A well respected member has PM'd me about my use of the word cretin in my last post! I think it's ok! In common use for stupid person how would I mean otherwise! Crackers we all!!
Difficult Reply to Personal Message! : A well... - PMRGCAuk
Difficult Reply to Personal Message!
52 Replies
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Oh dear, well I am sure you didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. Was its original meaning linked to unchecked thyroid disease, and the resultant disability or is that another one?
Bit of a minefield. What a stunning picture. X
in reply to SheffieldJane
English language always evolving Jane & plain speak changes!! Looks like a medical description term long ago & they have others now. Thanks.
Perhaps it doesn't travel well. That's the only context I've heard it used in. Careful we must all be.
Okay... I am DEFINITELY not considered the "Offensive Language Expert" (unless that means someone who uses offensive language all the time) ...but I thought the word was used appropriately. You were expressing your "opinion" and in your OPINION, you believed the person who had "dumped a huge lorry load of garden stuff in the middle of a country lane, a "stupid" person, because of his/her stupid act! I never (in a million years) thought you were using the literal 1779 French origin version of the word.
I have no idea what the well respected member's comment was... but I am assuming s/he was offended by the word, for some reason? Which... I suppose is his/her prerogative. ...but if s/he called YOU out on YOUR use of it ...not cool.
I say "NO!" Careful we should NOT be! If we have to start assessing, monitoring and filtering everything that we write here, in this, our SAFE SPACE, for fear that it might offend or upset someone, we'd never get anything written/posted. We'd be constantly revising and rewriting. I for one would never post anything! (Yes, yes.. I can hear some of you saying, "Yes, and wouldn't that be wonderful!")
Pepperdoggie did not call a fellow member a "cretin." He used it to describe what he believed was "stupid" person because of the act they had perpetrated. We need to consider his INTENT and ask ourselves what he might have been feeling/thinking at the time he wrote that? Is Pepperdoggie generally an offensive member? NO. Does Pepperdoggie use offensive/derogatory language/comments often? NO. Is the term consider to be a socially unacceptable swear word? NO. Do we believe Pepperdoggie to be a hurtful, uncaring, mean, insensitive person? NO.
“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't …” … please all the people all of the time”
~ John Lydgate (made famous by Abraham Lincoln)
***** Apologies, I am apparently in a serious mood today, and that soapbox was just to damn close not to jump up and make use of it! *****
scats in reply to
Sorry if it upset you, but the ' careful we must be ' was just a weak attempt at mimicking Pepperdogie's ' Yoda ' speak, must have failed!
In general I agree with what you have said about freedom of speech and would never accuse Pepperdoggie of wishing offence quite the opposite in fact.
I agree with DL too, I am well aware that what I write does not always read as I intend.
in reply to scats
Hi Scats. Yoda speak! What's that? Always educational!
scats in reply to
Yoda is a character in Star Wars who has chosen to copy your turn of phrase. I assumed you must be a fan.
Wise he is!
in reply to scats
Hi Scats, no, that did not upset me at all! I just didn't agree... I do agree however, with you and DL that what we write, does not always get read as intended; but the onus is on the reader to make sure their interpretation of the writers word/message is valid and accurate. A writer just can not possibly choose words that ALL readers will interpret exactly the same way...
...back to the John Lydgate quote! : )
TooSore in reply to
I agree. It must be a give and take. Express your thoughts and feelings clearly, (without upsetting anyone if you can) but also as readers we have to remember we are coming from such varied backgrounds, including countries and languages. I think my first thought is to try to understand the writer's intent rather than jump to upset. I'm learning new words and phrases which is fun too!
GOOD_GRIEF in reply to
What's interesting is that the "objector" was more upset about the word they they were about the crapola dumped in the road.
Thats' says a lot more about them than it does anyone else.
in reply to GOOD_GRIEF
Seriously!
in reply to
Soapbox or not you tell it!
in reply to
Good Egg you are Melissa. There was an "often" in there! But never mind!!! Thank you for your spot on analysis. Hope the tapering down is going better for you this time. ATB
in reply to
Cheers Pepperdoggie!
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
As others have said, it was obviously taken in the original medical meaning by the person concerned, but I’m sure neither you nor most reading your reply took it as meaning that definition but as you say, the “common” usage for an idiot. As in fact you actually highlighted.
I know the written word doesn’t always come across totally as meant, but I do hope we aren’t becoming too PC for our own good!
It's just getting so ridiculous what we can and can't say.......definitely no freedom of speech anymore.😷...that's my rant for the day!
I know! “Politically Correct” is so tiresome.
Don't let it bother you. Here in the states that's considered a quite gentle word to describe a certain kind of unsavory character. Jeezaloo, if I were to object to everything I see posted here as "bad" or "poor" language, this would turn into an etymology, grammar and vocabulary column.
