Do you object to the term "bird"?

AmazingMan

Just trying to test how pc the Irish lady might generally be. The majority I find are a ladiback fun-loving type and have no problem with terms like "bird".

Where do you draw your politically correct line?

Do you object to being called "love" or "darling" by strangers or do you find it quaint and affectionate?

Any other terms that get on your goat or do you think people who object/worry about this kind of stuff are generally militant feminists?

Nevyn

I don't like being refered to as a bird, a woman is only a bird when she take up with a worm imho.

As for people using terms of endearment it depends on context, if it's part of how a person talks fair enough, if it's beeing used to denigrate then I have no tolerance for it.

Which has nothing to do wiht being ultra pc its just to do with respect.

Oh and your attitude is funny, really you seem to be asking to find out but have already drawn your conclusions and are just looking for posts to prove you right.

Demonique

No problem with the word 'bird'

As for the word 'love' as long as it's not part of a sentence containing the words 'cheer up, it might never happen' (mind your own frakking business, you stupid tit! And for your information, I'm not sad, I just don't go around grinning like a chimpanzee on happy pills all the time!)

Dudess

Nope. Or "chick". Or being called "love". The latter can often be very friendly and warm.

AmazingMan

Thaedydal wrote: »

I don't like being refered to as a bird, a woman is only a bird when she take up with a worm imho.

As for people using terms of endearment it depends on context, if it's part of how a person talks fair enough, if it's beeing used to denigrate then I have no tolerance for it.

Which has nothing to do wiht being ultra pc its just to do with respect.

Oh and your attitude is funny, really you seem to be asking to find out but have already drawn your conclusions and are just looking for posts to prove you right.

well I don't see how any proof can be gained either way, just curious why some can let this stuff go and others can't!

beks101

Thaedydal wrote: »

As for people using terms of endearment it depends on context, if it's part of how a person talks fair enough, if it's beeing used to denigrate then I have no tolerance for it.

This is how I feel too.

I think it's usually pretty obvious when it's used in a patronising way, but when it's part of someone's day-to-day vocabulary, I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Actually, I usually find it quite endearing, although often wonder how it comes about that someone could address a stranger as 'love', or 'hun' or the most recent one I heard - 'doll'. Those type of terms are reserved for very close family, friends and boyfriends for me.

Any key?

not at all
hate the word mot though.....bizarre

furiousox

Calling a woman a 'bird' is equivalent to calling a man a 'bloke' imo and l don't see a problem using either term.

Dudess

beks101 wrote: »

although often wonder how it comes about that someone could address a stranger as 'love', or 'hun' or the most recent one I heard - 'doll'.

I think it's only being friendly though - it's easy to tell when there's sleazy intent.

Any key? wrote: »

not at all
hate the word mot though.....bizarre

Never heard of it until I was enlightened by a discussion on same in After Hours a while back. :pac:
Then I finally got to hear it recently - from the turkey's beak (Dustin). Thought it sounded hilarious.

Any key?

Dudess wrote: »

Never heard of it until I was enlightened by a discussion on same in After Hours a while back. :pac:
Then I finally got hear it recently - from the turkey's beak (Dustin). Thought it sounded hilarious.

Ah Dustin.
I think Its a real Dub thing.Some lad called me it for the first time when I was about 18 and I thought It was an insult. Where do they come up with these things???

LadyJ

Actually, I heard somewhere that it's "maith" not "mot" and it's short for "maith an cailín". Makes a reasonable amount of sense.

4zn76tysfajdxp

I was only those kinds of words ("bird" and "chick") ironically. They're silly things to sincerely call women imo.

Cupcake_Crisis

I hate being called a bird or a mot!! I also hate using the word fella for boyfriend!!

LadyMayBelle

I used to work with a guy who used to tell me about his housemate's girlfriend who he didn't like; he would refer to her as 'yer man's bird'. I hated it so much!

When he called me a 'more refined bird' I told him to take his bird and shove it! It sounds awful!

