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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think people get to het up about the word stupid

110 replies

2shoes · 01/06/2008 12:15

of course to use it again and again would make a child abit
but to class it as a swear word seems.......well stupid
IMO there are a lot worse words out there. and I find the whole "stupid" thing weird.
and ds how many more words are going to become taboo.

OP posts:
3725Hayley · 01/06/2008 12:19

It depends how your using the word and in what context.

jammi · 01/06/2008 12:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Hulababy · 01/06/2008 12:23

I agree - depends on content and how used.

To call someone stupid is not on, and it is somethign we do not allow DD to use, and I know her school 9and before that nursery) did not allow it either.

To describe an action as stupid is different and that, in most cases, is fine.

lackaDAISYcal · 01/06/2008 12:24

definately not a swear word, but we try not to use it in this house too much. If DSs behaviour is a bit suspect we tell him to stop being so silly, but if he has done something that really beggars belief, we have on occasion told him it was a very stupid thing to do. Would never ever call him stupid though.

beaniesteve · 01/06/2008 12:26

My mum has issues with the word Stupid as apparently she was told she was stupid a lot when she was a child. I always say that stupid is not a word we use in this house, particulalry not against eachother, though my OH does seem to thk 'stupid-head' is a term of effection

lackaDAISYcal · 01/06/2008 12:28

DS has just confirmed that the general consensus among his friends at school is that stupid is, indeed, a swear word. He says that he know better though.

Nighbynight · 01/06/2008 13:02

stupid is a swear word?
Examples, please!

unknownrebelbang · 01/06/2008 13:05

When did stupid become a swear word?

AllCornersHaveNowBeenCut · 01/06/2008 13:39

How odd. Are foolish, idiotic, moronic, mad, crazy etc all swear words also?

Original poster
2shoes · 01/06/2008 14:55

someone said it on another thread. that is what made me wonder about it.
obviously telling someone constantly that they are stupid is mean. same as ugly, fat or any word like that but to use the word once in a while I can't see the problem. because sometimes kids/people are stupid.

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 01/06/2008 14:57

Stupid thread.

(D'you see what I did there? Hmm? )

DirtySexyMummy · 01/06/2008 14:57

Referring to a person as stupid is not nice.

Referring to an action as stupid is, normally, an acceptable use of the word.

Original poster
2shoes · 01/06/2008 15:07

not nice I aggree. but hardly up there with the really bad words.

OP posts:
2littlemonkeys · 01/06/2008 15:12

The word is also banned in our house. I think it is a horrible word!!

I was in my mil's house a while ago now and sil walked and said to her dd " you stupid girl" it made me bubble i tell you!!!

So we use the term silly at lot nicer in my opiniun(sp) xx

3madboys · 01/06/2008 15:14

its not a nice word and dont like my children using it, when i was younger i called a doctor stupid in my defence i was feeling like crap, really ill and he was being all jokey and cheerful....

anyway my mum was furious with me and made me write a letter of apology, the dr said something about not using words i dont know the meaning of.

the dictionary definition was something like "dim witted and unintelligent" which of course the dr wasnt, anyway its not a nice word and rather irritatingly my ds3 has learnt it and calles everything and everyone stupid at the moment

Original poster
2shoes · 01/06/2008 15:14

bur(genuine puzzlement here) what if child is being stupid?
as you can see I am being stupid as I just don't get it.

OP posts:
DirtySexyMummy · 01/06/2008 15:17

I wouldn't like someone calling DS stupid. But I would not mind if he did something stupid, and someone said that was a stupid thing to do. There is a difference.

findtheriver · 01/06/2008 17:17

I wouldnt like anyone calling my kids stupid, and I wouldnt use it about anyone elses. But a swear word.... I think if you treat it like a swear word, you are creating confusion of your child hears it in an appropriate context. To put it in the same category as fuck, bugger, etc is.....stupid!

findtheriver · 01/06/2008 17:17

I wouldnt like anyone calling my kids stupid, and I wouldnt use it about anyone elses. But a swear word.... I think if you treat it like a swear word, you are creating confusion of your child hears it in an appropriate context. To put it in the same category as fuck, bugger, etc is.....stupid!

SofiaAmes · 01/06/2008 17:24

Would you like it if I called you stupid for having used to instead of too in your title. Surely an adult should know the difference between those two words and use them correctly and must be stupid if they don't.
It's never nice to call people names and I teach my children that they should always have tolerance for others and not ridicule them for the things they are not good at.
I actually think that calling people stupid is far worse than swearing because it hurts the person you are saying it to.

LuckySalem · 01/06/2008 17:27

STUPID is a horrid word. I personally think its one of the worst nasty words to be said.

If you want to say people are being stupid can't you use silly instead? It's not harmful.

TheFallenMadonna · 01/06/2008 17:32

Although I do understand the logic behind the whole "label the action not the person" thing, I do wonder whether it actually, well, works like that...

NotABanana · 01/06/2008 17:34

I is all about how you use it.

You are stupid is not on.
What you are doing is stupid is okayish.

I love you but I don't like your behaviour.

All about separating naming the act from the person IYSWIM.

duchesse · 01/06/2008 17:36

stoopid is as stoopid does

TheFallenMadonna · 01/06/2008 17:37

I know the theory. But I'm unconvinced that that is how it is actually received.