What's wrong with 'pissing off the fairies'?

Oh so it does norose, I have been known to use that one too! A heavy accent on the first letter gives it more gusto don't you find?

Harrigran do believe he wants to create a fairy den. He has a younger brother and two younger cousins who will love what he has designed and he is 'into' minecraft, Dr.Who and Starwars if that makes him more acceptable to you?

He has, in his short life, given up trying to please and conform and just does his own thing. I listened to his HT praising 'team players', especially the school football team, as he absent-mindedlu handed GS1 his award for achievement in literacy, and thought 'what a shallow man you are' as he obviously couldn't see beyond that. I doubt he is aware that GS1 has just passed his Grade 2 trombone with merit, ditto his Grade 2 climbing award and belaying certificate and that he has landed a part in a local theatre production for Christmas.

I'm delighted that this unusual boy has enough intelligence and sense of fun to see that this sign isn't swearing as in 'Piss Of''' but understands that 'pissing off' in this context means annoying the faries - a distinction that I think baggs made.

PS the sign was intended to go inside his den.

I had to read this thread as the title intrigued me! What has surprised me is the attitude of some posters who seem to be concentrating more on the fact that it is a boy who is making the grotto than the question which was about pissing off the fairies. Gender sterotyping anyone?

Anya your grandson sounds like a delightful original and creative thinker - a lot of that is nurture as well as nature and it did cross my mind that the very fact that he is being given the freedom and encouragement to simply enjoy building a fairy grotto is to be celebrated!

It is a pity you feel his particular achievements at school are perhaps not as valued as some. In all the schools I have worked in, children have been encouraged to bring in any certificates they have earned beyond the school gates and have their skills celebrated.

What a super little lad! I love the idea, and I suspect he is having great fun with his project. Personally, I would see no problem with the sign as it is to go inside the grotto (but then i swear like a trooper myself) On the other hand, what dad says, goes. I like notme's stone too, but instead of buying it, I would encourage him to find a stone he likes and paint it himself...

As for any problem with liking faries...what's wrong with that? My ten year old daughter is not into dollies much, loves skateboards, likes pink - but loves Ben Ten, Ninja turtles and most of her mates are boys...does that automatically make her a tomboy?

Gender stereotyping really should be a thing of the past, I think a lot of kids have very varied tastes nowadays, and so it should be. My son (now a hulking monster of 18) loved playing with his sister's kitchen, and her dollies...admittedly, he does have long curly hair now...might he have ruined his chances of being a "man's man"? Oh dear...

imperfect I'm in awe of my DD and lovely SiL's parenting skills and the support and encouragement they give their children. It has certainly paid off as their boys are a delight.

PS I'll whisper this as I don't want to be responsible for any fairy deaths but I don't think he actually believes in fairies. When I Wales earlier this year and his brother lost a tooth, he suggested that it would be dragons who would visit in place of the tooth fairy!!

It's the creating of the magical space that's important to him. I'll suggest painting stones with various uplifting thoughts Lisa - he'll like that idea.

Fairies, trolls, leprechauns, and other little people myths have been around longer than the Disney version of fairies in pretty pastel dresses. I honestly don't think a fairy grotto is a girly activity.

The pissing-off sign is an interesting choice - fairies were considered malevolent and you pissed them off at your peril! I think you DGS is very insightful.

Knowing 10-year-old boys, surely it should say "don't piss on the fairies"

However, although his intentions are admirable, I can't see that wildlife will be particularly attracted by a brightly lit grotto.

He's thought of that Jacky and chosen discreet (!) purple lights which will be affixed to the outside at about the 6' level. He's draped a camouflage net across the front entrance. The back entrance is via a narrow corridor about 18" wide at the rear of a pergola which supports rambling roses and will be unlit. Not wide enough for even a small human. There is a hedgehog hole along this corridor which connects to the delightfully overgrown park at the back of his house.

It would be a good place to leave teeth, though, better than under the pillow, instead of granny fairy then creeping into a bedroom in the dark, tripping over a toy, falling over, cursing and waking everyone in the household etc (DM not me!).

I don't think he actually believes in fairies Sharp intake of breath again Anya

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Meant to link this:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=_zJE13D90H4

It would definitely pi** off the fairies if your GS used that sign in their grotto! Just not nice is it though words which a typical 10 year old would like to use and well done to your SIL for saying NO!

FFS! I think this is a wind up!

Oh a stage director in the making, a special effects creator, the next JRR Tolkein........get that boy going. Not sure about the piss word though, feel the same as I do abut the mooning gnomes, not my cup of tea but some might find it amusing.

It's inappropriate language for a 10 year old.....who would he be able to tell about the sign? His teacher, other family members? Judging by most of the opinions on the thread he would be more likely to get a ticking off. It's not even clever - something alliterative would work better. Don't fool with the fairies?? (Yes, I know, there's another F word that works there) I really dislike hearing this kind of language from anyone.

Is it your garden? If in your garden then do what you will.

Besides Faeries are horrible little things when riled.

"Mind you don't do anything to annoy the fairies in this fairy grotto" is what the sign mentioned in the OP actually means. It doesn't mean anything else. Therefore, logically and rationally, there's absolutely nothing offensive about it.

But I suppose if your standard fairy is as illogical as it would appear your standard gran is....

OK, how about dad making a sign WITH his son that says 'Don't Annoy The Fairies'... same message, but better use of vocabulary. Anyone can swear or use profanity as a substitute for humour or actually thinking before opening mouth.

In your SIL's position, anya, I think I'd be inclined to explain the difference that I've mentioned on this thread between using words rudely and using certain of them non-rudely for added effect (emphasis, humour, mischievousness). Sounds as if your 10yo GS would not only understand this but would appreciate it too

Really Teddy you think this is a wind up do you? Why is that? Please elaborate on why you should think that....I can't wait.

Lewlew stop clutching your pearls in shock. Since when was 'piss off' blasphemy or an obscenity, which is the definition of profanity. It's a mild swear word when used as a phrasal verb and a synonym when used in the 'don't piss off the fairies' signage ...unless you know differently.

Baggs I can't believe some of these either!

Sorry but on the subject of naughty words.... just have to share this:

My little grandson (7) plays football regularly (for a couple of teams). After a particularly tough match a few weeks ago in which he had scored 2 precious goals earning them victory, the referee blew the whistle and they all shook hands. My DGS's opponent refused to shake his hand and DGS walked back to his dad waiting on the side lines. "Dad?" he said "What does it mean when someone puts his middle finger up and says.... Go swivel?"

My son didn't know what to say and just said "well it's not nice, that's for sure". Apparently when DGS went to shake his opponents hand, this was the gesture/comment made. (yikes)

Baggs that was exactly my reaction. He's very astute however and I think he already understands the difference between the two. I think my DD would have allowed him his sign.