Nicknames for children

[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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[persephone]

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

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]

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

[JuniorMintz]

THANK YOU.

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

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

[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? It's all in jest -- I love my children!

(Though, thank you. Good idea)

[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.