to think that asking if a peacock is male is a really stupid question?

[Vagabond]

I was sitting outside my local pub the other day admiring the local peacock (who was all a-preening). The ladies at the next table to were also admiring said peacock. When the waiter came over, they asked him if the peacock was male or female! I almost fell of my chair?

AIBU?

YANBU

then again, people do fall for the question,"if I have a peacock and it hops over the fence and lays an egg in my neighbours garden, who owns the egg?"

townies, eh?

at townies!

I am new to the countryside myself but even I know the bloody difference!

nope.

The sheer amount of people who open their mouths before engaging their brain astounds me on a daily basis. I just give them the "are you trying to be funny or are you really that stupid?" look and sigh.
I have a colleague who is especially gifted at this. If I walk away it usually takes a few minutes before she asks for clarification as to what she said was wrong/funny. Rarely gets it even then though.

gibbs- what does a cock usually refer to? and what is the female equivilent?

There is no such thing as a stupid question .... clearly these townie women had no idea about peacocks and peahens. Feel sad for them that they are so ill-informed

They aren't even native birds... I hate them, and the creepy noise they make.

We have several around these parts who are feral and, quite frankly, I'd wring their necks given half a chance.

Go on, flame me!!

Wow, everyone's judgey pants are flapping in the wind tonight. I do know the difference between a peacock and a peahen but it's not exactly essential knowledge is it?

Just out of interest Vagabond, do you know what the native language of Ireland is?

For that question, you'd have to define what you mean by 'native' - historical, official/political or what most people actually speak.

On peacocks - I suppose if you'd never heard the term 'peahen', or seen a peacock in full action then its not necessarily so stupid - after all, the female Scolopax rusticola is a woodcock not a woodhen.

Grimma I mean the language all Irish people used to speak before Ireland was planted by the British in the 1600s.

are you taking the piss? is there seriously such thing as a peahen?

Ok. Irish, which is Irish Gaelic?

(what this has to do with decorative fowl eludes me -- or is it an easy question most people get wrong and I'm falling for it? that'd be awful bakey bags)

are you taking the piss? is there seriously such thing as a peahen?

A male peafowl is a peacock, the female is a peahen. But they're drabber so everyone just notices 'peacock'.

(should we take this to the Feminist board?)

see, when i said 'townies' earlier, i had my tongue in my cheek, but really? really?

there are genuinely people allowed to post on mn that have never heard of a 'peahen'????!

where have you been?!

Irish, or at least that's what we call it in English. Otherwise, Gaeilge. Or is this a trick question and I've fallen for it......?

x-post with Grimma, owing to shite internet connection....

Irish Gaelic (pronounced Gay-lic) as opposed to Scottish Gaelic (pronounced Gal-ick). Both Celtic languages and related to Breton, Cornish and Welsh.

Sorry ... just had to stick my beak in!

I'm shocked!

Has anyone ever eaten peacock ?? They're rather large and juicy looking, bet they'ed roast well

Even my mam knew and neglected to pass this information on!

Bye-bye hun!! Give everyone there hugzzzz from me. Mwah mwah! xxxxxx

I'd imagine they are much like pheasant... gamey in other words.

Perhaps I shall indeed wring the neck of one of the feral peacocks/hens round here and serve it up to Apocalypse and any other MNetter.

Anything to stop their bloody squawking!!

Well done, Baroness, the only one to get it right. Have a gold star.

There is no such thing as Irish GAELIC...GRRR.

No one who actually speaks or knows anything about Irish would call it Gaelic. It is Irish or Gaeilge. Nothing else.

The only reason I ask really is that it often shocks me how little British people seem to know about Ireland, considering it's the country next door. Plus I think that sort of info is more relevant than knowing about peawhatsits. The amount of times I've been asked if I'm from "Southern Ireland" I just smile sweetly and say "sorry that country doesn't exist, perhaps you mean Ireland?"

And Grimma I can't believe you remember that! You bad thing, into the naughty corner, post haste.
[BTW something was actually pronounced "an awful fierce bakey ball bag" in my house today, I'm not saying by whom]