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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to upset by this text?

68 replies

SleepyBadger · 14/03/2018 10:12

No idea if I’m completely overreacting to this or not or if I’ve just been a bit silly...prepared to be completely shot down...

My son has chicken pox and I posted something on social media to effect of ‘Oh no DS has caught the pox!’ with a sad face emoji and chicken emoji. This was a few days ago.

I got a text from my mum today saying my uncle had phoned her to ask how my son is and she said that he mentioned he was really shocked and a bit disgusted I had referred to it as ‘the pox’ as that is a slang term for a certain STI. I literally had no knowledge of this :( maybe im just a little naive. Is it a really old slang term? It’s obvious my friends on social media knew what I was talking about and nobody else has taken offence.

I’m genuinely really upset. I’m 11 weeks pregnant and just feeling really sensitive and stuff like this really winds me up.

I have deleted the post. AIBU to be upset by the text? I just don’t think there was any need really!

TIA

OP posts:
PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 14/03/2018 10:46

Pass this grip on to your mum.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 14/03/2018 10:52

😂 Badger, don't give if another thought Sweet.
They need to fill their days ..... in other words, get a life and keep their sneck out of yours.

meme70 · 14/03/2018 10:55

What does ABIU stand for ?

meme70 · 14/03/2018 10:57

I’m old I never heard of it lol

ravenmum · 14/03/2018 10:57

A decent person would smile about your lovely innocence, tactfully ignore it and ask how your son was feeling. Rather than the opposite: insinuating that you deliberately used a taboo term, mocking you about it to other people and making that out to be the main point, not your son's health.

YABU if you let thoughtless people affect your happiness with such nonsense for more than a minute or two, though.

flowerslemonade · 14/03/2018 10:58

He's being ridiculous, please don't let this upset you :(

I hadn't heard of the term being used in that way, I'd have had no idea either.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 14/03/2018 10:58

Am I Being Unreasonable.

AlpacaLypse · 14/03/2018 10:59

I remember being vaguely surprised when I heard chicken pox referred to as just pox. But my degree was history and I tend to be much more aware of older usages of words than many of my contemporaries!

'Poxy' is still used as an insult or mild swear word.

CandleWithHair · 14/03/2018 11:00

I’m not old (if I say so it must be true) and I was aware of it being slang for syphillis, but mainly cos I love a period drama.
It’s entirely context driven tho anyway, a small kid and a chicken emoji - c’mon weird Uncle. Don’t be a dick. It’s obvious what you were referring to

DonkeyOil · 14/03/2018 11:02

I only knew the term because I've read Victorian literature. How old is your uncle?!

Am now imagining Badger's uncle as Ebeneezer Scrooge!

DalekDalekDalek · 14/03/2018 11:02

I always thought "the pox" referred to small pox. Didn't know it was syphilis! But honestly, who would read that and get offended!

Original poster
SleepyBadger · 14/03/2018 11:05

These responses are brilliant and some are downright hilarious 🤣...definitely helping me to feel better about it all.

I have always worried about other people’s opinions since childhood..I’m in my 30s now and still need to develop a much thicker skin!

Thank you all

OP posts:
Trinity66 · 14/03/2018 11:08

never heard that in my life and always call Chicken Pox - Chicken Pox lol

sinceyouask · 14/03/2018 11:13

It's not the 17th century, I think we're OK with using the term 'the pox' wthout people assuming you're talking about STIs Grin Grin Grin.

Original poster
SleepyBadger · 14/03/2018 11:16

@Trinity66... It’s odd because I would normally say chicken pox in conversation, but in my little innocent brain I was just shortening chicken pox to ‘the pox’, without realising it had negative connotations. I won’t be making the same mistake again though incase I offend any other random family members 🤣🙈

OP posts:
MrsCrabbyTree · 14/03/2018 11:16

I know about pox being an STI, therefore I must sadly be old. haha
BUT I would have known what 'pox' you were referring to regarding your son, because I am old but not stupid. Grin

Don't worry about what uncle thinks - he is in the minority.

SnowiestMountain · 14/03/2018 11:17

I've never heard of it, your uncle is being ridiculous!

Hope DS is better soon! 🐓

Dungeondragon15 · 14/03/2018 11:20

I knew it was the old term for syphilis but considering that hardly anyone gets that nowadays I don't think that anyone will think your DC has an STI. Think no more of it...

TeatimeForTheSoul · 14/03/2018 11:24

Anyone with a bit of common sense would realise you were talking about chicken pox when referring to a young child. But please, please, please test this out by doing BooBoo’s suggestion Grin ‘catching crabs’ Grin

elisenbrunnen · 14/03/2018 11:28

I used to call my dc 'Poxy' when they had chicken pox. I was joking...Blush

StormTreader · 14/03/2018 11:30

Pox is "any of several viral diseases producing a rash of pimples that become pus-filled and leave pockmarks on healing", so chickenpox, smallpox, syphilis, they are all poxes. Romeo and Juliet has the curse "A pox on both their houses!" and we still call things "poxy".

KERALA1 · 14/03/2018 11:32

Well you know now OP. And tbh most people won't realise, just a minority that watch period dramas or read Victorian stuff. It was mean of him to say anything.

Reminds me of as a teen I genuinely thought "twat" was interchangable with "twit". My mum had to gently tell me Blush. My lovely very proper aunt described her new dress as "entirely made from durex". She meant lurex but we were Grin

DalekDalekDalek · 14/03/2018 11:34

Kerala1 I always get Durex and Dulux mixed up!

Lweji · 14/03/2018 11:40

Just coming to the thread, but
I always get Durex and Dulux mixed up
Grin

I'd probably reply saying that I was upset and disgusted that he even thought it was appropriate to mention it to your mother.
Slang or not.

Lizzie48 · 14/03/2018 11:43

How ridiculous, obviously context is everything! It was surely obvious you were talking about chicken pox. As if you'd be saying your DS has an STI!! Confused

What a weird uncle you have, and how silly of your DM to tell you what he said.

I hope your DS recovers quickly, and congratulations on your pregnancy! Thanks