Expletives

I don't get phased when someone calls me a poof, faggot, bum-puncher or shirt lifter .. whatever!

Water off a duck's back! It just shows ignorance and poor character, rather than specific bigotry or homophobia. Names are a weapon - even I use them. No excuses, but that is our culture.

So if using the word "cunt" makes us question our attitudes to women, should the use of "fuck" make us question our attitudes about sexual intimacy? Somehow I don't think it is that simple because these expletives can also be used in a jovial and admiring manner.

"How are you, you old cunt?"
"Oh you are a silly fucker!"

I don't believe that the use of any expletive has any direct relevance to the dictionary definition of that word. It is an expletive and should only be seen as such.

The question we should be asking is why do people grow up with an understanding that particular words can be used to be derogatory in one context and not another and do we consciously take this into account when we use them? Most of the time bigotry is not the motivator.

Parents, teachers, peer groups and the wider community have the responsibility to define what is acceptable behaviour. Beyond adolescence, the individual sits in moral judgement on themselves with their life to date as precedent.

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