Chinafoot

"Love" doesn't bother me in the slightest. Its a real Dub term and to me its really warm and friendly.

"Bird" is just stupid and I automatically assume the user has a below average IQ.

mahamageehad

Bird is a silly scumbag boy word!!

I don't mind love or pet and i use them all the time!!!

furiousox

OK!!!!!!

stovelid

I don't say chick or bird I'm guilty of saying Mot, as in talking about {insert_name}'s mot. Never to a woman's face obviously!

No problem saying stuff love or sweetheart either. Would even say that to female friends in certain circumstances like greetings (alright love) or whatever. Again: not to colleagues or women I don't know though.

Novella

Personally, I don't like the word "bird" being used to describe a woman or a girlfriend. It's not really that I find it disrespectful, I just don't like it.

Crumble Froo

personally, (especially since it's been two years since i lived in ireland), bird sounds kinda weird to me. i think it's something that would have to obviously be just part of a person's colloquialism, for me to feel quite comfortable with it - though it'd have to be blatantly intended as offensive for me to call someone up on it...

but chick is a term i tend to use for most ... chicks. i duno. girl sorts sounds too young now, woman sounds too grown up, lady is too uppity and female sounds too distancing. so i tend to use the word chick. i duno.

wudangclan

Any key? wrote: »

not at all
hate the word mot though.....bizarre

I always thought it was 'moth', as in 'moth to a flame'....

Any key?

wudangclan wrote: »

I always thought it was 'moth', as in 'moth to a flame'....

I'm just not versed enough in the word

I do think Bird is used in particular parts of the country. I don't mind it at all well used to it.

Dudess

Chinafoot wrote: »

"Bird" is just stupid and I automatically assume the user has a below average IQ.

Ah yeah, when I say I don't mind it, I mean when it's used in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

Abi

Dudess wrote: »

Ah yeah, when I say I don't mind it, I mean when it's used in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

I agree. Tongue-in-cheek is fine.

Dudess

Although if it were said not tongue-in-cheek, I wouldn't be offended, I'd just think it sounded silly.

Latchy

And 'me burd ' is just an extension on ' me mot' .

Tongue in cheek is fine with me but would never refer to any womon ,known or unknown with this vulgarity ...sniff term of reference

Red Hand

Would any lady here go "Tweet tweet!" if they were referred to as an avian?:pac:

skywards

beks101 wrote: »

I think it's usually pretty obvious when it's used in a patronising way, but when it's part of someone's day-to-day vocabulary, I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Agree. If its part of one's daily vocabulary, I really couldn't care less.

baalthor

This reminds me of a guy I knew years ago. I didn't really know him that well but he would entertain his friends with stories of what he and "the bird" had done at the weekend.

I assumed this was his lady friend even if she did sound a little rough.

However when he ended one story with "and then the bird got the pitchfork and stuck it in the dog and speared the dog to the door" that I thought: WTF??

So it turned out that "the bird" was a presumably intellectually challenged gentleman that this guy hung out with at the weekend, a bit like the Bird O'Donnell in "The Field" I suppose.

Yeah, so I tend not to refer to women as birds ...

shellyboo

AmazingMan wrote: »

The majority I find are a ladiback fun-loving type and have no problem with terms like "bird".

So those who DO have a problem with it aren't laid back or fun loving? Lovely generalisation there.

AmazingMan wrote: »

Any other terms that get on your goat or do you think people who object/worry about this kind of stuff are generally militant feminists?

:rolleyes:

Ignoring the ridiculously skewed tone of your post and actually answering the question, yes I do have a problem with being called a "bird", "chick", "love", "darling", "sweetheart"... unless you're a very close friend or relative.


I wouldn't walk up to a strange man and start calling him "hun" or "babe" or "pet", so I expect the same in return. Terms of affection should be reserved for those you feel affection for. I find it bad manners when a stranger says them to me.

