Allyson, I honestly think that here, it's just a word. It's a word that is an extreme version of "bad person", sure, but it is no longer a way of actually calling someone a vagina.

I agree it also has the sexist elements of meaning vagina, but when used in the same way as "bastard" or "dickhead", I think the sexism has been lost. I'm far more likely to hear a male use it for another male, than as a female putdown.

Julie, he did mention that in the UK, not such a big deal, except that cunt is still a word for vagina, and it's still meant to be offensive, ergo, it's sexist.

I think it's probably the "worst" swearword we have. Some people use it a lot, though. Now in Ireland, afaik, "cunt" and definitely "fuck" are transparent in a lot of company. (Especially on Craggy Island.) If you ever see the play The Weir, which is set in the countryside and has five or six blokes sitting in a pub with a girl who's new to the area, they're all good naturedly trying to impress her with long stories and anecdotes and the conversation is full of 'fuck' and (I *think*) 'cunt' without anyone being bothered, and then someone says something far less shocking (to me) like "bloody" or "damn" and there's a horrified pause, and he blushingly apologises.

edited for clarity.

considers going and getting a coffee. brain evidently not yet fully engaged.

I'm far more likely to hear a male use it for another male, than as a female putdown.

He said that's supposed to be so offensive. Being called a woman's vagina.

Akin to a woman calling another woman a foreskin, or something. Cheese filled foreskin is my favorite offensive term. I use it in places that have swear filters. Swear filters piss me off, so much, that I feel compelled to prove that one can't possibly come up with all teh combinations of words I can use to say, "FUCKO."

Cheese filled foreskin is my favorite offensive term.

Nice. The phrase "cheesy knob wank" was v. popular in my peergroup at Uni for a while.

"cheesy knob wank"

That's fabulous. I'm stealing it for my own personal use.

Aaaah. So nice to laugh.

He said that's supposed to be so offensive. Being called a woman's vagina.

That may be the etymology, but I really don't think "vagina, call him a vagina, that'll show him" is the thought process now.

Swear filters piss me off, so much

They piss me off most when I'm quoting from a script (for fucksake, an aired script!) and I'm reduced to posting "ba$tard" Grrrrrr!

Heh. My friend had an e-mail of mine bounced back because I'd called her husband a "cocksucker who pissed my shit right the hell off"

I got an e-mail from her asking if I was being a "dirty birdie."

"cheesy knob wank"

Anything with wank in it is an automatic bestseller.

"motherfucker" is one I never use. It squicks me. But I realise that's just me.

edited to add

I got an e-mail from her asking if I was being a "dirty birdie."

Oh, Heather, that sounds like something a rules girl would say.

That may be the etymology, but I really don't think "vagina, call him a vagina, that'll show him" is the thought process now.

It always seemed to me like the slightly more grown-up version of little kids on the playground insulting boys by calling them girls. (I remember being in second or third grade and trying to tell my friends that they were insulting themselves by putting the annoying boys in the "girl" category. Then they decided that the five of us should play four-square.)