Severity of profanity

[Torrasque]

Given the right context, any word can be a swear word or offensive. When I was 16, I was calling my little brother a dingbat and he thought it was worse than being called anything else. He'd always complain to my parents that I was calling him a dingbat, but whenever they asked me what that was, I'd just say "its a bat that goes ding!"
It was even more amusing when they'd tell me not to call him a dingbat anymore (so I wouldn't), and I'd just look at him, smile, and say "ding!". My favorite sport when I was younger, was finding new ways to get under my bro's skin xD

Ahhh good times...
Funny story aside, I just watched a youtube vid where **** was bleeped out, but fuck never was. I know a lot of people seem to think that **** is the grandaddy of swears, that you just DON'T say that word because it is SOOOOOO offensive... But that strikes me as silly. To me, fuck has always been top tier, that it is the worst swear word.
Has our culture diluted it? Have movies made it lose it's top tier status? Is it too common to offend anymore? Its hard to answer these =|

So I have a simple exercise for you. Rank these profane words in order of most offensive to least offensive. When you are done, please tell me why your ranking is the way it is, and include any words that you find especially offensive, or words that others find offensive that you don't.

Fuck
Shit
Ass
****
Dick
Fag
Bollocks
Douchebag
****** *read edit 2*

**note: you can rank words as the same level of offensiveness if you want, but I'd rather you not**

Edit: I'm sorry if this thread offends you, but such is the nature of the internet. I know there are some people that just don't like hearing (or reading) swears.
Edit 2: I figure I mind as well add ****** to the list, but I'm pretty sure everyone will put it either at the top of the list, or near the top. Iono... I want this topic to be more about profanity and swears, not insults. Include ****** if you want, but don't feel obliged to.
Edit 3: I'll include an example to help make my point more clear: is saying "What the shit?" as bad as saying "What the fuck?". Like the title of the thread says, this is about the severity of profanity, not about what makes you gasp and go "I can't believe they said that!" (although that is a part of the severity)

 

[Torrasque]

Here's my list:

Fuck
Fag
Dick
Douchebag
****
Ass
Shit
Bollocks

Fuck is #1 because it is Fuck afterall. Fag is #2 because I know how much homosexual people are offended by it, and it is such a horrible corruption of english to begin with. Dick and Douchebag because they are ordinary words corrupted to become offensive. **** is slightly above Ass because Ass is a donkey while **** is just a dirty word. And Shit/Bollocks bringing up the rear (lawl) because they don't seem to offend that much.

I included bollocks because I know it is a curse word in england (at least there) and that it basically means "bullshit" or "a load of shit". I also don't understand why people find mother fucker offensive. If I called someone a mother fucker what does that even mean? That they fucked their mother? That they fucked my mother? I wouldn't like it if someone sexed up my mom, but whenever someone is talking trash on CoD (which is every single game...) and they bring up "I fucked your mom last night", I just laugh. It would be more likely if my mom fucked them xD

 

[Ectoplasmicz]

Fuck
Fag
Dick
****
Ass
Shit
Douchebag
Bollocks

I put **** low simply because around where I live, Iv'e heard moronic kids at my school say it so much that it becomes laughable rather than offensive.

But yeah, fuck is #1. It just is.

 

[DoPo]

FATAL
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Fuck
****
Fag
Shit
Ass
Dick
Duchebag
Bollocks

"Fuck" flows more easily than "****" does, that's why it's higher but otherwise they would be roughly at the same level. Depending on how amused I am, I do like to be more creative in my insults drawing from a number of sources and stringing them into something that breaks the normal flow of cursing to take somebody by surprise.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

****
FAG
FUCK
SHIT
ASS
DICK
DOUCHEBAG
BOLLOCKS

**** is high on my list probably because I'm married lol. As for fag you just don't use that word right now... its starting to become a sensitive subject.

 

[Spambot 3000]

****
Fag/******
Fuck
Shit
Douchebag
Dick
Ass
Bollocks

I'm actually not that offended by 'fuck'. It gets used that much I'm kind of oblivious to it. It's mainly '****' (because I think the actual meaning of that word is just vile) and 'fag' (I think you know why) that I get offended by. The rest of the words on that list are tame.
Also I find 'retard' very offensive as well.

