Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that this is not a 'bad' word

98 replies

Idontneedanotherhero · 14/09/2016 21:27

I use the word 'flipping' quite a lot, for example: 'flipping heck I've dropped my keys', or 'where on earth is that flipping hat' - you get the idea. DH was putting DD (3) to bed earlier and her pillow fell off the bed. 'Oh no, my flipping pillow has fallen off!' says she. DH very upset with me, says it is awful to hear words like that coming from her mouth! I can't really see the problem! Opinions please....

OP posts:
PaulAnkaTheDog · 14/09/2016 23:38

How come Foxes?

Sootica · 14/09/2016 23:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rachcakes · 14/09/2016 23:41

Because this is flipping bonkers!!

My gran used to say 'ruddy' when she was really mad. "He's a ruddy nuisance, and that's swearing" she'd say.

MargotLovedTom · 14/09/2016 23:41

Is a 'minced oath' actually a thing?
I see absolutely nothing wrong the the word flipping, whether said by an adult or child.

PoloStar · 14/09/2016 23:45

Margot - apparently so
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minced_oath

Outtaker · 14/09/2016 23:47

I'm with your husband. It's the context, not the word. The frustration and adding that word in there.

What the flip is wrong is showing frustration when frustrated? What is so virtuous about being so repressed that you can't do this? You're being ridiculous!

FoxesOnSocks · 14/09/2016 23:47

Due to the amount if people who seem to equate heck with fuck. It's weird. I could accept one or two posters whose level of Enid Blytonness was off the radar but not what seems to be the majority. (Actually thinking about it the Famous Five et al could be considers littered with this offensive language like 'gosh' and 'dash it'.)

Flipping is offensive?

Honestly don't get it; especially as 'poo bum' is apparently ok. Surely by the rationale on this thread poo bum is a rude name to call someone and a replacement for cunt.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/09/2016 23:49

We once went to dinner with friends when DD was about 5 and she said something about 'doing that flipping thing' ... The friends looked quite taken aback, which was very funny when it became apparent that she was referring to some sort of literal 'flipping thing'.Grin

acasualobserver · 14/09/2016 23:55

What the flip is wrong is showing frustration when frustrated? What is so virtuous about being so repressed that you can't do this? You're being ridiculous!

Well said.

TheLastHeatwave · 14/09/2016 23:57

I don't properly swear around the children (I save it all for you lot 😁) but I do say things they still know are for adults, not children. Attitude as well as language. Any swear word replacement is a no-go, as is any mild swear word. I don't want to hear 'flipping heck' from a 5 year old anymore than I want to hear 'fucking hell'. When they have the stress of an adult, they can have the language privileges too 😁

Outtaker · 14/09/2016 23:59

Wow!! (Is that offensive I'm not sure)

Foxes Yes, based on some posts in here it would seem 'wow' is swearing given you clearly used it to verbalise a negative emotion!

Even my mum - who never swears (by swears I men actually swears) and hates swearing - would find classifying 'flipping' as a swear word as ridiculous!

PaulAnkaTheDog · 15/09/2016 00:04

Not repressed at all. I swear like a trooper. I just don't like to hear children swearing or using words in place of swear words to quickly voice frustration instead of just explaining it. Nout wrong with that. Each to their own, I was just giving my opinion.

Outtaker · 15/09/2016 00:04

I don't want to hear 'flipping heck' from a 5 year old anymore than I want to hear 'fucking hell'.

I think I'd marginally prefer to hear 'flipping heck' from my 5 yo to be honest Confused

What about 'oh no!' In response to something that might give rise to a 'flipping heck'? There's no real difference. Or do you forbid all expressions of frustration from your children. That's not just weird, but unhealthy in my opinion.

FoxesOnSocks · 15/09/2016 00:05

Well Outtaker I say 'flipping' AND 'flopping, along with the odd 'heck''. Evidently I'm doomed: might as well start using 'ruddy'.

Outtaker · 15/09/2016 00:06

Very unhealthy and a huge double standard from you given you freely wait to swearing like a trooper!

alibongo5 · 15/09/2016 00:07

"Due to the amount if people who seem to equate heck with fuck. It's weird. I could accept one or two posters whose level of Enid Blytonness was off the radar but not what seems to be the majority. (Actually thinking about it the Famous Five et al could be considers littered with this offensive language like 'gosh' and 'dash it'.)

Flipping is offensive?

Honestly don't get it; especially as 'poo bum' is apparently ok. Surely by the rationale on this thread poo bum is a rude name to call someone and a replacement for cunt."

My view exactly! So you aren't allowed to express ANY frustration at all? Wow!

sykadelic · 15/09/2016 00:08

I'm with your DH and PaulAnkaTheDog

It's not that it's a "bad word" it's that your child is expressing their frustration like that, it's kind of sad really :( She shouldn't be peppering her sentences with any kind of word like that, especially not for something as innocent as dropping her pillow!

MargotLovedTom · 15/09/2016 00:08

Oh I didn't know 'berk' is short for Berkeley Hunt, which in turn is rhyming slang for cunt. Thanks Polo.

LittleBearPad · 15/09/2016 00:09

I'd tell him to chill the 'flip' out.

Very strange perspectives on this thread.

AbernathysFringe · 15/09/2016 00:10

I've replaced my usual swears with 'drat' and 'flaming Nora' purely because I think they'll be amusing to hear from the mouth of a child. I'd be far more ashamed to hear her say 'sat' when it should be 'sitting'.

woodly2013 · 15/09/2016 00:13

Coronation street regularly say flipping when the situation clearly calls for a word far meatier, but before the watershed flipping heck is as strong as it gets. Just saying

Outtaker · 15/09/2016 00:13

My view exactly! So you aren't allowed to express ANY frustration at all? Wow!

According to some, It's ok for adults apparently, for children can't show frustration... To expect your children to repress their feelings while you feel free to express yours is well and truly fucked up!

FoxesOnSocks · 15/09/2016 00:16

We've now entered a new level of oddness. Children shouldn't express frustration and apparently only adults have stress?

Being a toddler is VERY frustration. Not being able to do things you want to do is frustration. Having others control your life without you being able to have any control is extremely frustrating and emulates stress. This is why tantrums aren't exactly unknown in young children.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 15/09/2016 00:17

Oh bugger off Outtaker. I don't see what's so wrong with pointing out that a child saying it out of frustration isn't that great and they should word said frustration?

Outtaker · 15/09/2016 00:18

sykadic

What the flipping heck is wrong with a child expressing frustration? Pearl clutching doesn't come close to this absurd policing of innocent language and behaviour. You're even implying Enid Blyton books are obscene publications what with all the drats and bothers.