners and decorum. It annoys me as although I don't use swear words much, when I do I dislike being reduced to coy little asterisks as if I were a strait-laced Victorian confronted with an unusually suggestive piano leg. Chris
And, oh by the way, the book is very good too. So good I bought it for all three of my adult children, and the sixth form politics nerd next door 👍
I’m an American who moved to the U.K. over 18 years ago. Cunt is definitely much more commonly used here than in the US. And it’s unique and wonderful! Thanks for this!
"Describing someone as 'fucking cunted in your eyesockets' is also charming, because you got both in and then docked them with some barren, fractured imagery" and a happy Easter to you, if it didn't hurt my infected chest to laugh I would at this heartily. My favourite use of Cunt ever is in In Bruges especially about Ralph Fines' character children which is even more powerful at to which point he responds "don't you talk about my cunt kids" I have loved the word since I was 19 as a tomboy it was always my special power and got me extra kudos when I exclaimed typically "Die you cunt" it sounds even better in a welsh accent, as the only girl in a group of shocked boys usually when playing Halo. I also think there is nothing hotter than when a guy you are attracted to calls someone who deserves it a cunt especially if they are quite a shy person - seriously lads nothing hotter especially if it's about her male boss. Thank you Mr Dunt happy cunting Easter x
Dangerous territory for a Dunt, navigated with panache. I might need to read the turd’s book now. Possibly even pay for it..
What a lovely chucklefest this brought me…..I would add in the emphasis that regional accents give some swear words - hearing Kathy Burke or Danny Dyer deliver a cunt has so much more venom than other accents, and twat similarly, such delicious words!
Thank you, Ian, for a piece I had no idea I needed but clearly did, as it prompted me to think through why I’ve always disliked the word. If you’ll forgive a novice’s timid attempt, perhaps what the world needs is more cunts like you?
Also very much looking forward to a treatment on our ‘pathological aversion to sincerity,’ which has baffled for as long as I’ve been aware of it.
It's no cunt, but for a reminder of the joys of creative swearing I've always loved John O'Grady's poem 'The Integrated Adjective': https://fromtroublesofthisworld.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/the-integrated-adjective-by-john-patrick-ogrady-nino-culotta/
Absolutely 👍 I’m a woman and I love the word 💙
Yeah, no. Calling someone “female genitalia” and meaning it as the biggest most violent and aggressive insult you can throw at someone is definitely sexist. It’s no less sexist than using the same body part to mean someone who is weak and pathetic. Same shit, different angle. It’s quite a feat of mental gymnastics to view it as anything else. Telling in itself when men are more unwilling to give up “cunt” than “pussy”. I don’t know many countries where calling someone a women’s vagina isn’t the worst insult. Connotations might be slightly different. But it’s still extremely negative. I’m more inclined to call someone a massive dick. Seems a much more appropriate insult.
I remember dropping a big American cooker on my foot while helping an ex-girlfriend move in New York. As an Irishman I instinctively called the cooker a “Fucking cunt”. The room fell silent as her housemates began to take offence. I felt the requirement to apologise but also suppressed the need to explain why the stupidly oversized cooker was in fact a fucking cunt.
My favourite use of “cunt” is in Stewart Lee’s Content Provider.
Dropping the C bomb effectively requires great skill and a little artistic flair. I think the folks who don’t appreciate swearing are the ones lacking imagination for sure - daft cunts 😁