Edit: I'm not sure where to place '******' because I don't get offended by it, being white and all, but I don't approve of it being used towards black people.

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

Urrrrmm...... I dont find swear words or any words offensive. I just see them as words in my vocabulary. I guess it's about how you put it in a sentence.

 

[Torrasque]

Urrrrmm...... I dont find swear words or any words offensive. I just see them as words in my vocabulary. I guess it's about how you put it in a sentence.

This thread isn't about whether you find them offensive or not, but how offensive you find them.

For example, would you say it is worse to say "What the shit?" or "What the fuck?"
I would say the latter is worse because fuck is a more offensive word to say in public.
Even if you don't think cocksucker is an offensive word, if you say it in public, people will give you a dirty look.

 

[Spambot 3000]

Urrrrmm...... I dont find swear words or any words offensive. I just see them as words in my vocabulary. I guess it's about how you put it in a sentence.

This thread isn't about whether you find them offensive or not, but how offensive you find them.

For example, would you say it is worse to say "What the shit?" or "What the fuck?"
I would say the latter is worse because fuck is a more offensive word to say in public.
Even if you don't think cocksucker is an offensive word, if you say it in public, people will give you a dirty look.

Oh, I was basing my list on how offensive I found those words. Whoops.
Ah well, I'd still say '****' and 'fag' are the ones I generally find being the most offensive. '******' and 'retard' are a close second.

 

[Torrasque]

Urrrrmm...... I dont find swear words or any words offensive. I just see them as words in my vocabulary. I guess it's about how you put it in a sentence.

This thread isn't about whether you find them offensive or not, but how offensive you find them.

For example, would you say it is worse to say "What the shit?" or "What the fuck?"
I would say the latter is worse because fuck is a more offensive word to say in public.
Even if you don't think cocksucker is an offensive word, if you say it in public, people will give you a dirty look.

Oh, I was basing my list on how offensive I found those words. Whoops.
Ah well, I'd still say '****' and 'fag' are the ones I generally find being the most offensive. '******' and 'retard' are a close second.

Your list is still based on your opinions, I don't want you to make a list of swears based on what the general public thinks, that would be boring. I just meant that these words are offensive to people, and you may or may not find them offensive. If you do, then you rank them high. If you don't, then you rank them low.

If you don't find shit offensive at all, put it at the bottom. If you find mitten super offensive, say so. I just want to see how you rank the set list of swears based on your opinion of them. It would be interesting to see anyone rank fuck low on their list.

 

[Spambot 3000]

Urrrrmm...... I dont find swear words or any words offensive. I just see them as words in my vocabulary. I guess it's about how you put it in a sentence.

This thread isn't about whether you find them offensive or not, but how offensive you find them.

For example, would you say it is worse to say "What the shit?" or "What the fuck?"
I would say the latter is worse because fuck is a more offensive word to say in public.
Even if you don't think cocksucker is an offensive word, if you say it in public, people will give you a dirty look.

Oh, I was basing my list on how offensive I found those words. Whoops.
Ah well, I'd still say '****' and 'fag' are the ones I generally find being the most offensive. '******' and 'retard' are a close second.

Your list is still based on your opinions, I don't want you to make a list of swears based on what the general public thinks, that would be boring. I just meant that these words are offensive to people, and you may or may not find them offensive. If you do, then you rank them high. If you don't, then you rank them low.

If you don't find shit offensive at all, put it at the bottom. If you find mitten super offensive, say so. I just want to see how you rank the set list of swears based on your opinion of them. It would be interesting to see anyone rank fuck low on their list.

Oh okay then. I gotta learn to interpret things better.
'****' and 'fag', though - personally I'm more surprised to see 'fuck' higher than '****' on others lists. 'Fuck' might be bad, but in my opinion, it isn't that bad.
I get what you mean now.

