Keith Gaughan wrote, quoting myself:
> > I'd say "damn < shit < bloody < fuck < cunt". I'm assuming (except in
> > the case of "cunt") that the target of the swearing is an inanimate
> > object and not another person, since this is usually the case.
>
> Really? I'd say "bloody" is weaker than "shit".
Any number of permutations are probably true for somebody. :-)
> I'd say: damn < bloody < bastard < shit < fuck < cunt, with the first
> two being pretty harmless, the next two being ones you'd only use if
> you're angry, and the last two next to completely unacceptable.
I'm surprised that you classify 'bastard' as a swear word - just look
how often Sam Vimes uses it in the Discworld books.
Adrian.