Being 14 is not an excuse for speaking to me that way.

[Merriweather]

I'm interested to know that - here in the UK, to refer to someone (or something) as a 'cracker' actually denotes the opposite, to say that someone is a cracker means they're very good looking. Or we might say 'that was a cracking meal we had last night' - thank heavens I didn't use it on here before finding out...

Of course, in the UK you have those cool Christmas or party crackers (for those here in the US not familiar, they're like wrapped rolls of cardboard, you pull them and they make a loud snap, and there's a prize inside). Hence the nice positive connotation. Here in the US, it refers to the whips the overseers cracked on slave plantations.

I love word derivations, and there are so many that people often use and don't even think about. I grew up with family who always used the phrase "jew them down" when talking about making a bargain - I swear, it didn't even occur to me til I was in my teens what the phrase actually meant. Wasn't til I lived in Europe that I realized being "gyped" as a term for being conned or not getting your money's worth was a slur to gypsies. And that welshing on a debt (not paying what's owed) was a slur to the Welsh.

Let's just hope that the "that's gay" connotations get stopped before it gets really ingrained into the language.

[Tama]

It's a bit late for that fear....

[Stryker One]

That's gay

I'm saving up for an engagement ring for my girl too, and she's trying to get one for me. <3

Seriously, does she reeeally think she's fooling anyone?

Ouch, does that make lesbian engagements generally twice as expensive?

Also, here's what's gay:

http://current.com/shows/infomania/thats-gay/

[hinakiba777]

I'm preparing now for Halloween. I'm going to spread glitter all over my body and go as a Twilight vampire. My boyfriend's going topless so he can be a werewolf.

Oh Empryss I love you!

I lent a friend a novel where the "vampires" could go out in the sun, but it weakened them. So they normally just went out at night, to avoid the problem. The "vampires" also had metalic colored eyes (Blue with Silver, Green with Silver, Brown with Gold). After reading the book, my friend point out that I work Night Shift, I'm pale, my incissors are sharp, and my eyes are blue with golden rings around the pupil. He made many jokes about me being a vampire.

So I lent him the first book in the series where the main character's rival told the police that the main character was a vampire. This was true, but the rival still ended up in an institution for mental illness thanks to his claims. My friend stopped making the jokes.

[Red_Dazes]

A bit off topic....buuuuut.... pictures when you get the ring please ^_^

[Marmalady]

Of course, in the UK you have those cool Christmas or party crackers (for those here in the US not familiar, they're like wrapped rolls of cardboard, you pull them and they make a loud snap, and there's a prize inside).

Now that's a surprise - are they not well-known in the US then? I would have thought (I don't know why) that you would have had them bigger and better and for far more occasions than we do... that's intended as a compliment by the way...

[Sablefyre]

Oh Empryss I love you!

I lent a friend a novel where the "vampires" could go out in the sun, but it weakened them. So they normally just went out at night, to avoid the problem. The "vampires" also had metalic colored eyes (Blue with Silver, Green with Silver, Brown with Gold). After reading the book, my friend point out that I work Night Shift, I'm pale, my incissors are sharp, and my eyes are blue with golden rings around the pupil. He made many jokes about me being a vampire.

So I lent him the first book in the series where the main character's rival told the police that the main character was a vampire. This was true, but the rival still ended up in an institution for mental illness thanks to his claims. My friend stopped making the jokes.

OT - I love the Argeneau Vampires.

[ExRetailDrone]

Now that's a surprise - are they not well-known in the US then? I would have thought (I don't know why) that you would have had them bigger and better and for far more occasions than we do... that's intended as a compliment by the way...

I've known of them for years, but I don't think that I've ever actually seen one. I was never one for parties with party favors, but I don't remember seeing them in any party-type shops that I've been in, either. But, I was raised in BFE, so who knows

[Athaelia]

Who cares if the lil' witch is "just 14".

At 14, you should have a big enough grasp on what is socally acceptable/unacceptable to say to a stranger.

Why the mother did not correct her right away, instead of waiting for you to do it, is beyond me. Sometimes you have to remind people of their bad manners.

Ps. Good Luck with the ring. My husband got lucky with my wedding ring: His Grandma left him quite a bit of beautiful jewelry (lucky me!)

[EvilEmpryss]

Now that's a surprise - are they not well-known in the US then? I would have thought (I don't know why) that you would have had them bigger and better and for far more occasions than we do... that's intended as a compliment by the way...

The first time I heard of crackers in the UK party favor sense of the word (or saw one, for that matter) was in the Harry Potter movie. I'm betting I'm not the only one.

[The Last to Know]

I have three sons - they are 20, 16 & 15. I'm gay & the 20 year old is gay - my 16 year old still occasionally says something is gay, but not nearly as often since he gets really tired of hearing me say - well damn, I think it's SOO STRAIGHT or something like "hey, I resemble that remark!" with a much more serious "knock it off - I'm TIRED of hearing that crap."

Thank goodness even though he still messes up & just says stuff he hears his friends say - he still respects me & loves both myself & his brother

Congrats on the engagement!

[Magpie]

Up here in Canukistan we only really have crackers for Christmas. I think I've seen New Year's ones, but that's about it.

[Marmalady]

Up here in Canukistan we only really have crackers for Christmas. I think I've seen New Year's ones, but that's about it.

For years we only had them for Christmas, but over the past few years a trend has started to have them at weddings. You can get them from wedding stationers, in different colours to match your particular scheme, and very often personalised with the names of the bride and groom, date of the ceremony etc.

[crazylegs]

Of course, in the UK you have those cool Christmas or party crackers (for those here in the US not familiar, they're like wrapped rolls of cardboard, you pull them and they make a loud snap, and there's a prize inside). Hence the nice positive connotation.

They're also yummy savoury buscuits that you put cheese on top nomnomnomnomnomnom

[Food Lady]

Up here in Canukistan we only really have crackers for Christmas. I think I've seen New Year's ones, but that's about it.

I sold a few last December for New Year's Eve. That's the only time I ever see them. I guess we're bigger on fireworks. People start lighting them well before Independence Day around here.