If a boyfriend took to calling me his "bird", I'd be having words as well. Love Thaed's quote and couldn't agree more - " a woman is only a bird when she takes up with a worm".

Fink Goddie

AmazingMan wrote: »

Just trying to test how pc the Irish lady might generally be. The majority I find are a ladiback fun-loving type and have no problem with terms like "bird".

Where do you draw your politically correct line?

Do you object to being called "love" or "darling" by strangers or do you find it quaint and affectionate?

Any other terms that get on your goat or do you think people who object/worry about this kind of stuff are generally militant feminists?

Yep dont mind the term bird at all, its only a jokey term.
Love or darling wouldnt bother me either, dont know why it would, i find older men use those two terms.

OP I wouldnt say people who object to it are militant feminists, some girls are just moaney about stuff like that, any excuse to have an aul moan

Kooli

I don't like any of those things - bird, love, sweetheart.
I think they are very subtly derogatory and dismissive. To me they just hint too much at the 'don't worry your pretty little head' mentality.

But because I think it's very subtle, and because I think a lot of people don't explicitly mean the words that way, I wouldn't actually object if someone used them. I just wish they weren't used.

shellyboo

Kooli wrote: »

I don't like any of those things - bird, love, sweetheart.
I think they are very subtly derogatory and dismissive. To me they just hint too much at the 'don't worry your pretty little head' mentality.

But because I think it's very subtle, and because I think a lot of people don't explicitly mean the words that way, I wouldn't actually object if someone used them. I just wish they weren't used.

I agree. I wouldn't give out to someone who said it, I'd probably roll my eyes at most. I'd just prefer to not be called that.

Fink Goddie

Kooli wrote: »

I don't like any of those things - bird, love, sweetheart.
I think they are very subtly derogatory and dismissive. To me they just hint too much at the 'don't worry your pretty little head' mentality.

But because I think it's very subtle, and because I think a lot of people don't explicitly mean the words that way, I wouldn't actually object if someone used them. I just wish they weren't used.

So when some girls call their mates hun, babe and pet is that subtly derogatory too??

stovelid

Like anything, It's all about context.

Acceptable usage:

Talking to friends - {friend_name} has a new mot

Alright sweetheart/love/babe? - addressing close female friends, family etc

Wrong usage:

You're a ___ mot (addressing random woman)

Alright sweetheart/love/babe? - addressing colleague/random woman in bar etc

Seems straightforward enough to me.

Kooli

Fink Goddie wrote: »

So when some girls call their mates hun, babe and pet is that subtly derogatory too??

Nope

Kinetic^

What about being known as "the woman"?

Kooli

Kinetic^ wrote: »

What about being known as "the woman"?

Yeah I'd feel the same about that. When I think about all the good, respectful guys I know, none of them would use that phrase.

I would think a guy who used it thinks he's funny, but it maybe a bit of an idiot. I wouldn't start a fight over it or anything, but I certainly wouldn't be 'the woman' he's referring too!

I_am_Jebus

I hate to hear guys use "burd" or "mot" when talking about their GFf or others GFs.

It's fair enough to use it messing about etc...
But when I hear it and it's meant (i.e. part of the person's normal way of referring to a GF) I frickin' cringe. It just reminds me of one of those two gobsheens from "Adam and Paul".

Ps. I am a guy and from Dublin. Unfortunately, I am well used to hearing it :mad:

shellyboo

Kinetic^ wrote: »

What about being known as "the woman"?

Definitely all about context. Between myself and a partner, I'd be ok with that in a tongue-in-cheek way. If I found out he was referring to me as "the woman" in public or to his mates, I wouldn't be pleased. Shows a lack of respect for your partner. I'd view it on the same level all this "she who must be obeyed", "ball and chain" crap. It's not nice to make subtle digs at your partner like that.

liah

I think it's quite quaint and it's one of the things I like about Ireland. I'd never been exposed to terms like bird/love/pet til I crossed the ocean so I just find it very interesting.

