Nicknames for children

[Spiffy McMoron]

Enough is enough.

Wild children can make a normal customer/CSR interaction a painful experience, and surviving a sucky customer/sucky child experience seem like some sort of Herculean feat of strength. The posters here understand that, and the mods understand that.

But knock it off with the nicknames. Calling them "children" is fine in a story. The occasional "brat" might be OK too--if it's used sparingly. But "demon spawn"? "Crotch droppings"? "Crying STD's"? No. Don't use it. I don't care if the kid is crying in your story, calling them "failed abortions" won't make your story better. It's annoying and pointless. Remember--you were once a crying, annoying brat that wanted a fistful of candy. And if you say that you were a perfect little angel who never uttered an untoward peep, I call bullshit. All babies cry, including you.

The second point is directed towards those who choose not to have children of your own. That's your decision; fine. You want to mention this in passing in a thread? OK, just don't cross the Fratching line, and it's all good. But you cannot use those terms OR ridicule those people on these boards who have children. They made a choice, just as you did.

Having children doesn't make them any better than you or vice versa. This also doesn't give you the right to lecture parents on how they should raise their children, and it doesn't give you the right to decry the actions of companies who try to cater to parents. "How is it fair that they have a 'parents night' at my restaurant?" "Why do parents get better parking spots than I?" It's called catering to a market--just the same as businesses do with Seniors Days, Ladies Nights, and Student Rates. You want to do something about it? Start a petition or hold a protest, but don't preach to people on here--this isn't the place to convert.

If you've decided to skip the meat-and-potatoes of this post, here's the summary: Stop with the graphic euphemisms for children. Myself and the rest of the mod team will be dealing with those who continue to use them.

[persephone]

But "demon spawn"?

If there's ever a time I'm annoyed at my OWN children and wanting jokingly refer to them as "demon spawn", is that okay? :p It's all in jest -- I love my children!

(Though, thank you. Good idea)

[JuniorMintz]

THANK YOU.

I am so glad that this was addressed. Whoever started the whole "crotch dropping" gag should be smacked with a salmon. :salmon:

It's not funny, and you're not clever!

[MadMike]

It was addressed several times, actually. Unfortunately, some people got the crazy idea that they didn't have to listen to us. :pissed:

[persephone]

It was addressed several times, actually. Unfortunately, some people got the crazy idea that they didn't have to listen to us. :pissed:

Just a thought for anyone thinking this is the case -- that the mods rules don't apply to you -- don't piss off the mods. Not the best idea in the world. We like our mods. We're much more likely to have their back than yours -- they're just looking out for us!!

[MadMike]

Just a thought for anyone thinking this is the case -- that the mods rules don't apply to you -- don't piss off the mods. Not the best idea in the world. We like our mods. We're much more likely to have their back than yours -- they're just looking out for us!!

Thank you for your kind words. Sometimes this feels like a thankless job, and it's nice to know that there are some people who actually appreciate us. :)

[Lace Neil Singer]

As for the "when you were kids, you weren't angels" comment... my mum would bust a gut laughing at the very thought. XD

[iradney]

I was a complete angel as a kid! (What? Demons are fallen angels after all!)

I just normally refer to naughty kids as brats. Or little terrors.

[Dips]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

It's a horrible thing when parents neglect their own children and let them run wild. It makes me angry and, above all, incredibly sad to see people who take their children's lives and health for granted. I cry every time I read a story here or see something in the news where a child is neglected, put at risk or abused...

Yes, kids can be annoying and sucky; it's perfectly fine to vent about it here on the forums. Those stories need to be told because some parent might read them and rethink how they are raising their children. Who knows? One of you may have saved someone's child from being kidnapped or drowning just by posting a story that made some reader think better of letting their child run loose in a store or a hotel. Posting those stories is a good thing.

But sucky behavior isn't any more the child's fault than it's a dog's fault for pooping on a neighbors lawn because the owner doesn't care enough to train it or pick up after it.

And yet you don't see people calling dogs all these horrible names on the forums.

Sorry for rambling, there. I guess I've been holding that in for a while and this seemed like a good place to say it.

[NightAngel]

If there's ever a time I'm annoyed at my OWN children and wanting jokingly refer to them as "demon spawn", is that okay?

While I'm sure that you would not mean it in a malicious way- then we have to deal with the folks who say, "how come persephone can say it but I can't?"

It's simply best that the rules are followed the same by all.

Thanks :)

[Rapscallion]

There are two things to mention here.

The first is that the occasional usage (like swearing) wasn't a problem, but it became a problem when parents began to feel that they were being ganged-up on. There's a thread on Fratching about people without children being harassed by those who have with the intent of getting them to produce offspring, but we were seeing the inverse happening here. We had to step in. A bit of venting once in a while was fine, but it got too much. Quite a number of people here are parents - please don't forget your fellow poster.

The second is that if something's making you feel uncomfortable culturally, let us know via PM or report. We won't always act, since it depends on how we think the culture shift on the board is going, but we'll always listen.

Rapscallion

[Gravekeeper]

There are two things to mention here-

Ahh, ok, now it makes more sense. Thank you.

[persephone]

It's simply best that the rules are followed the same by all.

Thanks :)

Yeah, I know. I wasn't serious. Even when they do get on my nerves, I would never refer outloud to my munchkins as demon spawn.

