AIBU about the word 'shit'?

[autumndaisie]

I am quite relaxed about swearing, but AIBU to think the word shit should not be used to describe actual poo?

So in a hospital saying "Mrs J may need help clearing up, it smells of poo out there" is okay but not "Mrs J smells of shit?"

Or is shit okay to say?

The reason I am asking is because I've heard someone use the word shit to describe poo three times this week and don't know whether to tell them to stop. (In othef words I am not the poo troll!)

Are they foreign? Perhaps they don't realuse the difference.

Yes, they are, which is one reason I want to tread carefully.

It’s not suitable in a hospital/caring setting, but it’s a perfectly good word for faeces.

I want to tread carefully.

I would too. It’s a bugger to get out.

You should tell them!

People in that industry shouldn’t be swearing at work full stop.

Yes, it's not appropriate in the clinical/care setting. "Poo" or "faeces" would be better - can you explain to them that "shit" is a slang/informal term?

But your two sentences aren't the same one is saying someone smells of shit the other is saying an area smells of poo.

For shits sake

Lol cock

It isn't in a hospital sorry. I used that as a for example. But it just isn't a respectful word, is it? Or is it me?

Just tell them, as you would with any other misunderstanding.

In many languages, there is not much difference between the polite word and rude word for shite. In fact, until fairly recently in English, shit was the word generally used.

No it's not respectful to say that about someone.

I'm with you, OP, but then I think 'bloody' is swearing too and have received mystified looks from people recently on this topic. I hasten to add, I do say 'bloody', I just think I am swearing when I do it. I also say shit, but I know it's a bit rude..

In fact UABU to use the slightly twee word 'poo'. Why not just say 'faeces'?

I once saw a documentary in which a university professor with an RP accent was talking to her toddler. She used the words "shit" and "piss" to discuss his toilet activity. She appeared to regarded them as the most correct English words to use.

In fact UABU to use the slightly twee word 'poo'.

Oh no, dear god, my mother, bless her, can't say the word 'poo' apparently. She's forever saying to my baby, "Have you done something down there?" and making faces as if he's done something naughty. She also asks if he's 'doing a widdle', like he's a puppy. I think I'd prefer shit and piss to be frank - you don't want to go too far the other way .

They never say it on Doctors.

They never say it on Doctors.

I’ve heard it said about Doctors.

I prefer the word plop

Aww crap

A new Mum in the ward opposite me when I had DD had left the nappy on the table thing and made no attempt to get rid of it. A midwife removed it and said to me in disapproval [of the other mum] "I thought I could smell a bowel movement!"

MIL can’t say poo either Dahletita to the extent that when a GDC was born she was telling me the baby had “dirtied inside”. The knock on effect of that is that DH doesn’t go for a poo, he says he needs to “sit on the toilet”

That aside, using shit in general conversation is a bit base. So I’d say YNB completely U OP

That said, I am no paragon of virtue when it comes to choice of words

I would say I was going to the toilet for a shit. Not sure why its offensive?

What sort of setting is it, op? There seems to be an inordinate amount of shit/poo discussions going on around you.

"I thought I could smell a bowel movement!"
dirtied inside

Love these! I will see if I can direct my mother towards these at least as an alternative to 'doing something down there' which is starting to drive me bonkers