Kiwis more accepting of swear words

Kiwis are becoming far more accepting of swear words, according a release from the Broadcasting Standards Authority reported in the NZ Herald.

New research has found attitudes towards rude language on TV and radio are generally softening, but some words still have the power to offend. "Bitch" is no longer the profanity it once was - with 26 per cent considering it unacceptable, compared to 38 per cent in 2005. And "bollocks" is now intolerable to just 12 per cent of those polled, compared to 23 per cent five years ago.
The number of people who thought the f-word was unacceptable decreased by 7 per cent since 2005 to just over half of those interviewed, a drop of 19 per cent since 1999.
The only word on the list to increase in offensiveness was the c-word.In 2005, 70 per cent found it unacceptable. But in the latest survey, it had edged up to 74 per cent.