AIBU to upset by this text?

[SleepyBadger]

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

Well I didn't know either. Your uncle is being totally unreasonable, he needs to find something better to do with his time.

Nice bit of ageism there @Idontdowindows. I have never heard anyone call chicken pox 'the pox'

For god's sake give it a rest will you. No wonder every thread turns into a slanging match. Stop looking for things to be offended about.

@MirriVan I have watched Blackadder and I also enjoy period dramas most recently ITV’s Victoria (pretty sure the topic has come up in that too with the depiction of Albert’s brother and his STI woes!), but I genuinely didn’t think or ever imagine someone would be shocked by the terminology I used...bearing in mind the context I used the term in (9 month old DS, chicken emoji etc)

I wouldn't bother sending a text to someone but yes I would childishly snigger if someone put on Faceache that they had the pox.

For god's sake give it a rest will you

I think it's funny that they think being aware of linguistic differences between generations and the development of language over time is ageist. Had a good laugh about that one :D

When DD had chicken pox, I have a feeling I posted something like: "I have a poxy child at home."

Ridiculous to have texted you about it.

A pox is a disease. Chicken pox, cowpox, small pox.... and 'the pox' to refer to syphilis without actually naming it. Like, it's the disease, iyswim.

But they're all poxes! 'Contagious diseases' used to be a euphemism for STDs, but that doesn't mean you can't talk about contagious diseases without it meaning STDs.

Your uncle is being silly.

Your Uncle has a serious condition - sense of humour failure. I hope he recovers soon.

@WhatATimeToBeAlive childishly sniggering probably says more about you than the person posting. It’s evident it has multiple meanings (if you look at a dictionary) and not everybody’s mind jumps straight to the gutter, especially when it’s in the context in which I used it I.e about a 9 month old baby.

@MirriVan yep I realise I am being overly sensitive. I am that way inclined anyway especially when it comes to things to do with my kids. Not helped by the crazy pregnancy hormones 🤣

'Old people' indeed, it is a traditional name for syphilis. People that studied English Lit would know it.

It is still used and can include pus filled diseases but I only ever came across it at school in English Lit and History, I might be considered 'old' but am not from the Shakesperian era.

lol yes, 'the pox' used to mean syphilis...I am in my early 50s.

My dad uses the word 'poxy' quite a lot to describe anything not to his liking.

I honestly wouldn't give it another thought...

@WhatATimeToBeAlive childishly sniggering probably says more about you than the person posting

Yeah it says I've got a childish sense of humour - what of it?

Your uncle must be really bored.
I know what that is (read way too many old books) but hell, wouldn't expect many know it just because I do.

I called it The Pox too. Your uncle is far too pedantic.

@Kerala 1 yes twat. Had that explained to me last year and also thought the pox referred to small pox even when I heard it used as a joke as in Blackadder. I am late fifties and used to read lots of period novels. Some things obviously went over my head