And wouldn't that be fun?
I know you would never deliberately offend anyone. And so do you.
Let it be.
in reply to GOOD_GRIEF
G-G. You never know what someone else can be offended by! We all have our sensitivities. I am no saint in my opinions but try to walk that fine line with others. Thank you for your comment.
PMRproAmbassador
Well it wasn't me - for goodness sake, we have better things to worry about...
in reply to PMRpro
No it wasn't you PMRpro. Wouldn't ever say who it was. It was a PM.
Not asking - just saying,,,
Wasn't me either. That person who dumped that stuff got off lightly by being called a cretin. There are other colourful words I can think of!
I live a few streets from Cretin Ave and lots of my kids friends went to Cretin High School. !!!
in reply to yogabonnie
Marvellous! I don't think anyone can top that yogabonnie!
Love it!
Cretinism is no longer a term used for the thyroid malady. It’s an old fashioned term in the same way that people with severe learning difficulties were called “imbeciles”. What in goodness name does it matter anyway. There is more in the world to worry about.
Liz.
Your stunning garden never ceases to amaze me!
in reply to karools16
Cheers karools. Just about keeps me saneside!
Hmmm what word should we use for the member who had the audacity to pm you about such a trivial matter? One that they really had no earthy right to be poking their ...let me try and put you down by demonstrating my grasp of the English Language control freak nose into.
You used the word in the correct context for this part of the world. I hope you replied with something in the region of F*** o** and MYOB. Go look that one up.
Life is truly too short to stuff a mushroom. The issue lies with the people who feel it is their duty to correct. Rediculous.
in reply to Singr
Haven't replied Singr. Could of gone into serious nonsense! Thought better for my own stress to put it out & see what others think. Great support for my usual comment. Big forum this is. ATB
in reply to Singr
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
To be offended is a choice.....
....and so is screwing your face up on reading the pm she got and saying "what the fudge??" Some people are just cretins. Lol! Simples. What I love about it is that they were wronnnnnnnng! Lol.
in reply to Singr
The "she" is a" he" mate!!!!!!! Thanks for your opinion! We all get it wrong sometimes!
Oh dear ,there are far worse words than that! I understood what you were referring too,and it was well deserved !
it's matter of good judgement not freedom of speech. This word has a history and connotations that go beyond what the writer is trying to say and is bound to be controversial. Find something else, but people, don't over react ! That's not what this web site is for.
Hi Pepperdoggie, didn't see the post being talked about as been away but get the gist. I feel I know you enough that whatever you said was your opinion, not malicious and most probably right! - I don't want to know anymore but just to say don't change we all still love you the way you are!! Hope you're feeling better than last time we spoke. Another loverly photo.
in reply to Telian
Cheers Telian. Trust you had a good week away up North! ATB
Telian in reply to
I truly did, went to see Iron Maiden! among all the rest of my celebrations...
in reply to Telian
Hope the ears are recovered! All that po-going / headbanging! I blame "Black Sabbath" myself for my misspent youth! Who me!" Paranoid"! What!
Telian in reply to
Good memories I say. Me and my 12 year old grandson wore earplugs, good job I say, but no after effects am pleased to report. I have to say Iron Maiden were my least favourites way back when but I did enjoy the concert - it was amazing to see them still leaping about, although 10 years is a big gap -I was celebrating 70!!! did I say that? Bruce Dickenson was 60 the following day - the drummer is the oldest at 66 and he looked as though....I'll just say he looked skinny beyond belief. I never head banged, it was a man thing, husband and brother used to though - family don't believe it!
in reply to Telian
Belated birthday greetings. 70 myself recently. Phew! How the hell did I manage that? Just hope that drummer is not on too a low carb diet!! Maybe lighter sticks would help!
Telian in reply to
Belated birthdays greetings to you too! I wouldn't be surprised if he's on a liquid diet...
Telian in reply to
...and bread sticks!
DOH! sent it to myself originally - I am 70 now...
in reply to Telian
.....Bread sticks & drumming.! Too softer sound Telian! Think of all the crumbs! Me I'm..... ! gearing up for a Rhumy. appointment on Wedns!
Telian in reply to
I didn't mean to drum with! It was a pun on your 'lighter sticks'! Not very good was it.... Hope you get on okay, let us know the outcome.
I think we just all need to give people the benefit of the doubt...we all have bad days, we have all done things and thought ...Oops...The word “cretin” would not offend me, but she felt it important to mention it privately. I would just say, I am sorry you felt offended. That was not my intention and move on.” Whoever it was, I feel for you. This long response would make me feel ostracized over a private matter. We all have things that push our buttons, neither right or wrong. It just makes us all unique.
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