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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think "bloody" is not a swear word?

106 replies

MummyO3 · 12/01/2011 19:51

my son is in primary 2 ... aged 6 (just turned) ... and is on a behaviour chart, due to some extreme behaviour.(adhd)

now when he gets all six stars for the day we make a big fuss of him...

6 periods of time, if all rules kept he gets a star for that period of time... rules are 1. no agressive behaviour in the class or playground...2. listen to my teacher and do what is asked...3.put my hand up and wait to talk to my teacher...

so today he comes home with 5 stars and a number 1 Hmm it states, sent to depute for using bad language....

imo bloody isnt bad language, now the school have said he said bloody, just randomly, nothing else with it, so not like he said bloody hell etc (catholic school, so could understand them being annoyed about that) but i dont get why the school has reacted over this Hmm

AIBU?

i have scored the one out on his chart and put a star, i refuse to punish him for that, and noted on the chart, "sorry but i dont think the word used is a "swear" word etc and i think its very unfair that he has had a number 1 for this rather than just speaking with us about it"

as 5 stars are 5 stars he gets the pocket money earned but 6 stars is a big differnce cause he haas gotten them all, now i am by no means soft on my son, i will be the first to punish him if he is wrong, but i dont think he is Confused

WWUD?

thanks :)

OP posts:
charliesmommy · 12/01/2011 19:52

I would class it as mild swearing. YABU.

I would not like to hear a child using it.

Millie1206 · 12/01/2011 19:54

Sorry it's swearing in my book

gapbear · 12/01/2011 19:54

I would also class it as swearing.

YABU.

FaffTastic · 12/01/2011 19:54

If he just randomly said the word "bloody" then it does seem harsh.

Sure when I get a papercut in work I end up with a 'bloody' finger don't I. Doesn't mean I'm swearing.

If you're sure that it wasn't said in a 'swearing' context then YANBU

mousesma · 12/01/2011 19:54

I would class it as mild swearing too I afraid and I'm not of delicate sensibilities either.

MummyO3 · 12/01/2011 19:55

do you think he deserved the number 1 for it, or just speaking with us? as it doesnt even fit the context of the 1 iykwim, thanks for the reply Smile

OP posts:
maktaitai · 12/01/2011 19:55

Good grief!

Ok as far as I am concerned it is a swear word. I would be shocked rigid if ds (7) used that. Actually he did once, having heard Ron Weasley say it on Harry Potter. I nearly had a heart attack (obviously my own fault).

YABU from me, sorry.

MummyO3 · 12/01/2011 19:56

dont be sorry for saying IABU :) i wanted to know others opinions, as i dont let my kids swear at ALL lol but didnt see this as swearing iykwim [ blush]

OP posts:
maktaitai · 12/01/2011 19:56

But swearing is aggressive IMO.

AgentZigzag · 12/01/2011 19:57

I think it's bad language for a child to use as well.

It might be a mild word for an adult talking to other adults, but it's the intention behind the word and the fact that he's only 6.

You're also teaching him that what they say at school doesn't matter if you don't agree with them.

It's used a lot on here, but pick your battles, especially when it's a matter of opinion like this one.

muminthecity · 12/01/2011 19:57

I would class it as a very mild swear word, and would punish my DD if I heard her using it. On the other hand, it sounds as though your son may not have been aware that it is a swear word and so perhaps the punishment is a bit harsh.

LaWeaselMys · 12/01/2011 19:57

I don't think it's swearing.

But you will probably annoy his teachers.

muminthecity · 12/01/2011 19:59

maktaitai - if the OP has taught him that bloody is not a swear word then it's unlikely that he was using it to be deliberately naughty or agressive.

ZillionChocolate · 12/01/2011 19:59

I think "bloody" is swearing (unless it's an adjective about blood). My DH was surprised when I told him off for it on Boxing Day at my parents' house where it is definitely a wear word.

charliesmommy · 12/01/2011 20:01

Bloody is probably the only swear word that I ever heard my parents utter. I still knew it was an expletive though, and I wouldnt have been allowed to say it until my teens, and even then would have got a rollocking if I had said it TO an adult.

skyswept · 12/01/2011 20:01

YABU

It is mild swearing. It is not right for a 6 year old to say it and should be discouraged.

MummyO3 · 12/01/2011 20:01

tbh i havent taught him anything about it as such, as never thought of it in a bad way, and upon googling it, it doesnt appear its a swear word unless used in an aggressive manner iykwim, which it wasnt, im so Confused but thankful for the different opinions :)

OP posts:
Goblinchild · 12/01/2011 20:04

Would you be happy about the teacher using it as an expletive in class?
No?
It's a swear word.

TheFallenMadonna · 12/01/2011 20:06

I'm not sure how he would have said it if not in an aggressive manner. I suspect he yelled "bloody" rather than said it quizzically? I am a secondary teacher and I would sanction a child for that too.

ScotlandR · 12/01/2011 20:07

It's not a swear word - it's a description of something covered in blood.

If he was thinking in this way, it's not swearing.

MummyO3 · 12/01/2011 20:08

from what we know, he was sitting making something and said it randomly, no shouting etc, so not agressive iykwim, hmmmm need to have a long think about this, thank you everyone :)

OP posts:
charliesmommy · 12/01/2011 20:11

he wouldnt have just said the word "bloody" and no other word would?..

but even if he said "this work is bloody hard".. while it isnt agressive, it IS still swearing...

if he had said "this work is blumming hard", then that would be acceptable IMO

if he had fallen over and said "my knee is bloody" then that is a different kettle of fish..

Mutt · 12/01/2011 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mutt · 12/01/2011 20:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

solo · 12/01/2011 20:14

Especially from a child it is swearing.