I hate that word too and it makes me wince when I hear it (as it does to most in my age group, both male and female). The people in my age group that do use it are invariably crass, insensitive and rude in general.

I suspect it was originally a little used word, and only used by those who were considered base and impolite to convey sexual sentiments that were to most offensive, obscene and extremely derogatory towards women. If it had been a commonly used word it would have carried no impact.

As a child I would often hear my Nan casually refer to a colour as being "N brown". As I understand it this was fairly common, and was not an expression that carried any particular impact at the time because it was not widely known that it could cause offence.
Now that it is widely known as being offensive we rarely hear it and when we do I think the majority of us wince. The use of the N word and its impact has changed over time.

This suggests that the offensiveness of certain words is dictated by the connotations they hold for society in general at any given time.

Younger people tell me that the C word is now commonly used and that they do not find it particularly offensive. It would seem it is now used as a general swear word and not particularly used to convey a specifically sexually offensive meaning.

Consequently different age groups hear the C word and 'hear' vastly different things.

I understand this, but, what word has taken it place as the ultimate, bad as it get's word?

Yay! I won the thread. 🤗

I'm not sure now that there is one (for the vast majority of UK citizens anyway) other than the N word. What do you think, do you know any? If so will you teach me them?

I don't know, still trying to get used to calling my hairdresser a C... when she cut my locks wonky......

Are you serious? How do you get through the day?

You would end up with your ears cut of if I was your hairdresser and you called me that

According to some it's a common word, used everyday, and means no more than a Tsk....

Good job you replied and put me straight, before I practiced using it with my hairdresser

Wonkylocks

....love it....

Particularly when a stroppy, dead common tart uses it as a greeting.

Moved beyond what? Why is it modern and progressive to treat other people with contempt? Why is it old fashioned to object to a child being called that, for example? Why is it old fashioned to object to anyone who came into my house using language like that to my daughter or my mother? It's appalling that anyone would think it all right to exercise their filthy mouth in decent company.

She probably, like me, is careful of the company she keeps.

You miss the point.

Would you be ok with anyone using the word assh*ole to your children?

So, on your friendship entry test, do you filter people for swearing or only for saying c*nt? What's the control question?

No. I told you - I'm not keen on contempt.

I dislike all swearing. Make your own control question

This isn't the point of the post. It's not an excuse for you to talk about your moral high ground as if you've never had contempt for anyone.

Quite easily as no one I know ever uses the word. I only hear it on programmes like BB or sometimes see it written in FB posts.

The control question for me would be "Would this friend continue to say a word around me that they knew was offensive to me and many others around me".

It doesn't really matter what the word is. The issue is about tolerance, sensitivity and understanding of those around you.

You'll need to start a new post on etiquette amongst friends then, because this post is about that word, and whether others find it offensive, clearly the OP is open minded and wants an idea of whether they're being prudish.

.My friends don' t use offen.sive language. They don't tolerate it in their homes either.
I guess we''re all just intolerant and insensitive.