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submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by DragonWasabi@monyet.cc to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.world

The word can have swearing but not genderisation which might be offensive (mother) nor allusions to sexual dominance (motherfucker). Nor, other possibly offensive connotations. It seems that the word is commonplace and people won't stop using it, so an alternative to the word may be useful. But the problem with alternatives, is that people might not use them unless they carry a meaning that's attention grabbing in some way, and when it comes to this word it needs to be able to be used in either a serious (non-funny) or comedic way.

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[-] AchillesUltimate@lemy.lol 65 points 8 months ago

Are you looking for an inoffensive insult?

[-] FUsername@feddit.de 18 points 8 months ago

...or for an insult so accurately aiming at the person to be insulted like pissing through a key hole from a 11.5 ft distance.

[-] amio@kbin.social 42 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

You want an alternative to "motherfucker" that can't be offensive in any way?

Yeah no. Do you even realize what you are asking?

[-] kibiz0r@midwest.social 38 points 8 months ago

Upvoting because this is a a true "no stupid questions" post.

So... I think you need to look into the social and cognitive nature of swear words. Vsauce has a pretty good primer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7dQh8u4Hc

I think you also need to let go of the desire to be better than common culture, and/or the desire to engineer a better culture from an external perspective. People are gross and messy, imprecise and reckless. It's what makes us interesting, motherfucker.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 26 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

"Dad"

Literally means the same thing.

[-] meco03211@lemmy.world 20 points 8 months ago

I've had it with these dad snakes on this dad plane!

... just doesn't have the same punch to it.

[-] OpenStars@kbin.social 3 points 8 months ago

Asking the right questions here!

I have had it with all these doucheshit snakes on this twatboy plane!

(from another comment) just doesn't work...

[-] AmidFuror@kbin.social 3 points 8 months ago

That's offensive to lesbian couples who used artificial insemination only.

[-] Blamemeta@lemm.ee 23 points 8 months ago

Asshole works, but its not as rude.

The bigger question is, are you honestly that much of a prude?

[-] volvoxvsmarla@lemm.ee 4 points 8 months ago

I actually think that depending on the context asshole is more hurtful than motherfucker. "He's a stupid motherfucker" seems like you are just angry. "He's an asshole" sounds like he legit is a ln awful person. Not a dominant fucker or anything. Just a dirty, unpleasant being. It is more demeaning I would say. I would be more hurt to be called an asshole than a motherfucker.

[-] Geek_King@lemmy.world 20 points 8 months ago
[-] ivanafterall@kbin.social 12 points 8 months ago

Doesn't maternal fornicator imply a power imbalance? How about Mutually Consenting Same-Age Peer Fucker?

[-] TheButtonJustSpins@infosec.pub 7 points 8 months ago

Peer Fucker has a good mouth feel to it.

[-] slowd0wn@kbin.social 18 points 8 months ago

‘You fucking donkey’ is a personal favorite

[-] Delphia@lemmy.world 9 points 8 months ago

"Mudpuddle"

They posess neither warmth, depth or clarity.

[-] Shapillon@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

That one's really good.

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[-] Yantantethera@lemmy.world 17 points 8 months ago

...just swear all fucking ready.

[-] ivanafterall@kbin.social 6 points 8 months ago

You're all a bunch of scuzz-junkin' puppy touchers.

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[-] fubo@lemmy.world 13 points 8 months ago
  • Puppy toucher
  • Scuzz junkie
  • Seat sniffer
  • Lostprophet
  • Arsebagel
  • Enjoyer of Other People's Sheep
  • Soldier of 4chan
  • Doucheballoon
  • His Imperial Knobnobblin, Huffboy Crustmaster Studmuffin of the Lousewortshire¹ Studmuffins
  • Trumpie

¹ Pronounced "Loser"

[-] JAJLWolf@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 8 months ago

Soldier of 4Chan is devastating

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[-] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 12 points 8 months ago

“Asshole” is a personal favorite.

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[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 11 points 8 months ago

Motherfucker, what the motherfucking fuck are you fucking on about?

Are you some kind of fatherfucker with this fatherfucking fuckery?

[-] scottywh@lemmy.world 9 points 8 months ago

Well there's always the simplification to just fucker

[-] mateomaui@reddthat.com 7 points 8 months ago

How about DGR Dave’s “son of a butt”?

[-] HerbalGamer@lemm.ee 7 points 8 months ago

parent shagger?

[-] Land_Strider@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago

I think the more "valued" or preferred part of an insult is rather its phonetic or expressive aspect rather than the semantic one. Of course the semantic parts plays a role, as well, but the need to use stressed syllables to express oneself, or simply vent out the emotion, far surpasses the need to utter a semantically-accurate syllable or word to badmouth someone or something.

See here from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

It is a beautiful insult that can vent out the emotions, or can be used for fun among friends etc. that uses no semantics to insult people, but uses very mouthful words to stress and some unfocused (as in not targeting any types of people) pragmatics, like insulting someone by insulting their parents, and insulting them as such making them out to be not something they are (was an x, smelt).

So, whatever semantically gender-neutral alternative you are looking for, consider to have a very strong expressive aspect to it that sticks to tongue.

[-] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

Misterfalcon

[-] nhowell77@sh.itjust.works 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I'm good with sticking with plain old motherfucker and have absolutely zero intention of replacing it with some convoluted bullshit alternative. I figure if he/she/it/they/them are offended by my use of the word motherfucker then it's aimed at he/she/it/they/them anyway and all those motherfuckers can get fucked and stay fucked. Tired of catering to everyone's sensibilities. Grow a pair, or a twat, put on your grown up panties and get the fuck over it.

[-] mecha_pope@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago
[-] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago
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[-] asdfasdfasdf@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

is this a joke

[-] itsyourmom@artemis.camp 3 points 8 months ago

So I go with the “MOFO” is shorter to type and hits the same.

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[-] vivavideri@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

I use buttfuck/buttfuckin' an awful lot as an adjective but not really as a noun. Come to think of it, I don't often -- oh, no, wait, when my cats are being unreasonable we do call them little assholes, but swearing at them turns it into a term of endearment anyway.

Dipshit, wanker, buttnugget, cunt, probably my top go-tos lol. I kind of love how some people just hate the word cunt.

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[-] andrew@lemmy.stuart.fun 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Mother/father is inclusive and a drop-in replacement at least syllable-wise.

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[-] atrielienz@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago
[-] TheDoctorDonna@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

How is that pronounced? Like joun, like John, or like drawn but with a j?

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[-] Fondots@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Jawn and motherfucker are probably the only 2 words I could consider to be general purpose nouns that can be used to refer to pretty much any person place or thing.

I feel like in the case of MF though, vulgarity is kind of the point, it's meant to be insulting, whether seriously or playfully. Jawn doesn't really have that same negative connotation, so it sort of falls short on that count.

And of course motherfucker has added utility as an adjective by swapping in the -ing suffix. You can have a motherfucking jawn, but you wouldn't normally have a jawning motherfucker.

[-] charonn0@startrek.website 2 points 8 months ago
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this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2023
4 points (52.4% liked)

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