Men with daughters, can we retire the shotguns? It is getting tiresome.
I keep hearing the 'old chestnut' jest from men with young daughters, where they get a laugh from making comments about imagining threatening future boyfriends with a shotgun, presumably to make sure they get 'treated right'.
Last heard in the queue to pick my son up from reception class.
This annoys me on a profound level. Here's why.
My Dad taught me to make decisions, assess character and make choices, respect myself and have high standards. Granted, teenagers don't always have great judgement but need to be allowed to make some mistakes in order to learn. My dad didn't own me, when I got married he didn't give me away and he never gave my boyfriend crap and thank goodness for that, since I married him. I would have been furious if my Dad had tried to interfere in my life in that way.
She may be your little girl now but she's going to grow up to be an independent, strong and wise woman - don't you want that?
Secondly how does this work if we reverse things. So as a mother of small boys is it OK for me to say in the queue to pick up 5 year olds - "His first girlfriend better not break his heart or she will have me and my shotgun to deal with. See how she likes that - BITCH. Hahaha!" Do these guys want to hear me threaten their daughter in future? Would that be even remotely acceptable?!
Most parents feel very protective of their children especially when small. I get that. I do too. I feel pretty protective of my sons who through no fault of their own may meet one of these dickhead fathers in future and I hope to God none of them actually own a shotgun. I'm working on bringing my boys up to respect girls and women, and treat all people equally and well, with kindness and consideration, all without the use of threats of violence, humourous, passive-aggressive or otherwise.
I don't think threatening teen children with violence and fear is funny. But my sense of humour has always been a little mainstream, my personality bordering on the earnest. So what do you all think? Is it just 'banter' or a pile of crap that needs challenging? If you don't like it, can you think of a witty or blunt rejoiner for next time?
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
AIBU?
Fathers and their 'shotgun' jokes
56 replies
sandfish · 24/05/2016 18:11
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.