Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon

[otterdance]

It's pissing down rain here. No other way to describe it. The back yard is a lake. The carpets are leopard-spotted with muddy dog prints. We are single-handedly keeping the Redlands Chem Dry in business. If it was snowing, I'd be out on my snow shoes or X-country skis by now. I do miss schussing around this time of year

Comments

[janedavitt]

I'm English and I consider 'cunt' to be vulgar and harsh used as an epithet, though I'm fine using it/reading it in erotica as a word for a part of the female anatomy.

I don't know where he gets that idea from; it's certainly not the case from my experience and 'bitch' comes a lot lower down the scale. I'd say someone was being 'bitchy' without thinking twice but I'd never, ever say she was being a cunt; I don't think I could get the word out.

[essayel]

UK reader here. The man's a loony. In most places in the UK call someone a c*nt and expect a smack in the gob [Britspeak for mouth].

However, there is some regional variation. I've been told that c*nt is less offensive than tw*t in Manchester, while it's the other way round in the south.

Bitch doesn't have quite the same connotation in the UK as it does in the US. Here it means mean minded, snide and vicious firstly and only has the meaning of being someone subordinate amongst the people more familiar with US usage.

PS. My daughter was chatted up last week by a bloke who works at the Borth Parc Anifeiliad [zoo] - she asked him what he did there and he said he was 'Head of Otters'. Best job ever.

[otterdance]

Actually here bitch does mean "mean minded, snide and vicious" Feeling bitchy, however, just means irritable and out of sorts. Being bitchy is being mean minded, snide, etc. So many layers! I like the reclaiming acronym approach, too:
Being
In
Total
Control of
Herself

;-)

[stardustmajick]

Is it true that the words twit and twat are reversed in England to how they are here? Here twit means idiot, but I dated an Irishman for a time, and he said it was twat that was idiot there.

*curious*

[essayel]

Not generally. Twit means idiot and twat [noun] means vulva but is often used in much the same fashion, ie "You daft twat". Some people don't KNOW that twat means genitals.

[tammy_moore]

I would strongly disagree with him. I know people, both professionally and personally, who swear with the same casual verve that Jamie Oliver uses to season soup. Bitch is used quite casually in reference to situations and objects, more venomously when applied to people. Bollocks/Bollocky ditto. Fuck is a bit of a catch-all and the offence depends on the context and attitude. Bugger is used casually and applied loosely - although I know someone who claimed it was deeply offensive.

I have heard the c-word used within my earshot twice and I have used it once in reference (to someone whose carelessness resulted in my name being used to condemn the UDA's actions Which I do, just not in the newspaper.) Both times the c-word was used as the curse of last resort and was the most offensive thing they could think of to say.

It was used against both men and women, but the root of the word is known as being against women.

[otterdance]

Ah, thank you, UK ladies, for the fresh perspective!

[ellid]

Panera - also my second office, especially if I have work to do after the gym. Of course this completely negates the whole purpose of going to the gym, but....

The c-word - according to what I've seen, it's pretty pejorative across the pond as well. Awful word, and a huge turn-off to me if used in print.

[otterdance]

I once performed "Reclaiming C*nt" as part of the Vagina Monologues. It was very empowering. To use it by choice, with a positive intent, is very different than being called one in anger or dismissal.

[ellid]

Very true.