Being 14 is not an excuse for speaking to me that way.

[Magpie]

But again, I was actually more offended by the mom and aunt defending the girl to me, but scolding her as well. PICK ONE. If you're going to be a hypocrite, then don't bother trying.

Actually that one makes sense to me. IF the girl was, say, seven. Or more likely, four. Or any age where she's too young to really be expected to know what appropriate behaviour is, but old enough to remember if she's told something. After all, the reason you knew to keep your mouth shut at seven was because your parents would tell you to... but they'd have been (rightfully) annoyed at someone for acting like you were being horrible for saying things that you were too young to realise were offensive.

[Rugsrat]

Sorry for the lack of replies, I've been working the "I can't believe I'm getting up this early" shift as of late.

Since there's been quite a bit lately:

Yeah, by the time I was... 7? I knew how to keep my mouth shut. I'm fully aware that it's not an uncommon term in that age bracket, but that doesn't make it right. But again, I was actually more offended by the mom and aunt defending the girl to me, but scolding her as well. PICK ONE. If you're going to be a hypocrite, then don't bother trying.

Oddly enough, I'm usually really hard to offend. I have DARED people to say the most offensive things they can to me, I'll usually laugh and follow up with a dead baby joke (or something equally in bad taste). Don't know why this one set me off so badly. I guess it was just one of those days.

On another note:

@ The Last to Know: I'm gonna have to try that sometime, see if anyone notices. Might raise an eyebrow or two.

I'm also out at work, and it hasn't seemed to bother any of my CWs, at least not the ones that work in the Electroplex. Most of the time they'll just let me know if there's a hot chick walking by for me to look at.

And I had a Chanukah cracker once. Not sure that the package called them that, but they were fun. Had little paper crowns and dreidels in them.

[Bloodsoul]

I'm remembering now that super-charged cracker Mr. Bean set off at the end of a Christmas episode.

[Magpie]

They're also yummy savoury buscuits that you put cheese on top nomnomnomnomnomnom

Wait, you mean there's different names for those things? I assumed that everyone called them crackers...

[arminius58]

I find it mildly amusing at work, cause I'm the first "out" person at the place that I work at, the first few weeks they were stumbling over themselves to try and not offend me. I appreciated the effort, but I flat out told them, that I understood when they let things slip and that I have no problem that if they do step over the line I'll tell them, otherwise be themselves.

As for the "that's gay" comments, we only really have an issue with that with one of our younger crewpersons, I call him on it by asking him how its gay. He gets really flustered fairly fast and shuts up. But I do the same thing with other people I'm having conversations with that uses that same phrase, it usually makes them stop and think about it for a second. If nothing else I hope it improves their vocabulary.

[Rantsylvania 6-5000]

At 14, you should have a big enough grasp on what is socally acceptable/unacceptable to say to a stranger.

Exactly. At a much younger age, I already knew that there were some things you simply don't ask or say to people, especially someone you don't know.

But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, the parents aren't any better. They don't teach their kids manners, since they don't have any themselves. Some grown woman once asked me, "What's that thing on your mouth?" in reference to a fever blister I had. Seriously, who does that? Oh, right...

The only thing I'll give these people credit for is the fact that they actually seemed embarrassed. Most parents smile at the "cute" things their widdle pweciouses say.

[Food Lady]

Up here in Canukistan we only really have crackers for Christmas. I think I've seen New Year's ones, but that's about it.

I sold a few last December for New Year's Eve. That's the only time I ever see them. I guess we're bigger on fireworks. People start lighting them well before Independence Day around here.

[crazylegs]

Of course, in the UK you have those cool Christmas or party crackers (for those here in the US not familiar, they're like wrapped rolls of cardboard, you pull them and they make a loud snap, and there's a prize inside). Hence the nice positive connotation.

They're also yummy savoury buscuits that you put cheese on top nomnomnomnomnomnom

[Marmalady]

Up here in Canukistan we only really have crackers for Christmas. I think I've seen New Year's ones, but that's about it.

For years we only had them for Christmas, but over the past few years a trend has started to have them at weddings. You can get them from wedding stationers, in different colours to match your particular scheme, and very often personalised with the names of the bride and groom, date of the ceremony etc.

[Magpie]

Up here in Canukistan we only really have crackers for Christmas. I think I've seen New Year's ones, but that's about it.

[The Last to Know]

I have three sons - they are 20, 16 & 15. I'm gay & the 20 year old is gay - my 16 year old still occasionally says something is gay, but not nearly as often since he gets really tired of hearing me say - well damn, I think it's SOO STRAIGHT or something like "hey, I resemble that remark!" with a much more serious "knock it off - I'm TIRED of hearing that crap."

Thank goodness even though he still messes up & just says stuff he hears his friends say - he still respects me & loves both myself & his brother

Congrats on the engagement!

[EvilEmpryss]

Now that's a surprise - are they not well-known in the US then? I would have thought (I don't know why) that you would have had them bigger and better and for far more occasions than we do... that's intended as a compliment by the way...

The first time I heard of crackers in the UK party favor sense of the word (or saw one, for that matter) was in the Harry Potter movie. I'm betting I'm not the only one.

[Athaelia]

Who cares if the lil' witch is "just 14".

At 14, you should have a big enough grasp on what is socally acceptable/unacceptable to say to a stranger.

Why the mother did not correct her right away, instead of waiting for you to do it, is beyond me. Sometimes you have to remind people of their bad manners.

Ps. Good Luck with the ring. My husband got lucky with my wedding ring: His Grandma left him quite a bit of beautiful jewelry (lucky me!)

[ExRetailDrone]

Now that's a surprise - are they not well-known in the US then? I would have thought (I don't know why) that you would have had them bigger and better and for far more occasions than we do... that's intended as a compliment by the way...

I've known of them for years, but I don't think that I've ever actually seen one. I was never one for parties with party favors, but I don't remember seeing them in any party-type shops that I've been in, either. But, I was raised in BFE, so who knows

[Sablefyre]

Oh Empryss I love you!

I lent a friend a novel where the "vampires" could go out in the sun, but it weakened them. So they normally just went out at night, to avoid the problem. The "vampires" also had metalic colored eyes (Blue with Silver, Green with Silver, Brown with Gold). After reading the book, my friend point out that I work Night Shift, I'm pale, my incissors are sharp, and my eyes are blue with golden rings around the pupil. He made many jokes about me being a vampire.

So I lent him the first book in the series where the main character's rival told the police that the main character was a vampire. This was true, but the rival still ended up in an institution for mental illness thanks to his claims. My friend stopped making the jokes.

OT - I love the Argeneau Vampires.