I'm just glad we have the edict now. And I'll remember to use the report or PM buttons if someone goes to far and leave it to y'all to handle instead of calling someone out, like we should all do if there's a problem! ;)

[NightAngel]

Yeah, I know. I wasn't serious.

I figured you were kidding but just thought I'd answer the question anyways. ;)

[MadMike]

OK, people we just had to remove yet another "Crotch Droppings" reference. We're getting a bit tired of having to repeat ourselves.

These announcements are a lot like the signs in our places of business, the ones we complain that the customers don't read. It annoys us just as much when our members don't read the "signs" we have up here.

[iradney]

Can you say things like "Fruits of the their loins"? (or FOTTL)?
(as an aside, that is an actual nickname for me from my Dad - Fruit...I know, my family is weird)

[blas]

I think "Fruits of their labor" would be more humorous.

[PuckishOne]

Okay folks, let's recap...again.

Anything that's offensive is what's being targeted. Personally, I can't see how "fruits of loins/labor" is offensive by itself, but as the saying goes, it's in the eye of the beholder (which ain't always us).

Basically we're after things that are above and beyond the call of duty as far as being either gross, rude, unnecessarily graphic, or all of the above. We're not going to produce a list of "bad" words because we count on our members to possess the ability to respect their fellow CSers and to refrain from posting things that condemn entire groups of people for their choices (or worse, condemn entire groups of people for choices they didn't make, since we're talking about kids here). Similarly, we also expect our members to know when something is actually meant to cause offense and when it's not, and not to simply fly off the handle at every perceived slight. (As you might expect, we've got our jobs cut out for us on that one. :))

So, short story long, I'd say that "fruits of loins" or "fruits of labor" (nice double-meaning there, too, Blas) could be acceptable depending on the context.

[powerboy]

Crotch Droppings:lol:. I forgot about that. Good thing you will never have to worry about me using names like that about children.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Strongest names I use (but NOT on here!!!eleventy!) are "spawn" or "brat". On here, I usually refer to them as kiddies. XD

[MadMike]

I don't think we've had a complaint about referring to unruly kids as "brats." "Spawn" also seems harmless enough, but I'm not certain about that one.

[Broomjockey]

"Spawn" also seems harmless enough, but I'm not certain about that one.

No, I remember there's been problems with that one.

[Ree]

"Spawn" still has very negative connotations. I believe it's because it's usually used in tandem with "demon".

I have no problem with "brat" to describe a misbehaving child.
A bad child is a brat.
However, when children misbehave, that is more on the parents than the child, and I feel it's really unfair to slap those nasty, derogatory labels on.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I usually put "frog" in front of "spawn", myself. XD Or I use it as a word by itself.

I'd also call any adult who was acting childishly a "brat"; and sometimes, the child is misbehaving all by itself, with no blame attached to the parent. So how is that unfair? I was a brat sometimes when a child; and my parents were good parents. I misbehaved, got my brothers into trouble, broke their rules and did things, like smoking, that they were vehemently against. However, I chose to do all these things so if someone had labeled me a brat, it would have been completely fair. I'd say it was an age thing; labeling a tantruming toddler as a "brat" could be considered unfair; labeling a seven year old as one, not; they are capable of choosing to behave badly, sometimes even if their parents are trying their best to deal with their child's bad behaviour.

[blas]

Lace is quite right about adults being brats, however, we have more creative names for adults who misbehave :)

[Ree]

I don't think there needs to be any more discussion.

We have asked you not to use derogatory names for children, so don't do it.

As has been said repeatedly, we are not going to post a list of what is and isn't allowed, because we expect the membership to have the intelligence to determine on their own what's acceptable.

[MadMike]

OK, people! I just had to remove yet another offensive child reference. I'm starting to feel like we mods are just talking to ourselves, and I for one am getting tired of it.

This is the final warning. Next person who does it gets an infraction.

[Boozy]

Just another reminder for some of our newer members. We've having a few problems again.

Remember - it's your responsibility as a forum member to check the Site News section regularly and keep yourself up-to-date on the rules.

[Dips]

Just bumping this up to remind everyone that posting about one's prejudice against children is just as must against the rules here as posting about one's prejudice against any other group of people.

So no bashing children or making unpleasant generalizations about them.

Now lets get back to bashing those sucky customers. ;)

[MadMike]

Unfortunately, we have to bump this one yet again. :rolleyes:

[Dave1982]

I'm bumping this again because we just had to issue an infraction for this.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I'm bumping this again because we just had to issue an infraction for this.

And just to add some food for thought here on the subject:

In the event that a term or word used in a derogatory manner to describe children is not on the list on the first page of the thread does NOT automatically mean it's okay to use in a thread.

If you're in doubt over a term or word, don't hesitate to contact a member of the mod team and ask. Sometimes it's better to err on the side of caution.:)

[MadMike]

OK it looks like we have to bump this one again.

[MadMike]

Bumping this again for our new members who may not have seen it. No one's in trouble, but I know we have a lot of these things in here and they tend to get buried after awhile.

[iradney]

Bumping for a refresh :)

[iradney]

BUMP! Take note please!

[MadMike]

And it's time to give this one yet another bump. For some reason, we seem to be seeing a lot of these from people who have been here long enough to know better, just like with the excessive quoting and smiley/image-only posts.