The Avengers - you can say quim but not c...Huh?

[catalyst8]

I saw the new Avengers film last week & was pleasantly surprised by it. In contrast with most of the other Marvel films the narrative arc is solid, the plot competant, & the characterization rich.

What also caught my attention was a line delivered by

Spoiler

the main antagonist Loki, when he referred to the Black Widow as a 'mewling quim'. Obviously quim is considered a more extreme pejorative than ****, & yet I'm certain that if the latter rather than the former term had been used then the censors would have insisted on its removal.

I thoroughly oppose political & artistic censorship in all its forms, so was overjoyed to discover that apparently 'quim' is perfectly acceptable for children. This does beg the question though, why isn't '****'? EDIT: this is in the context of an audience of native English speakers.

CAPTCHA: in the limelight.
I think the Escapist Oracle has a great sense of humour.

 

[bobmus]

Because it doesn't carry the same social taboo. You could call someone a cad or a cur with no repercussions either.

 

[CODE-D]

Because I dont know what a quim is nor do i care to look it up.

 

[Qitz]

Both those answers above.

**** is a well known insult so it's not going to carry the same weight. I would bet most people thought Quim was some made up word just for that scene.

 

[catalyst8]

Because I dont know what a quim is nor do i care to look it up.

I take it you didn't read the spoiler, & presumably English is your second or third language (your profile doesn't show your nationality) so that's fair enough on both counts. I should have specified that I was addressing my question within & from a context of native English speakers.

Because it doesn't carry the same social taboo. You could call someone a cad or a cur with no repercussions either.

yes, but whereas cad means a dishonourable man & cur a mongrel, quim is a ruder version of ****.

Both those answers above.

**** is a well known insult so it's not going to carry the same weight. I would bet most people thought Quim was some made up word just for that scene.

I think it's unfair to assume people are so ignorant of their native language. Are you suggesting that the censors let it through because they didn't think the audience would understand, or because they mistakenly thought that quim was less of an insult (within the context of the example) than ****?

 

[bobmus]

-snip-

'Quim' is not an every-day insult. You'd get pointed out for calling someone a slut, but not a harlot, yet they have near-synonymous meanings. The same applies to the word 'quim'.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Both those answers above.

**** is a well known insult so it's not going to carry the same weight. I would bet most people thought Quim was some made up word just for that scene.

I think it's unfair to assume people are so ignorant of their native language. Are you suggesting that the censors let it through because they didn't think the audience would understand, or because they mistakenly thought that quim was less of an insult (within the context of the example) than ****?

I with Qitz on this one which would make me ignorant then. Yes I did watch the film and that word said by Loki to Black Widow never occur to me. In fact I don't even remember him saying that word to her at all. I never heard of Quim before but I do know the word **** is well known and is offensive in the UK.

EDIT- Well what a suprise, that word is not in my dictonary!

 

[Grygor]

Simple: the Avengers was made in America. What words are and are not offensive varies wildly throughout the Anglosphere.

Here in America, "****" is one of the most offensive words in the English language, while "quim" is relatively obscure in most of the country, and is at worst only mildly offensive.

 

[bobmus]

Simple: the Avengers was made in America. What words are and are not offensive varies wildly throughout the Anglosphere.

Here in America, "****" is one of the most offensive words in the English language, while "quim" is relatively obscure in most of the country, and is at worst only mildly offensive.

I can assure you, quim has passed into obscurity everywhere, and the OP is merely being pretentious in insinuating that all who don't know of its meaning are ignorant.

 

[eggy32]

There ought to be a poll in here to see how many people have actually heard the word "quim" before seeing this thread.
English is my native language and I don't think i've even heard anyone use quim before.

 

[OneCatch]

I thoroughly oppose political & artistic censorship in all its forms, so was overjoyed to discover that apparently 'quim' is perfectly acceptable for children. This does beg the question though, why isn't '****'? EDIT: this is in the context of an audience of native English speakers.

'Quim' is generally far less offensive than '****' so it can be used in a greater range of situations without upsetting the film boards.

The same way it can be acceptable to say 'crap' when it isn't ok to say 'shit'.
Or 'screw' when it isn't ok to say 'fuck'.
Or calling someone 'an ass' instead of calling them 'an arsehole'
Or..... ok I'm out of examples now.

 

[Plinglebob]

Entertainingly, Radio 4's Film Program had a semi-humorous language warning before an interview with Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and he double checked before repeating the line that it would be ok to say because the Radio 4 audience are probably among the few that would know it without running to a dictionary. Interviewer did say she was surprised to hear it. (for the record, its interviews like that which make Radio 4 the best thing on the airwaves)

As others have said, without going to a dictionary very people will know what it means other then guessing by the tone that its an insult.

 

[evilneko]

Dafuq is a quim?

Never even heard of the word til now. Sounds like a word someone made up to get away with using it on TV. Or maybe an obscenity borrowed from another language.

 

[CODE-D]

Because I dont know what a quim is nor do i care to look it up.

I take it you didn't read the spoiler, & presumably English is your second or third language (your profile doesn't show your nationality) so that's fair enough on both counts. I should have specified that I was addressing my question within & from a context of native English speakers.

Because it doesn't carry the same social taboo. You could call someone a cad or a cur with no repercussions either.

yes, but whereas cad means a dishonourable man & cur a mongrel, quim is a ruder version of ****.

Both those answers above.

**** is a well known insult so it's not going to carry the same weight. I would bet most people thought Quim was some made up word just for that scene.

I think it's unfair to assume people are so ignorant of their native language. Are you suggesting that the censors let it through because they didn't think the audience would understand, or because they mistakenly thought that quim was less of an insult (within the context of the example) than ****?

No, nobody uses the word quim in America. I didnt even know what **** was until late high school.
***** is the favorite here, but thats fair if you didnt know.

 

[Nimcha]

Maybe it's good that nobody knows it anymore. It's an extremely ugly word.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Dafuq is a quim?

Never even heard of the word til now. Sounds like a word someone made up to get away with using it on TV. Or maybe an obscenity borrowed from another language.

More like from the 18th century. I think this thread and the novel Fanny Hill (first published in 1748) are the only times I've ever seen the word used, and it took me a minute to figure out what the thread title meant.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

I've read the whole thread and I'm still not 100% sure what quim means. I think it's been implied by some here that it is a derogatory word for vagina. Nobody has stated that yet though.

 

[bobmus]

I've read the whole thread and I'm still not 100% sure what quim means. I think it's been implied by some here that it is a derogatory word for vagina. Nobody has stated that yet though.

To clarify for you and all confused:
'quim' = Victorian slang for a vagina

 

[MasterOfHisOwnDomain]

A quick google search found that the question of 'mewling quim' has been asked by others: http://www.tqsmagazine.co.uk/what-does-mewling-quim-mean/

... added to my list of archaic insults, alongside my all-time favourite: 'Strumpet'.

 

[bobmus]

A quick google search found that the question of 'mewling quim' has been asked by others: http://www.tqsmagazine.co.uk/what-does-mewling-quim-mean/

... added to my list of archaic insults, alongside my all-time favourite: 'Strumpet'.

Excellent, a new word for me there in 'strumpet'. The things you learn online.

I must thank that article for my new favourite memetic image:
http://www.tqsmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/loki.jpg