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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to despise the term "manshape" with a vengeance

269 replies

figcake · 21/01/2011 22:16

.. and close down all threads where it appears (it appears to be catching on).. bring back "hubby" pleeeeeeese

OP posts:
Mumcentreplus · 21/01/2011 23:18

Well if you want it to do some good an orgasm is a good start...all that good lovin sucks up sperm

MrsFlittersnoop · 21/01/2011 23:24

I just thought it was one poster's affectionate nickname for her DH! Hmm

Aaarrgh babydancing!! am so glad to be menopausal and can hide all these threads.

Seriously - I thought BD'ing was a term confined to the nasty fluffy side of the internet parenting world Shock.

PLEASE someone reassure me it isn't in general use on MN?

EricNorthmansMistress · 21/01/2011 23:28

Deemented's husband died. Now she has a new partner and chooses to refer to him as the manshape presumably to distinguish between his role and her husband, I expect it helps her reconcile everything. Now without analysing her motives any more, that's why. I don't like other people using it cos I think it's twee but it's really mainly dee which should be ignored imo.

2shoes · 21/01/2011 23:29

ahh so I apologise to the mumsnetter who uses it
I didn't realise one person used it

JaneS · 21/01/2011 23:32

Oh, that is sad. Thanks for explaining Eric.

2shoes · 21/01/2011 23:33

EricNorthmansMistress I would never have posted my post about my dislike for the word if I had known that.
sorry

BigHairyGruffalo · 21/01/2011 23:36

When people wrote 'BDing' I thought they had meant to type 'BFing' and had pressed the wrong key. I wondered why people were so excited about breastfeeding! Blush

EricNorthmansMistress · 21/01/2011 23:41

I don't 'know' dee particularly that's just what I picked up from similar threads so no offence caused to me, i'm sure dee is aware people don't like it :) but I don't think she cares from what I can see.

giyadas · 21/01/2011 23:54

I've only ever seen Dee use it so I associate it with her. It seems odd when others use it but I very rarely see it.

giyadas · 22/01/2011 00:01

Doesn't stop be getting an emoticon barrage though.
Grin

ilythia · 22/01/2011 00:14

I do know Dee (hence my strong feeling on this threadGrin) and I know she doesn't give a monkeys what people think, but it's still a weird thing for people to get het up about imo.

GreenEyesandHam · 22/01/2011 00:16

I feel the same about 'hubby' tho- I use the term all the time.

I had no idea of the sheer hatred and loathing the term evoked in some people Blush

giyadas · 22/01/2011 00:28

it's personal though isn't it. Manshape refers to Dees um, manshape. But we all have terms of endearment (proper terms, not o'right dahiln')
I hate terms of endearment but dp calls me Honey. I only really noticed recently, but there's a world of difference between Honey, as said by DP and Honey as stated by some random public guy trying to be cute.

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 22/01/2011 00:41

I guess I'm old odd - I don't mind hubby, I cant see where/when/why I'd actually ever use it, but it doesn't make my teeth itch in print anyway - it does seem a little bit twee when said aloud I guess :)

Dee uses manshape for the reasons Eric has said and I'm glad that she doesn't get too upset by people saying what they do.

I don't know if it's because I first heard it from Dee or what, but for me it also makes me think of love/strength/support - someone who would give you a lovely bear hug! and not the negative things some of you are saying.

I think lots of people just look for things to be get annoyed/offended about to be honest.

justcarrots29 · 22/01/2011 07:35

I am shuddering at the thought of my husband referring to me as the 'pear-shape'.

SarahStrattonsBaubles · 22/01/2011 08:08

I like 'manshape' for the same reasons as Chipping. It's Dee's word though, it doesn't feel right that anyone else should use it.

Blatherskite · 22/01/2011 08:14

It sounds like an affectionate term to me. I like it :)

I hope Dee doesn't see this thread though Sad

Tee2072 · 22/01/2011 08:41

Of course Dee is going to see this thread. But she's a big girl, she can handle it. And she can defend her own word choices, IMHO.

Call you lover/husband/partner/whathaveyou whatever you like. And everyone else can Fuck off to fuck off and then fuck off some more.

There. Tee has spoken.

PracticallyImperfectInEveryWay · 22/01/2011 09:42

I don't actually see the problem with it - I've seen Dee use it whilst complimenting her OH and just assumed it was a term of endearment.

I don't really understand taking exception to the term when people are able to use all manner of language on here (as well they should be) without others policing them or having to explain their reasons for doing so. If something is personally insulting take it up with the poster or MNHQ, otherwise wouldn't it be just as well to ignore it?

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/01/2011 10:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OracleInaCoracle · 22/01/2011 10:44

chippingin, im the same as you, it makes me think of dee, so i like it!

elmofan · 22/01/2011 11:02

It always makes me smile when Dee says "manshape" in her posts & I've always taken it as a term of endearment too . TBH i think this thread is in bad form & i hope Dee is not upset by it .

Articulate · 22/01/2011 11:11

Manshape as a description is horrible, unattractive and dismissive...for whatever reason it's used. Still, each to their own eh?

southeastastra · 22/01/2011 11:11

we only had this thread the other week and afaik only one poster uses it

really op should get a life Wink

TakeItOnTheChins · 22/01/2011 11:24

I agree with Articulate - I read Manshape as rather dismissive. As if he's just hovering around on the periphery, getting in the way.

When someone first mentioned that Dee has "good reasons" to use it, my first thought was that maybe Dee has impaired vision and that her "Manshape" is just that, which would have made sense.

Still, yeah - each to their own [shrugs]

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