AIBU to absolutely detest the phrase "little shit"

[helloclitty]

or little bugger and to not understand why people seem to think it's OK to use these expressions about their children especially in front of them. It always seems to be said in jest but it never fails to shock me when I hear it. AIBU to think these expressions are vile?

I remember my nan used to call us a 'little bugger' when we did something cheeky like eat all the chocolate of the top of the cake .

Because of the context and tone, it was always an affectionate word for me - akin to 'cheeky monkey'. I think I was about 16 before I realised it was a swear word. It was always said with love. I can't imagine 'little fucker' or 'little shit' being so affectionate though.

Oohhh do they use the word gobshite in NZ angrybeaver?! I love that word (obviously not in reference to small children!) It makes me laugh when I hear it used but I always thought it was a local word round here!

I just don't understand how it could possibly be a nice term

It's in the manner that it is said and by whom, it's fine to not like it, but idon't think that the use of it shouldbe judged, as such.

I akin it to imp, i will admit that i have had to stop using the term 'tinker', also passed down to me by Irish heritage.

Buttery- are in Liverpool, i always thought that gobshite, was a Liverpool, or at least Northern term?

I suppose given the amount of Northerners who have emigrated, it could have been taken over.

In the US 'bugger' doesn't mean the same thing at all - my parents found it hilarious when they moved there in the 70s and discovered an ad for a popular pram ('buggy') called The Bugger - slogan Take your Bugger to a party, apparently......

I may have occasionally talked about a child as 'a little shit' when in the company of adults, as in:

'The little shit outside has just broken a window by throwing a stone at it.'

But, I wouldn't refer to a very small child as it, and I definitely wouldn't talk about a child of my own in that way; especially not in front of them.

I was once in a supermarket and 2 women who knew each other started talking.

Woman A (who was with a boy of about 6) to Woman B - How's your X?
Woman B - Oh, he's a little shit
Woman B to Woman A's son - What about you? Are you a little shit too?
Woman A - Oh yes, he's a right little shit.
Woman B - I think it must be the name. Woman C's got an X too and he's a little shit as well!

I weep for some of the kids being dragged up round my way, I really do!

buttery and birds...I am originally from Liverpool and the gobshite comment was made near Preston,when our dc 1's started primary school together and I used to walk the last part with the woman.. We moved to NZ last year.
I doubt they use the word gobshite here. But I have heard one woman call her son a little facka!!!Again,our dc 1's are 6...

yabu, little shit is the perfect description for some horribly behaved kids

Agreed.