How bad a word is "suck"?

Sorry for the thread title. It's late.

I logged into the itunes store tonight, and looked on the singles chart and saw Kelly Clarkson's new single listed as "My Life Would S**k Without You."

I know that the word is not the particularly fragrant, but I didn't think it was bad enough to get *ed out, especially in that context.

In your view, how offensive is it?

in my view, it's not offensive at all, just informal.  As such, I wouldn't use it in very formal settings (say, a dinner with the queen, hehe or a board meeting), but I would use it while chit chatting with coworkers, for instance.

I wouldn't classifiy suck as a four letter word...but my mom never liked me using it as a teenager. But looking back, now as an adult...that sucked.

I wouldn't say it's offensive at all, a little uncouth maybe.

Maybe it's that iTunes problem mentioned in the news where certain innocent words were being bleeped out due to a problem with their software.  I can see why "uc" words would be affected.

Eighteen years ago, my seventh grade English teacher used "suck" as an example of the way language changes.  She predicted that while the word was on the edge of the pale at that time, within a few years it would become more standard and more acceptable.  IMO she was right.  It's not the sort of thing I'd use in a formal or professional setting, but I don't think of it as a bad word. 

Its not offensive at all however its not something thats really used in the UK in as much as not many Brits would say something sucks, i guess the equivalent most would say is that something is crap or bollocks and those words are overly offensive either in that context.

I'd say it's a little vulgar but not swearing.  But that word always reminds me of 'You Suck' by the Yeastie Girls, which is definitely very vulgar, and I love it!!

Water gets sucked down the drain
You can get sucked into a tornado
A vacuum cleaner sucks

Hmmm doesn't look like such a bad word to me 

What seems more vulgar to me is the word "pants" (given pants british meaning!!)-
How can something be 'pants'?
 

I LOVE "pants." I use it all the time now. I think that and "a*sed" were the first British slang terms I made part of my vocabulary.

Water gets sucked down the drain
You can get sucked into a tornado
A vacuum cleaner sucks

Hmmm doesn't look like such a bad word to me¦nbsp;

What seems more vulgar to me is the word "pants" (given pants british meaning!!)-
How can something be 'pants'?
 

Pants is a polite way of saying crap. (crap in your pants)

ETA: I don't find suck a bad word or offensive at all.

I LOVE "pants." I use it all the time now. I think that and "a*sed" were the first British slang terms I made part of my vocabulary.

Yes, I love it too.  Just didn't understand its meaning. 

Pants is a polite way of saying crap. (crap in your pants)

But now that makes much more sense

Both "suck" and "jerk" were regarded as really very nasty when they were new, on account of the completed phrases were overtly sexual. The meanings fell away over time. It was kind of fascinating to experience. They both made me wince for a long time.

I'm betting the f word goes mainstream before long. It went from "ZOMG!" to "yeah, I say that in front of my boss" in my lifetime.

I remember my friend saying that something "sucks rocks" years ago.  I always thought that was funny. 

I wouldn't consider it along the lines as the f-word. To me it's about on the same level as saying crap.

I remember where I grew up saying darn was dangerous. 

I'm betting the f word goes mainstream before long. It went from "ZOMG!" to "yeah, I say that in front of my boss" in my lifetime.

it already is mainstream.
i say it in front of my boss every day!