 

[Vault101]

I didnt actually know the word "****" exited untill much later (like I was 10 or 11) at first obviously I didnt see how it was a swear word at all...having never heard it before

I cant stand the word fag...mainly because whatever the context..when somone usues it they automatically sound like a fucking homophobic 12 year old dumbass..to me anyhow

 

[Keoul]

I feel like they are more offensive if you string em together in an insult combo like "Fucking dumb ****" On their own they don't seem as offensive.

 

[Torrasque]

I get what you mean now.

Always glad to help clarify.

 

[Torrasque]

I feel like they are more offensive if you string em together in an insult combo like "Fucking dumb ****" On their own they don't seem as offensive.

Well that much is obvious.

Flamethrower is a strong move. When a Charizard with Charcoal uses it with Sunny Day out against a Parasect, then it is much more powerful.

 

[Torrasque]

I didnt actually know the word "****" exited untill much later (like I was 10 or 11) at first obviously I didnt see how it was a swear word at all...having never heard it before

I cant stand the word fag...mainly because whatever the context..when somone usues it they automatically sound like a fucking homophobic 12 year old dumbass..to me anyhow

So if you hear fag in a 1930s movie where fag means cigarette, then they would sound like a homophobic 12 year old dumbass? Lol, I'd rather not get into context in this thread since it would be really side-tracking.

 

[Esotera]

I don't personally find any of these offensive, but I do use these religiously in day-to-day conversation. If I was black then I suppose ****** would be at the top of the list in terms of how offensive they are? Personally I hate psycho and schizo as words because they're socially acceptable but still quite offensive.

 

[The Night Angel]

****
Fuck
Shit
Dick
Fag
Bollocks
Douchebag
Ass

EDIT: I don't find any of them particularly offensive on their own, but that would still be the order more or less. It all depends on context really.

 

[Torrasque]

I don't personally find any of these offensive, but I do use these religiously in day-to-day conversation. If I was black then I suppose ****** would be at the top of the list in terms of how offensive they are? Personally I hate psycho and schizo as words because they're socially acceptable but still quite offensive.

Please read the below exchange I have with Lonely Packager. It should help clarify what I want you to do with this thread.<spoiler=Spoiler'd for space>

Urrrrmm...... I dont find swear words or any words offensive. I just see them as words in my vocabulary. I guess it's about how you put it in a sentence.

This thread isn't about whether you find them offensive or not, but how offensive you find them.

For example, would you say it is worse to say "What the shit?" or "What the fuck?"
I would say the latter is worse because fuck is a more offensive word to say in public.
Even if you don't think cocksucker is an offensive word, if you say it in public, people will give you a dirty look.

Oh, I was basing my list on how offensive I found those words. Whoops.
Ah well, I'd still say '****' and 'fag' are the ones I generally find being the most offensive. '******' and 'retard' are a close second.

Your list is still based on your opinions, I don't want you to make a list of swears based on what the general public thinks, that would be boring. I just meant that these words are offensive to people, and you may or may not find them offensive. If you do, then you rank them high. If you don't, then you rank them low.

If you don't find shit offensive at all, put it at the bottom. If you find mitten super offensive, say so. I just want to see how you rank the set list of swears based on your opinion of them. It would be interesting to see anyone rank fuck low on their list.

Oh okay then. I gotta learn to interpret things better.
'****' and 'fag', though - personally I'm more surprised to see 'fuck' higher than '****' on others lists. 'Fuck' might be bad, but in my opinion, it isn't that bad.
I get what you mean now.

 

[Vault101]

I didnt actually know the word "****" exited untill much later (like I was 10 or 11) at first obviously I didnt see how it was a swear word at all...having never heard it before

I cant stand the word fag...mainly because whatever the context..when somone usues it they automatically sound like a fucking homophobic 12 year old dumbass..to me anyhow

So if you hear fag in a 1930s movie where fag means cigarette, then they would sound like a homophobic 12 year old dumbass? Lol, I'd rather not get into context in this thread since it would be really side-tracking.

I can tell when somone is saying "fag" as in Cigarette or (what was it?) bundle of wood (also refering to a cigarette as a "fag" isnt so outdated...at least around thease parts)

but when somone calls somone else a "fag" as an insult..I dont know It just doesnt reflect well on them (since I guess i assosiate it with awful people)