Can I just warn any lurkers out there...........

absent , I would never say that you were a humourless misery guts! I fully appreciate what you are saying but, talking to younger friends, it would seem that today that word is no longer associated with female genitalia, but is used in the way that we might have said "you idiot" or (my personal favourite) "numpty".

phoenix I like numpty too. You could say that the c word is no longer associated with female genitalia but is used to mean an unpleasant or stupid person – but that wouldn't be true either.

I disagree re. the c word, I do find that offensive and I think anyone using it would surely know that it was a word associated with female genitalia, whereas the t word I was referring to seems to have lost that connotation these days. This actually came up in discussion with a group of 20 somethings not long ago, and they were surprised when I pointed out it's original meaning. I suppose it's another example of how language can change over time.

Both those words still shock me when I hear them bandied about, and they can be directed towards either sex, as can 'slag', which I always thought meant a promiscuous woman!

Fair enough ladies. OK, so we need to come up with something else for those that Elegran referred to as antisocial twerps. I don't want to waste "numpty" on them, it is such a useful word and too good for them really!

I do have a bit of a penchant for acronyms though, how about:

Antisocials Ruining Site Enjoyment Sadly ?

Oh, dear, I have to admit to being a slag in my glory days! I thought I was just enjoying my new-found freedom!
I like 'saddoes' myself - just about sums them up.

Greatnan!

Nanadog I share your sorrow about mothers, I'm not too proud of mine and her behaviour towards others, including me. It is only since she has gone that I have heard all the awful tales but the good that has come out of it is that I am now very close to nieces who were browbeaten by her when she was here.

You find "numpty" a useful word?

Why doesn't that surprise me?

I've got a really good acronym could be used on here.

And as I'm getting quite close to asking GN to ban me (to get some jobs done), I could put it up.

I don't know, jingle - why does it not surprise you?

Greatnan I think jO5's comment was aimed at me! So, why doesn't it surprise you?

jo5 why is it that you love being jokey (or even insulting) about other people, and threaten to use an acronym that you clearly feel will offend, but you get uptight when anyone else says anything that you don't like? No-one is getting at you, please don't get at others.

Are you due to for another rest from posting while your obviously irritable spell subsides?

And if you take offence at that gentle suggestion - then it is definitely time to rethink your current sensitivity.

I don't get uptight if anyone offends me personally. I can give as good as I get.

Don't like other people being jibed at for no reason.

Gotta go out now.

Backson

J; can I just ask something? Do you ever understand that your comments hurt people? I'm just curious, that's all, especially as you say you don't like other people being 'jibed'.

Sigh

As I suspect there's a Clingon or whatever you want to call 'it' on the starboard bow as we speak!

As a sometimes target of jingle's comments, I have to say that I just shrug them off. We are all used to her getting attention by saying 'outrageous' things. But of course it always turns out that she was joking.

JO often makes me laugh with the way she puts things, gets straight to the heart of the matter, and often says just what I was thinking.
At other times she's downright rude and short-sighted.
Are there two JOs?

Exactly what I was asking her, Greatnan Everyone could say that it was a joke whenever they sent a barb at anyone else. That puts the receiver of the barb into the wrong. A handy strategy.

She posts what has just floated to the top of her mind. Often it is witty and to the point, but sometimes it should have been skimmed off and discarded.

Jingle usually makes me smile - I prefer someone who says what they think straight out!

I think that, although Jings manages to upset folk from time to time, she is, at heart, a kind person.

Soop - I think that is a reflection of your own very kind heart!

I think she's very out of sorts today. I hope she's feeling a lot better when she comes back.