Is this an acceptable thing to say?

[summerlovinggirl]

My DS (9, nearly 10) has come home from school today and asked what verbal diarrhoea is? I asked him why he would ask and he told me that his teaching assistant said that he was talking verbal diarrhoea when they were discussing the project that they’re all doing.
I’m not normally precious at all over things like this, but my gut reaction is it’s a really rude thing to say to a child.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m aware my DS can talk utter crap at times but to say it to him in that matter just sits wrong with me. At patents evening the other day, full time teacher said DS was very polite and always added good ideas and opinions within class.
So am I being silly to think anything of this or has the assistant been rude.

It just means he talks a lot, not that he talks crap.

I would raise it with the teacher in a question sort of way, to see her reaction. Like “I remember you saying ds was generally polite etc etc but he told me last night that he was told he had verbal diarrhoea when discussing his project. Has anything changed?”

I’m sure you can articulate it better than me, but you get the idea. I’d also be keen to see what the teachers reaction was and whether she thought it acceptable.

Doesn’t it just mean that someone can’t stop talking, rather than saying what they are saying is like loose poo? I don’t think it’s awful if he really was talking too much/not letting others speak, for example

To me it means bullshitting in a more demure phrase. Like he was waffling to cover up that he didn't know what he was talking about/pretending they'd done more than they had.

I agree it's not the nicest phrase - I think " chatterbox" would have been a more appropriate comment but if there are no other issues I would let it go - no doubt we can all think of an occasion when we've said something in a clumsy or inappropriate way.

Verbal diarrhoea absolutely doesn't mean talking crap, it means talking incessantly. It's a slightly humorous but not really a particularly rude thing to say. People often say it about themselves if they feel they've been going on a bit - "Sorry, I seem to have verbal diarrhoea today!" etc.

Verbal diarrhoea just means someone can’t stop talking. It doesn’t mean he is talking crap. I’d just assume he was talking a lot. I would t see it as rude no, probably quite factual and I’d laugh it off.

Rude x

O please lighten up, this is one reason I would never go into teaching, parents would do my head in.

verbal diarrhoea
nouninformal
noun: verbal diarrhea
the quality or habit of talking too much.

I agree with SpiritedLondon - chatterbox is much more suitable in a classroom of children!

I would bring it up but only because its a little rude to be said among children, I wouldn't be impressed if my kid said that, so wouldn't expect it to be said in a school environment.

It’s about the unstoppable nature of diarrhoea rather than the faecal (to me, anyway).

Just means talking a lot.

It means they thought he was taking too much not really a comment on what was being said. Like he couldn't stop. I don't think it is an appropriate turn of phrase for school. I personally don't like the term chatterbox either as they both mean shut up, I'm sick of listening to you.
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It's up to you if you talk to the teacher about the TA. I'm honestly not sure whether I would or not.

It means they thought he was taking too much not really a comment on what was being said. Like he couldn't stop. I don't think it is an appropriate turn of phrase for school. I personally don't like the term chatterbox either as they both mean shut up, I'm sick of listening to you.
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It's up to you if you talk to the teacher about the TA. I'm honestly not sure whether I would or not.

Ok thanks for your input, I read into it more as talking crap as that’s the context that I would use it in, but now see that for many people it’s the amount of talking.

I use it on ds who is 10yo. He thinks it is hilarious.

Although it was perhaps a mistake, as one time when he was talking a lot (aged about 6yo) he announced loudly to all and sundry "I've got diarrhoea today haven't I?" which I had to hastily explain to a number of shocked faces.

It just means lots of words are coming out quickly!

Parents who think bodily functions and parts are ‘rude’ are the reason teaching year 8 the digestive system is so much fun.

I'm so glad I'm leaving teaching!!

Ridiculous that someone would even consider emailing the school about this.

Talking crap is also acceptable as in British English, it simply means rubbish. Unlike the American English, that you’re possibly thinking about.

I can't believe how easily offended some people are

It's just an expression...lighten up and stop wrapping your child in cotton wool. They're going to hear much worse as they go through life.