It does depend on context though. I hate, hate, HATE it when girls use pet or love or hun when they're trying to be passive aggressive. As for bird I got used to it when I was in England, I don't really think twice about it, it's just a word. Pet and love throw me depending on who's saying them. If it's some really sleazy guy then I get creeped out and find it quite offensive, if it's an elderly person I find it quite cute and dated, if it's a good friend, relative, or boyfriend I don't mind it one bit.

Never heard "mot" used. Don't like "the woman," it's a bit like they're trying too hard to show off in front of the lads when the girl's not there. Kind of like ""missus," when it's used in an affectionate way in person.

All depends on context and tone of voice, really. As just words I haven't a problem with any of them.

I hate bird because it just sounds stupid
I'm not a chicken or a pigeon or some other feathery creature

scanlas

What do people think about being called pumpkin?

John Mason

i have no problem with it at all.

spent years working in bars in england being called irishbird, i found it quiet endering

stovelid

scanlas wrote: »

What do people think about being called pumpkin?

I always felt that little half-pint was a superior term of affection.

Crumble Froo

irishbird wrote: »

i have no problem with it at all.

spent years working in bars in england being called irishbird, i found it quiet endering

really really really depends who it comes from.

my boss calls me 'petal' all the time, despite my protests 'im not a flower!', and another workmate will call my chickie or doll, but i know that both of these are coming from people who feel somewhat affectionate towards me, so i dont worry about it too much.

it's when clients start commenting on how i look etc, that i start feeling a little freaked out.

Fago!

I hate the word "Bird".

I went mad at some fella on here for calling the ladies of TLL "Burds".:mad:

I wouldn't call anyone LUV either.

I call girls any one of these: Pet, Petal, M'dear, M'dahlin', Puddin' Sugar and Sugarplum.

Don't ask why I do. I always have. It's a term of affection. :rolleyes:

Lux23

Not really. But I would never liked to be referred as XXX's bird as if I was just an extension of them rather than a person in my own right.

I don't mind the love or darling thing at all and without the risk of sounding a bit rascist the one that I miss about the lack of Irish people working in the service industry was that some called you 'love'. As in 'yes love, what can I do for you?' Someone said it to me recently and I was actually taken aback but it gave me a nice warm feeling.

Fink Goddie

Kooli wrote: »

Nope

Why is it ok for girls to call people Hun, babe, pet and not for lads to call ya bird, sweetheart, darling????

Kooli

Fink Goddie wrote: »

Why is it ok for girls to call people Hun, babe, pet and not for lads to call ya bird, sweetheart, darling????

Because I think if a guy says it to a girl it is subtly degrading them as a woman - by calling them a 'pet' name it is actually slightly dismissive. After all they would never say it to another guy would they? Nor would they say it to a woman in a position of power, like a judge or something. It would be disrespectful and sexist. I don't think it should be any different if they say it to a peer or colleague. But as I said before, because a lot of people don't see it that way, I wouldn't take offence.

Girls saying it to their mates, I wouldn't be into it myself but usually there's nothing particularly sinister in it, except when it's used in the passive aggressive manner used before. There's no existing power imbalance being maintained through the use of loaded language!

Fink Goddie

Kooli wrote: »

Because I think if a guy says it to a girl it is subtly degrading them as a woman - by calling them a 'pet' name it is actually slightly dismissive. After all they would never say it to another guy would they? Nor would they say it to a woman in a position of power, like a judge or something. It would be disrespectful and sexist. I don't think it should be any different if they say it to a peer or colleague. But as I said before, because a lot of people don't see it that way, I wouldn't take offence.

Girls saying it to their mates, I wouldn't be into it myself but usually there's nothing particularly sinister in it, except when it's used in the passive aggressive manner used before. There's no existing power imbalance being maintained through the use of loaded language!

How is it ok for a girl to call a guy pet or hun or babe, how is it not slightly dismissive of them and degrading them as men if men calling a woman sweetheart or darling is???
A woman wouldnt call a judge pet hun or babe either!!!