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

Exactly Gillybob, made me wonder how they were treated at home if they didn't meet the expectations of their mostly overweight foul mouthed Dads . Thankfully away from the football fraternity their are some lovely supportive Dads who don't need to find glory on the back of their children .

Oh I have mostly stopped going because of this norose4 they are 7 and 8 year olds for goodness sake !

Dads (and mums) shouting and bawling at the referee, criticizing every minor decisions as though it were the premier league. Horrible.

Sad isn't it Gillybob, I used to drive my son & friends to their football matches & couldn't believe the language shouted out by some Dads to their own young sons, critical & foul mouthed & most of them looked like the couldn't run to save their lives let alone kick a ball , made sad & angry ?

I'm interested that so many people are upset by the two-word phrase which I'm therefore paraphrasing as 'annoy' and have ignored the potentially discriminatory tone of the whole sentence - it sounds like something a homophobic yob might say if he saw someone going into a gay pub. If I'd found myself in your SiL's position, I'd have said something like : "We're not going to buy that sign, because a lot of people get quite upset about words like this" and then explain why it's upsetting. I used to say this sort of thing quite often my own son when he was going through an expletive phase when he. was about five. None of the swear words that people use are bad in themselves - it's the discomfort and pain they cause to others that make them so controversial. It's probably fortunate that this issue has come up when your GS is still only ten - if he were already a teenager, making a 'thing' of it would probably show him a terrific way of winding everybody up!

Now that is a completely different matter Gllly - that's really rude not just a 'naughty word'

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.

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)

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!

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

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.

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

"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.

Besides Faeries are horrible little things when riled.

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

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.

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 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!

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

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...