April 25, 2005

The C-Bomb

There’s an article in the latest issue of GQ that’s been causing quite a bit of controversy. It’s called “The Forbidden Word,” it’s by New York Times guy Walter Kirn, and it concerns, uh, the use of a certain vulgar euphemism for female genitalia, that starts with a “C.” (It's not online, but this LiveJournal has reproduced it in full).

While the piece had the makings of a fascinating Safire-like anatomy-of-a-word sort of composition (along the lines of Randall Kennedy’s book-length history of the “n-word”), it eventually takes a rapid detour into the land of “guy who thinks he’s charmingly clumsy with women, when in fact he seems more like a sociopath.” Read it yourself and be the judge, but much of the female blogosphere seemingly subscribes to the latter view, with Jessa Crispin taking the lead:

There really are no redeeming qualities to this article; it's not even provocative in its controversial stance. It's just... dumb. It's like that guy at the bar complaining about how the "Mexicans" are coming into our country and stealing our jobs. And why can't they just learn some fucking English already? Everyone just averts their eyes and slowly backs away. Except for the brain dead idiots who agree with him.
Then again, Kirn's point that women "sling around [the words] whore and slut now like they're nothing" is sort of supported by the name of Jessa's blog: Bookslut.

And if you don’t think I’ve waded far enough into the gender wars already with this post, here are some additional thoughts on what men and women want.

Posted by Stephen Silver at April 25, 2005 08:01 PM
Comments

I was told by a British friend of a friend of a friend a few weekends ago that the "C" word isn't nearly as taboo in England, but that the "T" word is forbidden.

Posted by: Bill McCabe at April 25, 2005 11:12 PM

I read that piece when it first came out, and it struck me that yeah, he sounds like a clumsy oaf who RESENTS the fact that his stupidness doesn't work with women, and instead of adjusting he decides that it must be the WOMEN who are hostile bitches, not that he's a feckin' asshole.

In my own experience on the female side of the fence - it's a word that has different connotations for different women. Sorry, guys - one size don't always fit all. Some women go ballistic when they hear it, others are like: "ah, whatever, jackass..." and others say the word themselves.

For me? If it's thrown at me as an insult I will punch you in the face. No lie. I've done it before.

But in other circumstances - and I'll leave those unsaid - not only is it okay, but it's hot.

Posted by: red at April 26, 2005 03:28 PM

i thought it was the goobacks that were takin' our JEEEERRRRRRBBBBBSSSS!!!

Posted by: LilB at April 26, 2005 08:08 PM
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