Sometimes it is a regional thing. I have a friend from Sydney to whom it's a casual insult, often used in a friendly sort of context. I have a couple other friends from near Melbourne who don't. (most of the people I know in the Americas don't really use it at all, though some from the british isles do) It's the same way I use some swear words irreverently, and yet won't utter others and don't care to hear them.
I've likewise seen some authors use all sorts of swear words, depending on their characters and what sort of attitude they want to convey. I've also seen authors who go for a gentler approach, using things we'd consider mild (or don't consider swear words at all) and amping up their meaning in their setting.
My point is this: different people have different comfort levels about different things. While I tend towards (and encourage) people to be respectful of the people around them (in an ooc sense), I also tend to believe that when it comes to building a character, sometimes they will say and do things that I, on an ooc level, find absolutely repugnant (I've even written things that I still feel squeamish about a year or two later). If the player feels it's necessary to their character, well, okay, I won't argue with them about it so long as it's an ic thing and not leaking over from ooc (using a rp character as a platform to air controversial opinions/political agendas makes me cringe). That's just how I deal with things. It's okay to find people or characters offensive, and if you don't like the writing because of that, that's okay too. RP is supposed to be fun. If you're feeling uncomfortable, then you have every right to ignore the heck out of whoever it is should they feel their character's behavior is necessary (and judging from the reply, while it does sound rude, this player does).
It's not about being too thin skinned or whatever, really. Generally, everyone has a line that they won't cross, and I do think it's rude to oocly insult someone just because they made a request for something to stop or be done less, but whatever. Even so, I don't believe that writers have an obligation to be non-offensive; even if I find it distasteful, that's their thing. But, you know, opinions and stuff.
As for your situation, there's no easy solution. Probably what I would do if something was getting to me (f-g is the one I really hate hearing left and right) is /blist and then ask those I'm familiar with who frequent the area to let me know if there's some sort of interactive situation going on that I need to respond to. The other option is just to grit your teeth and bear it if the person is dead set on using the word.
I've likewise seen some authors use all sorts of swear words, depending on their characters and what sort of attitude they want to convey. I've also seen authors who go for a gentler approach, using things we'd consider mild (or don't consider swear words at all) and amping up their meaning in their setting.
My point is this: different people have different comfort levels about different things. While I tend towards (and encourage) people to be respectful of the people around them (in an ooc sense), I also tend to believe that when it comes to building a character, sometimes they will say and do things that I, on an ooc level, find absolutely repugnant (I've even written things that I still feel squeamish about a year or two later). If the player feels it's necessary to their character, well, okay, I won't argue with them about it so long as it's an ic thing and not leaking over from ooc (using a rp character as a platform to air controversial opinions/political agendas makes me cringe). That's just how I deal with things. It's okay to find people or characters offensive, and if you don't like the writing because of that, that's okay too. RP is supposed to be fun. If you're feeling uncomfortable, then you have every right to ignore the heck out of whoever it is should they feel their character's behavior is necessary (and judging from the reply, while it does sound rude, this player does).
It's not about being too thin skinned or whatever, really. Generally, everyone has a line that they won't cross, and I do think it's rude to oocly insult someone just because they made a request for something to stop or be done less, but whatever. Even so, I don't believe that writers have an obligation to be non-offensive; even if I find it distasteful, that's their thing. But, you know, opinions and stuff.
As for your situation, there's no easy solution. Probably what I would do if something was getting to me (f-g is the one I really hate hearing left and right) is /blist and then ask those I'm familiar with who frequent the area to let me know if there's some sort of interactive situation going on that I need to respond to. The other option is just to grit your teeth and bear it if the person is dead set on using the word.
