[fish heads]

That doesn't mean he is the illegitimate offspring of unmarried parents though does it?

[kendra k]

no, but that's not the point. i guess as an american words like bastard or bloody don't seem to harsh. also, the point was raised, on shows like corrie or enders, the use of the word bastard can not be as objectionable as showing people having affairs, beating people, murder, rape, and all the other sordid stuff that makes those shows dramatic. what message should the kids take?

[fish heads]

no, but that's not the point.

It's entirely the point. Fathomer was implying that because of the affair it justified the use of the word - and since the affair had nothing to do with actual bastardisation, it doesn't justify its usage at all.

Personally I'm not too bothered about the use of swear words in Corrie, even if it isn't a proper swear. Half the time they go around pretending people don't swear anyway