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

[Rantsylvania 6-5000]

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

Exactly. At a much younger age, I already knew that there were some things you simply don't ask or say to people, especially someone you don't know.

But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, the parents aren't any better. They don't teach their kids manners, since they don't have any themselves. Some grown woman once asked me, "What's that thing on your mouth?" in reference to a fever blister I had. Seriously, who does that? Oh, right...

The only thing I'll give these people credit for is the fact that they actually seemed embarrassed. Most parents smile at the "cute" things their widdle pweciouses say.

[arminius58]

I find it mildly amusing at work, cause I'm the first "out" person at the place that I work at, the first few weeks they were stumbling over themselves to try and not offend me. I appreciated the effort, but I flat out told them, that I understood when they let things slip and that I have no problem that if they do step over the line I'll tell them, otherwise be themselves.

As for the "that's gay" comments, we only really have an issue with that with one of our younger crewpersons, I call him on it by asking him how its gay. He gets really flustered fairly fast and shuts up. But I do the same thing with other people I'm having conversations with that uses that same phrase, it usually makes them stop and think about it for a second. If nothing else I hope it improves their vocabulary.

[Magpie]

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

Wait, you mean there's different names for those things? I assumed that everyone called them crackers...

[Bloodsoul]

I'm remembering now that super-charged cracker Mr. Bean set off at the end of a Christmas episode.

[Rugsrat]

Sorry for the lack of replies, I've been working the "I can't believe I'm getting up this early" shift as of late.

Since there's been quite a bit lately:

Yeah, by the time I was... 7? I knew how to keep my mouth shut. I'm fully aware that it's not an uncommon term in that age bracket, but that doesn't make it right. But again, I was actually more offended by the mom and aunt defending the girl to me, but scolding her as well. PICK ONE. If you're going to be a hypocrite, then don't bother trying.

Oddly enough, I'm usually really hard to offend. I have DARED people to say the most offensive things they can to me, I'll usually laugh and follow up with a dead baby joke (or something equally in bad taste). Don't know why this one set me off so badly. I guess it was just one of those days.

On another note:

@ The Last to Know: I'm gonna have to try that sometime, see if anyone notices. Might raise an eyebrow or two.

I'm also out at work, and it hasn't seemed to bother any of my CWs, at least not the ones that work in the Electroplex. Most of the time they'll just let me know if there's a hot chick walking by for me to look at.

And I had a Chanukah cracker once. Not sure that the package called them that, but they were fun. Had little paper crowns and dreidels in them.

[Magpie]

But again, I was actually more offended by the mom and aunt defending the girl to me, but scolding her as well. PICK ONE. If you're going to be a hypocrite, then don't bother trying.

Actually that one makes sense to me. IF the girl was, say, seven. Or more likely, four. Or any age where she's too young to really be expected to know what appropriate behaviour is, but old enough to remember if she's told something. After all, the reason you knew to keep your mouth shut at seven was because your parents would tell you to... but they'd have been (rightfully) annoyed at someone for acting like you were being horrible for saying things that you were too young to realise were offensive.