(September 23, 2016 at 5:16 pm)Minimalist Wrote: "Motherfucker."

(Unless you are talking about Drumpf.)

Yeah, I wouldn't want to give him a complex.  Besides they probably can't help it.

Flagellum.

I think the operative word here is "polite."  It all depends on context.  The problem with the PC thing is that people go way overboard - like when a kid gets in trouble in school because he draws a picture of a gun, of when someone refers to a handicapped person as being "crippled."  It's still strange for me to use the word "handicapped" - it seems so, well, PC.  But I'm careful and don't say "crippled" if I can help it.  People on both sides need to keep their radar up for whether people are intentionally being offensive, accidentally being offensive, of when, perhaps, the listener is being a little too sensitive. 

It takes time for attitudes to change.  I remember reading about when Einstein came out with his relativity theory and many (especially German) scientists thought is sounded rather abstract and "Jewish."  Who today would think such a thing?!  But that's how it was.

Listeners have to be a little reasonable as well, and realize - especially when dealing with older people - that people often use words that, in their generation, were perfectly acceptable.  There's also the context of cultural things like songs, etc.  -  like My Old Kentucky Home (the darkies are gay) where you just have to realize that that's how it was back then.   I'll never forget the time we were playing cards with some relatives and my wife's grandmother came out with "I smell a nigger in the woodpile" (I think someone is cheating).  Everyone was like "WHOA!" and looked around the table at each other.  But, hell - the lady's almost 90 - no one's going to say anything to her about it.  It was just an expression she learned.  It's like when I was a kid and we would "call" to see who's "it" in hide and seek (do kids "call" any more?*).  One of the calls we used was Eenie Meenie (how is this spelled anyway?) Miney Mo, Catch a Nigger by the Toe."  We didn't even know we were saying it - it was just a rhyme you said when you were trying to decide who would be it.  I never even thought about it until years later when people starting talking about things like that.  I think that was the only time we even used the word.  If you have no idea what "calling" is go to -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlHZDGvwc9M

*My favorite was -
"My mother and your mother were hanging out clothes
My mother punched your mother right in the nose
What color was the blood."
Then you'd spell out the color and end with "you are not it."

(September 23, 2016 at 6:33 am)Firefighter01 Wrote: For example the word "cunt" is probably one of the last taboo words in our language and is considered by most as a vulgar word and to be avoided in polite discussion.

Depends on who you're talking to. I guess it doesn't sit well at a formal dinner party, but I can imagine quite a few cordial conversations where noone would take issue with it's use. Words being used are entirely dependent on present company. Probably a bad idea using too many swear words in business negotiations, though a friend of mine had the CEO of a major company telling him that he's at liberty to screw him anytime, as long as a certain term in a contract isn't changed. Also depends on country, I guess.

There are not many words I would avoid, as you all can tell.

Cunt kyke niggertits heeb slope faggot cunt

I mean yeah I noticed.

(September 23, 2016 at 5:51 pm)Expired Wrote: There are not many words I would avoid, as you all can tell.

Same here.

Turgid.

Boru

(September 23, 2016 at 5:46 pm)ApeNotKillApe Wrote: Flagellum.

Flagellum, in and of itself, is not disagreeable in polite company. However, if you insist on talking about flagellating your flagellum, you might get the stink eye.